Sportsbet has teamed up with Harness Racing Victoria to help celebrate 50 glorious years of the Victoria Cup.
The corporate bookmaking giant has been confirmed as the race’s major sponsor in 2024, with the Grand Circuit classic to again reach a huge free-to-air audience thanks to an ongoing partnership with Racing.com.
The October 12 meeting at Melton Entertainment Park will be shown on Racing.com’s channels 68 and 78 – and simulcast at TrotsVision.com.au – where Sportsbet’s Josh Jenkins will join harness racing experts Ryan Phelan, Michael Guerin, Bronte Nieuwenburg and Tim O’Connor for the wall-to-wall coverage.
Brittany Graham will be on track to lead the expanded Sky Racing offering and legendary race caller Dan Mielicki will describe all the action, including a mouthwatering six Group 1s.
“The Sportsbet Victoria Cup is one of the most prestigious races on the Australasian harness racing calendar and Sportsbet is thrilled to partner with Harness Racing Victoria for the 2024 edition,” Sportsbet’s Chief Financial Officer Nathan Arundell said.
“Will current superstar and $1.50 favourite Leap to Fame join the honour roll of legends such as Popular Alm, Sinbad Bay, Golden Reign and cult hero Lennytheshark as winners of the Sportsbet Victoria Cup? I can’t wait to find out on October 12.”
HRV CEO Matt Isaacs said he was delighted to have Sportsbet on board as major sponsor of the 2024 Victoria Cup.
“The Victoria Cup is one of our most prized trophies, and we’re thrilled to have Sportsbet partner this year’s historic edition, the 50th consecutive running of the great race,” Isaacs said.
“Sportsbet has long been a valued friend of Victorian harness racing and is renowned for its outstanding innovation and engagement with fans.
“It’ll be fantastic to see that energy extended to our big night on October 12, when harness racing will be back where it belongs – in the limelight with great coverage on Sky Racing and to free-to-air audiences on Racing.com and RSN.”
The meeting will be highlighted by the Sportsbet Victoria Cup, where Queensland champion Leap To Fame will look to add another major feature to his amazing CV, the next bout between Just Believe and Callmethebreeze in the Bill Collins Trotters Sprint and the appearance of emerging megastar Keayang Zahara in the Victorian Trotters Oaks.
Part of the Racing.com broadcast will be the Greatest Victoria Cup virtual race, which will feature a public-voted field of 10 past champions from the last 50 years.