Vicbred Super Series Finals night on New Year’s Eve and the Breeders Crown Finals in November have become the second and third most wagered-on harness racing meetings in Victorian history.

Only the 2018 Inter Dominion Finals night produced a higher overall wagering figure, while New Year’s Eve at Melton also delivered HRV the biggest audience for its Trots Vision channel since the platform’s inception in 2018.

“We are delighted these events were so successful,” HRV CEO Dayle Brown said.

“The feedback, wagering and broadcast numbers are all incredibly positive and we’re proud of everyone who was involved in delivering both the Breeders Crown in November and the New Year’s Eve Vicbred Super Series Finals.”

Brown said the realignment of the Vicbred series to NYE and the Breeders Crown to November were “bold moves”, adding “the fact they have outdone any other meetings previously except for the Inter Dominion is a great result for our industry”.

“At our current estimate, and importantly we have the majority of wagering results in and just a handful still to come, turnover on New Year’s Eve will be up over 300 per cent compared to 2019, while turnover on the 12 Vicbred finals looks to have climbed by almost 90 per cent,” Brown said.

And HRV’s digital platform, thetrots.com.au, continues to grow.

“New Year’s Eve was the highest audience Trots Vision has ever received, while Breeders Crown was up 86 per cent on 2019 for thetrots.com.au and Trots Vision,” Brown said.

“We await the free-to-air 7mate figures, but the feedback received has been positive, and we were thrilled to be able to showcase our racing, people and some of the great harness racing stories in such a professional manner to a mainstream audience.

“The racing was first-rate and all those who were able to be at Melton trackside under COVIDSafe protocols had a wonderful time.

“We also must again thank our event sponsors, Alabar and Aldebaran Park, for their passionate support of the Vicbred Super Series.”

HRV’s focus now turns to the four-night TAB Summer of Glory carnival, which gets under way with PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup night on Saturday January 23, and the Country Cups Championship, kicking off with Bendigo and Cobram this weekend. 

 

Media enquiries: cwinnell@hrv.org.au