HARNESS RACING VICTORIA, 400 Epsom Rd, Flemington, 03 8378 0200, askhrv@hrv.org.au
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Festive season
I wish all in the harness racing industry good health, plenty of joy, and much-needed respite this festive season.
Racing never stops; even on race-free days, like Christmas Day, there are horses to work, feed and care for, but this is an opportunity to reflect, refresh and look forward. I hope you get the opportuinity to do just that with those most important to you.
I take this opportunity to thank all in Victoria's harness racing community for their ongoing commitment and passion to the sport.
There have been extraordinary challenges and changes in 2024, including how we operate at HRV, and where and when we race.
I don't underestimate the impact of these required changes on our community. Still, I am always buoyed by the ability of participants, stakeholders, and staff to adapt and advance.
More challenges remain on our path, but I look forward to working closely with the industry to resolve them and build a prosperous future.
Wagering performance
The wagering market remains challenging, but harness racing in Victoria can be proud of its ability to hold its ground.
While our total turnover is down due to running fewer low-wagered races, our average race turnover has outperformed other codes and harness racing jurisdictions.
This year, the racing department has focused on running more races with fuller fields in the best time slots and, more consistently, at the most popular tracks, which has been well-received by punters. There are green shoots, but as the below racing and wagering snapshot shows, there are no silver bullets, and we must continue to innovate and find efficiencies where possible.
A big summer of racing
Harness Racing Victoria will again close out a memorable race season with one of its most enjoyable and positive meetings, the Young Gun Series.
Replacing the Vicbred Super Series in the New Year's Eve slot for the first time last year, the Young Guns made for a brilliant night's racing and showed the big crowd at Melton Entertainment Park that harness racing's future is bright.
Good luck to this year's 10 young guns, who earned their way to this great stage: James Herbertson, Ryan Sanderson, Luke Dunne, Jordan Leedham, Lochie Cook, Ryan Backhouse, Ewa Justice, Liam Older, Sean O'Sullivan, and Connor Clarke. And good luck also to those who earned a place in the repechage.
Be sure to get to Melton on the big night and cheer them on, then get trackside throughout the summer as we take in country cups and the biggest night on the Victorian calendar - the A G Hunter Cup and Great Southern Star celebration on February 1.
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Vicbred first-win bonuses restored to $7000 from January 1
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Victorian harness racing’s first-win bonuses will be restored to $7000 for two and three-year-olds after $1.37 million was reallocated into the Vicbred scheme.
Collaboration between Harness Racing Victoria and its stakeholder bodies has boosted the total first-win pool to $3.83 million, with four-year-olds to receive a $5000 bonus and those five-and-over a $2500 bonus.
HRV chief executive officer Matt Isaacs said Vicbred remained critical to harness racing in Victoria’s eco-system, which was reflected in the reallocation.
“The first-win bonus is an important part of Victoria’s breeding industry and we have continued to work closely with stakeholders to ensure the right balance is struck,” Isaacs said.
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Harness Racing Victoria releases 2024 annual report
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Harness Racing Victoria (HRV)’s annual report for the 2024 financial year has been tabled in Victorian Parliament and can be viewed online here.
HRV recorded a $25.8 million loss before State Government operating grants, which was $3 million more than the previous year and reflected declining revenue from the softening wagering market and inflation-driven costs.
The loss would have been significantly higher without HRV’s intervention in October 2023, which directly reduced potential losses by $6.6 million.
Operating costs included a $3.4 million increase to partly fund LED light projects at Cranbourne, Geelong, and Kilmore and race day stabling at Terang. HRV cut marketing, sponsorship, and broadcast by $1.1 million and paid $4.2 million less in returns to participants. Stake money was 65 percent of HRV revenue (parent entity), far higher than Victoria’s other racing codes.
HRV continues to work closely with industry to return the sport to a sustainable footing.
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Save the date: Mark your calendars for Team Teal's night at the trots on February 22
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Team Teal’s Night at the Trots celebrates its 16th year when it will run on Saturday, February 22, featuring the Lyn McPherson Breed for Speed Series Finale.
Night at the Trots not only features thrilling world-class racing, but also raises vital funds for ovarian and gynaecological cancer research, supporting WomenCan’s Survivors Teaching Students program.
Guests will enjoy a premium three-course dinner, entertainment, inspiring guest speakers, and the chance to win exclusive auction and raffle prizes. It promises an unforgettable evening with family and friends, and all for an important cause.
The event will be held at Melton Entertainment Park on February 22. Stay tuned to thetrots.com.au for booking details.
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INDUSTRY NEWS FROM THETROTS.COM.AU: YOUR HOME OF HARNESS RACING IN VICTORIA
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WATCH: YOUNG GUNS ALL FIRED UP TO SEE OUT THE YEAR AT MELTON
The Young Guns Series will light up Melton Entertainment Park again on New Year's Eve, when Victoria's best and brightest bring the fireworks in front of a big crowd. The series will go from strength-to-strength after a fun-filled and action-packed debut last year. Watch the above to see what you're in for.
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ALFORD, HERBERTSON LOCKED IN FOR THE AUSTRALIAN DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Chris Alford and James Herbertson will represent Victoria in the 2024 Australian Drivers Championship at Globe Derby on Sunday, December 29.
The series will see drivers compete across a maximum 10-race program, with each race rating exempt and worth between $8000 and $14,000. Other state representatives are:
- South Australia: Wayne Hill and Gaita Pullicino
- Tasmania: Mark Yole and Rohan Hillier
- New South Wales: Ashleigh Delosa and Cam Hart (TBC)
- Queensland: Nathan Dawson and Grant Dixon
- Western Australia: Deni Roberts and Gary Hall Jnr
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DAZZLING INTER DOMINION WINNER DON HUGO EYES VICTORIAN CROWN
The Hunter Cup is the next big target for newly crowned Inter Dominion hero Don Hugo.
