Mark Purdon’s mind drifted back to his most enjoyable time in the game as he read through the new-look Victorian summer of racing.

Those days at “The Valley” when he, brother Barry and other star Kiwis like Cran Dalgety and Anthony Butt would be buzzing at the thought of trying to beat the Aussies in our biggest races … some they did often.

“Victoria was really the first to build a carnival to attract the best of the best from Australia and NZ with the Summer of Glory all those years ago,” Purdon said.

“I look back on those as the best times I’ve had in the game. Great racing, terrific people, big crowds and just so much fun.

“HRV would send people across to Cup Week (Christchurch) in November and take all us (Kiwi) trainers through the programs … we’d all leave pumped-up and raring to get over there with our best horses a couple of months later.”

Purdon believes the announcement of a six-week string of “Cups”, culminating with the iconic Hunter Cup, will help resurrect the Victorian summer as a place to be.

“It reads well. I know harness racing has its challenges at the moment, but this is really positive news … a big step in the right direction,” he said.

Dalgety, who shot to prominence as a “youngster” through Desperate Comment’s deeds across two Melbourne summers, shared Purdon’s excitement as he read about Harness Racing Victoria’s summer revamp while holidaying in Sweden.

“If you’re a traveller like me, or like most Kiwis to be honest, this is a great thing,” he said.

“As far as attracting out-of-towners, not just us Kiwis but interstaters, too, these changes are fantastic.

“At a time when they’ve (HRV) got their challenges, I love that they’re having a crack.

“I think we’re all excited to find out all the details, what more is there to come, what sort of support programs have they got in mind outside of the Cups and big trotting races?”

Dalgety makes a great point.

The real success or otherwise of HRV’s “summer sizzle” will be how well they can entice trainers to bring a team of horses to Victoria, not just an open-class pacer and/or trotter.

Just look at the upcoming Queensland winter where they have features for four-year-old pacers, Derbys, Oaks, trotting features and Australia’s biggest two-year-old race.

The support program through HRV’s big six weeks in January and February will be the secret sauce.

They are fully aware of that.

The topline announcement hit the spot, but we need more.

Plans are believed to be well advanced on a string of races for four-year-old pacers, culminating with the 4YO Bonanza.

There is a similar framework being built for the mares with the “Grand Final” as the Queen of the Pacific.

Hunter Cup is set to become that Grand Final night.

At a time the industry, especially in Victoria, needs something to get excited about, these six weeks of summer are crucial.