Victoria is home to Vicbred, Australia’s richest futurity scheme, created to reward breeders who choose to breed and race in Victoria.
Designed to support the state’s breeding industry and encourage mares to be domiciled locally, the program offers three levels of participation: Vicbred Basic, Vicbred Platinum and Vicbred Pure.
With millions of dollars in exclusive stakes, incentives and bonuses available to eligible horses each season, Vicbred delivers outstanding opportunities for breeders, owners and participants alike.
Discover how breeding a Vicbred horse can unlock significant rewards and maximise your investment both on and off the track.
Vicbred Super Series Finals
September 12, 2026
What needs to happen for my horse to be Vicbred eligible?
For Foals conceived PRIOR TO JULY 1ST 2026, the following chart is used to determine Vicbred eligibility:
For Foals conceived POST JULY 1ST 2026, Vicbred eligibility has been updated, with the Vicbred program’s focus on supporting Victorian breeding activity:
If your foal is notified to Harness Racing Victoria it will automatically be nominated for Vicbred. You will be charged $220 which is the price of a foal notification in Victoria. Notification must be received by HRV no later than the 1ST of May immediately following the foal’s birth or late fees will apply.
If your foal is NOT notified with Harness Racing Victoria, you can make your Foal Vicbred Eligible when notifying on Harnesweb. If you don’t have a Harnessweb account, contact HRV Customer Service 03 8378 0200 or email info@hrv.org.au with breeding details.
If you do not make your foal Vicbred eligible during this time, you can still make your horse Vicbred eligible later (Assuming it meets the Vicbred criteria). Late fees will apply post 1ST of May.
0-3 months late – $440
3-6 months late – $1100
6 plus months late – $2200
You will then be required to pay the relevant Age Acceptance fee.
Vicbred eligibility to include Interstate and Overseas mares
Following consultation with Harness Breeders Victoria, HRV has introduced additional eligibility to allow the foals of interstate and overseas mares Vicbred eligibility. The foals will be eligible providing they meet the following criteria:
A mare is inseminated in another state or outside of Australia, but the foal is born and registered in Victoria and is not eligible for any other Australian state breeding scheme
A weanling of a mare inseminated outside of Australia, where both the mare and weanling have been imported to Victoria, provided that it is not eligible for any other Australian state breeding scheme
Definition:
A ‘Vicbred Stallion’ is a Stallion that is physically standing in Victoria during the relevant breeding season.
A Stallion for which you have frozen/imported semen – even if purchased through a Victorian Stud – WILL NOT be considered as a Vicbred Stallion.
The ‘Foal Nominator’ is the person who owns the mare at the time of foaling.
If your mare is NOT served by a Vicbred Stallion, the mare must be inseminated in and foal in Victoria and her foal must be notified to HRV. The fee for this scenario varies as below:
$220 – For Sires based elsewhere in Australia, Canada or Europe, and USA trotting Stallions.
$332 – For USA based pacing Stallions.
If your mare is not located in Victoria and you don’t breed her to a Stallion that is physically standing in Victoria, you are unable to make the resultant foal Vicbred eligible.
Age Acceptance Fees
HRV will contact you via text message and email when Age Acceptance Fees are due. Paying the Age Acceptance fee ensures:
- Your horse is eligible for Vicbred First Win Bonus
- Your horse is eligible for the Vicbred Super Series
- Your horse is eligible for Vicbred Eligible horses only races throughout the year.
A 2YO Age Acceptance Fee of $440 will be automatically invoiced during December (before your horse becomes a 2YO for racing purposes). At this point you may instead choose to pay a higher Series fee of $880 which will make your horse eligible for its 2YO, 3YO & 4YO seasons.
If you don’t choose to pay the $880 as a 2YO, you’ll need to pay $440 for each Age Acceptance thereafter ($1320 total cost to be paid up as a 2YO, 3YO & 4YO).
If you fail to pay the invoice by the 2nd of February your horse will automatically be withdrawn and will no longer be Vicbred eligible for that season. If you don’t choose to make your horse eligible for their 2YO season you can still pay up for their 3YO or 4YO seasons.