Trainer-driver Luke McCarthy said a “hit and run” trip on Victoria’s marquee race at Melton on February 1 was most likely.
“There’s a chance he could go to Ballarat, but more likely I’ll just keep him at home where he loves it and go for the Hunter Cup only,” he said.
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SEYMOUR EYES COUNTRY CUP TOUR FOR LEAP TO FAME IN 2025
Prominent harness racing owner Kevin Seymour would like to hit the country cup circuit in early 2025 if Leap To Fame is to make a trip to Victoria for February’s A G Hunter Cup.
The winner of more than $3 million was set to feature in the 2024 Victoria Cup, but was scratched due to a virus, an ongoing illness that ruled the star pacer out of a potential trip to New Zealand and stopped a charge towards a second-straight Inter Dominion crown.
“We think he is improving,” Seymour said. "I always like to come to Victoria, and they always look after us well.
"I would like to look at the country areas and give some of those provincial people a chance to see him in action.”.
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From the integrity department:
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ACCESS TO LICENSED TRAINING ESTABLISHMENTS
The HRV Integrity Department conducts regular unannounced stable inspections to uphold transparency and integrity within the harness racing industry. During these inspections, we have noticed that some licensed trainers have installed security gates requiring access codes. While we fully support and encourage trainers to take steps to secure their properties, it is equally important to ensure timely access for unannounced inspections. This helps maintain confidence in the industry's fairness by ensuring all participants operate on a level playing field.
To address this matter, we kindly request that all licensed trainers with gates secured by an access code provide the code for their registered training establishment by email to integrity@hrv.org.au. We understand and respect the sensitivity of such information. To ensure your privacy, access codes will be securely stored and will only be accessible to authorised members of the HRV Integrity Department.
LATE CHANGES
Please be advised that industry participants can use the phone number (03) 9214 0650 to leave messages regarding late scratchings, driver changes, and notification of driving tactics.
When leaving a voice message, kindly provide your license number for identification purposes, along with the relevant details you wish to notify HRV stewards about. This service is particularly useful for contacting HRV stewards outside of office hours, on weekends or on public holidays.
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From customer service, futurities and licensing:
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VICBRED FUTURITIES NOMINATIONS:
Vicbred age acceptances, withdrawals and series fees are available for processing on HarnessWeb through 'My Futurities'.
HRV will automatically invoice eligible horses' age acceptance fees late December if no action has been taken on HarnessWeb.
All payments will be due by February 28, 2025. All information regarding Victorian futurities can be found at Breeders Barn - Harness Racing Victoria.
LICENCE RENEWALS:
For participants who have not renewed, it is not too late. Go to HarnessWeb to complete your licence today!
FOAL NOTIFICATIONS:
Please ensure the result of the service is notified through to HRV within three weeks, live or not. This can be done online via HarnessWeb or by filling in a foal notification form on the foal notification information page at thetrots.com.au.
ACCOUNTS:
Please note, the next stake run will occur on Monday, December 23.
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Contact the Customer Service Team on 03 8378 0200, 8.30am-5pm weekdays, or email info@hrv.org.au. Note, the office will be closed on public holidays, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day.
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From Pony Trots Victoria:
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Pony Trots Victoria had six representatives in the ID24 mini trot finals at Menangle on the weekend, with all representatives doing well on the night.
Sophie Jack won the Shetland Inter Dominion Final steering her pony Super Mario, and Amelia Hodgson ran third in the Midget Final on her pony Burnaholeinmybucket.
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More information, including the racing calendar, is available at www.ponytrotsvictoria.org.au or via email to ponytrotsvic@hrv.org.au.
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From workforce development:
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YOUNG GUNS SERIES
HRV is looking forward to holding the Young Guns Series at Melton Entertainment Park on New Year's Eve for the second time, when the top 10 drivers aged under 25 will compete, along with a repechage for drivers ranked 11th-20th. Pony trot drivers will also be showcased, accompanying the Young Guns on the red carpet before racing. Get along to Melton on New Year's Eve and take in all the fireworks, on and off the track.
YOUNG REPRESENTATIVES
A terrific effort by Ewa Justice in finishing third in the Australasian Young Drivers' Championship, Ewa amassed 63 points in the series at Menangle on Saturday, finishing behind runaway New Zealand winer Sam Thornley (93 points) and second-placed Will Rixon (66).
Victoria was also represented on the world stage, with James Herbertson driving well to finish fifth in the Prix des Rencontres Internationales (International Prize) at Vincennes earlier this month. Click here to read more
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VICTORIAN 2YOs TO GO RACING IN 2025 FROM FEBRUARY
HRV will introduce weekly restricted two-year-old races from February 1 to create more opportunities for young horses.
A racing department review of last year’s calendar found many early-season two-year-old races failed to deliver sufficient field sizes to proceed. In an attempt to remedy this, HRV will program two-year-old races at central Victorian venues, where the category's population is greatest. Programming for pacers will begin February 1 with trotters to kick off from March 1.
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Contact the Racing office on 03 8378 0291 from 7.30am-3.30pm weekdays or 8-9am weekends and public holidays, or email racing@hrv.org.au. For late scratchings or driver changes out of hours, leave a message on 03 9214 0650. Please note that on public holidays (Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day) the racing office will only be open from 8-9am. Please also be aware that nomination deadlines differ across the Christmas-New Year period.
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Participant Industry Assistance Program - mental health & work/life support
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HRV Communications
400 Epsom Road, Flemington, 3031
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