Great racing feats and amazing service will be honoured live and to a wide audience with the Victorian Harness Racing Awards to be streamed on TrotsVision on Saturday, June 22.
Last year’s brilliant equine athletes will be lauded - including the announcement of the Victorian Horse of the Year - along with the state’s premier honours, the Gordon Rothacker Medal, Pearl Kelly Award, Caduceus Club Living Legend and Lang Distinguished Services Award.
The event, which will include a Winners Viewing Party in The Club Lounge at Melton for invitees, will be staged in place of the previously announced sit-down dinner on June 23.
Those hoping to attend and celebrate their horses or acknowledge peers are welcome to join a special additional Viewing Party upstairs at Melton Entertainment Park where the live TrotsVision stream can be enjoyed along with a $49 two-course buffet. Bookings for the race night dining should be directed to Kahli at Melton Entertainment Park on 03 8746 0634 or Kmagee@mepark.com.au.
The event has been pared back from previous instalments as part of cost-saving measures to put harness racing in Victoria on a sustainable footing and prioritise spending on stakemoney. Invitations to the Winners Viewing Party will be issued in coming days but all will be able to celebrate and savour the night through the special TrotsVision production.
As well as taking in the Blacks A Fake Free For All and Matriarch Trot at Melton on June 22, TrotsVision host Ryan Phelan will join Tim O’Connor and Bronte Nieuwenburg on the coverage to celebrate winners throughout the night.
“To be able to combine our regular racing broadcast and the industry awards has presented a unique challenge but also an opportunity to open the commemoration to everyone through TrotsVision,” Phelan said.
“Last season was a stunning year on track and for the first time we will be able to drop the curtain of previous years and open the awards presentation to everyone through our broadcast. This will mean everyone can share in the achievements of our people and equine stars who have given so much to harness racing in Victoria.”
For further information about the awards email events@hrv.org.au.
Horse of the Year Awards
2023 Aldebaran Park Victorian Trotting Broodmare of the Year
2023 Benstud Standardbreds Victorian Pacing Broodmare of the Year
2023 Woodlands Stud Victorian Breeder of the Year
Victorian Trainer of The Year
Taylors Metropolitan Trainer of The Year
Garrards Victorian Driver of The Year
Metropolitan Driver of the Year
Victorian Concession / Young Driver of the Year
Lang Distinguished Services Awards
Caduceus Living Legend
The Pearl Kelly Award
Gordon Rothacker Medal