If for some reason you miss the deadline but still want your horse to be Vicbred eligible, the following late fee structure applies:
Payment from 14/2 – 14/5 – $880 for a Single Year Acceptance.
Payment from 15/5 – 14/8 – 3% of respective gaits final prizemoney for a Single Year Acceptance.
Payment from 15/8 to Vicbred Super Series Acceptance time: 4% of respective gaits final prizemoney for a Single Year Acceptance
Payments received post Vicbred Super Series Acceptance time: $880 for the remainder of that particular year.
Vicbred First Win Bonuses are only payable where payment has been received and processed and may not be backdated.
Tell me more about the Vicbred First Win Bonus
The Vicbred First Win Bonus is a bonus for Vicbred eligible horses first win in a career or metropolitan race (stakemoney of $5,001 or more) as a 2YO, 3YO or 4YO in Victoria.
The Vicbred First Win Bonus (as of 1ST July 2026) is:
- $7000 for 2 and 3 Year Olds
- $5000 for 4 Year Olds
- $2,500 for 5 Years Olds and over
If a horse’s first applicable win is in a restricted race (stakemoney of $5,000 or less), half of the bonus will be paid. The other half will be payable if the horse wins a career ($5,001 or more) or metropolitan race at a later date.
Note: The remaining half of the bonus cannot be won by winning a race worth $5,000 or less and no national rating restrictions will apply for any first win bonus.
A Vicbred First Win Bonus ($2,500) will be paid to any Vicbred eligible horse aged 5YO or over who wins a race of $5,001 or more, provided they have never previously won a bonus (including a half bonus).
The Vicbred First Win Bonus will evolve from 1ST January 2027 to better target incentives towards younger horses and Victorian breeding.
The Vicbred First Win Bonus from 1ST January 2027 will be:
|
|
New total |
Change |
|
2 & 3YO Vicbred Platinum/Pure |
$8,000 |
+$1,000 |
|
4YO Vicbred Platinum/Pure |
$6,000 |
+$1,000 |
|
5YO+ Vicbred Platinum/Pure |
$0 |
-$2,500 |
|
2 & 3YO Vicbred |
$5,000 |
-$2,000 |
|
4YO Vicbred |
$4,000 |
-$1,000 |
|
5YO Vicbred |
$0 |
-$2,500 |
How is the Vicbred First Win Bonus distributed
- 80% Owner
- 15% Foal Nominator (The ‘Foal Nominator’ is the person who owns the mare at the time of foaling)
- 5% Trainer
Bonuses may only be won where the applicable Vicbred Age Acceptance payments (and all late payment fees if applicable) have been received and processed by Harness Racing Victoria.
Vicbred Racing Eligibility
A Vicbred 2YO, 3YO or 4YO horse will be eligible to run in any Vicbred race or win any Vicbred bonus in a season if either:
(a) a Series Fee was paid on 1 January when it turned two years of age
or
(b) an Age Acceptance fee was paid for the relevant season.
A Vicbred horse 5YO or older may contest Vicbred races for which they are eligible irrespective of whether or not an Age Acceptance Fee was paid as a 2YO, 3YO or 4YO.
Media releases in relation to VICBRED changes can be found here:
https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/vicbred-changes-sharpen-focus-on-victorian-bred-returns/
1. THE STRUCTURE
Pacers
The Vicbred Super Series will be run for 2YOs, 3YOs and 4YOs respectively, with each age group split into a section for males and a section for females comprising:
| 2YO | 3YO | 4YO |
| $10,000 Heats $15,000 Semi Finals $150,000 Final $15,000 Silver Pace* $10,000 Bronze Pace* |
$10,000 Heats $15,000 Semi Finals $150,000 Final $15,000 Silver Pace* $10,000 Bronze Pace* |
$10,000 Heats $15,000 Semi Finals $150,000 Final $15,000 Silver Pace* $10,000 Bronze Pace* |
*Note that in all cases Silver and Bronze races will only be run where there are sufficient acceptors.
All races throughout the series will be Random Barrier Draw (RBD) with the exception of any Bronze Pace which, due to insufficient acceptors across divisions, becomes a combined sex race. Should this occur then the barrier draw for such a race will be Preferential Barrier Draw on Sex (PBD/Sex).
Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) will program Heats for each division at one venue in Victoria and will run as many Heats as are required to grant each acceptor a start in a Heat.
Trotters
The Vicbred Super Series will be run for 2YOs, 3YOs and 4YOs respectively, with each age group split into a section for males and a section for females comprising:
| 2YO | 3YO | 4YO |
| $10,000 Heats $100,000 Final $15,000 Silver Trot (Combined Sex)* |
$10,000 Heats $100,000 Final $15,000 Silver Trot (Combined Sex)* |
$10,000 Heats $100,000 Final $15,000 Silver Trot (Combined Sex)* |
*Note that in all cases Silver races will only be run where there are sufficient acceptors.
All races throughout the series will be Random Barrier Draw (RBD) with the exception of any Silver Trot which will be Preferential Barrier Draw on Sex (PBD/Sex).
HRV will program Heats for each division at one venue in Victoria and will run as many Heats as are required to grant each acceptor a start in a Heat.
2. ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility to compete in a Vicbred Super Series race is extended to any eligible horse for which the Vicbred Age Acceptance Fee (or Vicbred Series Fee) for the current season has been processed by HRV and paid in full.
3. FIELD SELECTION
3.1 The fields for all Heats will be selected in accordance with HRV’s Automatic Field Selection System.
3.2 Heats/Semi-Finals that are split into divisions are divided on a random (not manual) selection basis. Owner and Trainer splits will NOT apply.
3.3 All horses who accept for a Heat will be guaranteed a start in a Heat.
3.4 A horse that does not complete the course in a Heat or is declared a non-runner shall be deemed as having contested a Heat.
4. MODE OF START & BARRIER DRAWS
4.1 All races will be a Mobile Start and will be conducted as Random Barrier Draw (RBD) events with the exception of the following races which will be conducted as Preferential Barrier Draw on Sex (PBD/Sex):
(a) Any Silver Trot
(b) Any Bronze Pace which becomes a combined sex race
5. RACE DISTANCES
5.1 Race Distances for Heats and Semi-Finals will approximate the distance of the respective Final.
6. HANDICAPPING CONDITIONS & PENALTIES
6.1 All horses will accrue points in the Vicbred Super series as per the Points Matrix in the Australian Handicapping Rules.
7. STAKEMONEY DISTRIBUTION
7.1 Stakemoney for the Series will be distributed as follows:
1st – 50%
2nd – 16%
3rd – 10%
4th – 6%
5th – 4%
6th to last – 2%
7.2 Stakemoney distribution for connections of each horse in Heats, Semi-Finals, Finals, Silver Races and Bronze Races is as follows:
| Owner | 80% |
| Trainer | 5% |
| Driver | 5% |
| Stallion Nominator | 5%* |
| Foal Nominator | 5%* |
*Where there is no Stallion Nominator, the Foal Nominator shall receive 10%.
8. SEMI-FINALS & FINALS
8.1 Horses will qualify for the next phase of each series based on finishing position and mile rate recorded in the relevant qualifying race.
8.2 A horse that does not complete the course or is declared a non-runner in a Semi-Final shall be deemed as having contested a Semi-Final.
8.3 A horse may not contest more than one race of the Final, Silver Race or Bronze Race of the same series.
8.4 A horse declared as an emergency for a Final may not scratch from such Final in order to contest a Silver Race or Bronze Race.
8.5 In the event that an emergency gains a start in a Final, it shall be deemed ineligible to contest a Silver Race or Bronze Race.
8.6 A horse declared as an emergency for a Silver Race may not scratch from such race in order to contest a Bronze Race.
9. SILVER & BRONZE RACES
9.1 Pacers
9.1.1 Horses must be nominated for the Silver Pace if they wish to gain a start in the Silver Pace or Bronze Pace.
9.1.2 A horse which qualifies for a Semi-Final or Final but fails to take its place in such race (withdrawn or otherwise) is ineligible to contest a Silver Pace or Bronze Pace.
9.1.3 Fields for any Silver Pace will comprise of horses who meet the Vicbred Super Series eligibility criteria but failed to gain a start in the Final, with field selection preference to be allocated in the following order:
(a) Horses who contested a Semi-Final but failed to gain a start in the Final
(b) Horses who contested a Heat but failed to gain a start in a Semi-Final (based on finishing position and individual mile rate in the Heat)
(c) Horses who did not contest a Heat (based on Automatic Field Selection System)
9.1.4 Where there are sufficient acceptors, a Bronze Pace will be run in addition to the Silver Pace, with horses being allocated to the Bronze Pace where they have nominated and accepted for the Silver Pace but failed to gain a start. Field selection preference to be allocated in the following order:
(a) Horses who contested a Heat but failed to gain a start in a Semi-Final, Final or Silver Pace (based on finishing position and individual mile rate in the Heat)
(b) Horses who did not contest a Heat (based on Automatic Field Selection System)
9.1.5 In the event of there being insufficient acceptors to run both split-sex Bronze Finals separately, HRV will combine the final acceptors into a combined-sex Bronze Pace(s) – which would then become PBD/Sex rather than RBD. Field selection preference to be allocated in the following order:
(a) Horses who contested a Heat but failed to gain a start in a Semi-Final, Final or Silver Pace based on the following criteria:
(i) ranking within each series (sex) – where horses are ranked in numerical order based on the finishing position and mile rate in heat
(ii) highest finishing position in heat
(iii) fastest mile rate in heat
(b) Horses who did not contest a Heat (based on Automatic Field Selection System)
9.1.6 In the event of there being insufficient acceptors to run a combined-sex Bronze Pace, it will be abandoned.
9.2 Trotters
9.2.1 Horses must be nominated for the Silver Trot if they wish to gain a start in the Silver Trot.
9.2.2 A horse which qualifies for a Final but fails to take its place in such race (withdrawn or otherwise) is ineligible to contest a Silver Trot.
9.2.3 Fields for any Silver Trot will comprise of horses who meet the Vicbred Super Series eligibility criteria but failed to gain a start in the Final, with field selection preference to be allocated in the following order:
(a) Horses who contested a Heat but failed to gain a start in the Final based on the following criteria:
(i) ranking within each series (sex) – where horses are ranked in numerical order based on the finishing position and mile rate in heat
(ii) highest finishing position in heat
(iii) fastest mile rate in heat
(b) Horses who did not contest a Heat (based on Automatic Field Selection System)
10. DEAD HEATS
10.1 In the event of a dead heat for any finishing position in a qualifying race, preference in qualifying will be given to a horse who places outright for the same finishing position, regardless of mile rate.
10.2 In the event of two or more horses each finishing in the same position and recording the same mile rate in a qualifying race, and thereby producing a field exceeding the field limit, then a random ballot will be applied.
11. ABANDONED HEATS
11.1 In the event of any race of the series being abandoned or declared a No-Race after the declaration of Acceptances, the controlling body will attempt to re-run the race at the same race meeting or re-schedule the race at the next most suitable venue.
11.2 In the event of any qualifying race being abandoned after the declaration of Acceptances and not being able to be re-run, horses (excluding scratchings) will qualify for the next stage of the series in descending order of automatic field selection points at the time of abandonment.
12. HORSES MUST BE SCRATCHED
Horses which contest a qualifying race but are not able to contest the next stage of the series must be formally scratched prior to Acceptance Time from the relevant race. The next ranked horse according to relevant qualification criteria will be promoted. A scratching penalty may or may not be imposed.
13. DISQUALIFICATION
Rule 195A of the Australian Rules of Harness Racing applies to this race series.
14. SPECIAL CONDITIONS
HRV reserves the right to make any alterations or amendments to these conditions that it considers necessary in the overall best interests of the conduct of the Vicbred Super Series.
FUTURITIES – LATE NOMINATIONS/AGE ACCEPTANCES
If for some reason you miss the deadline but still want your horse to be eligible, the following late fee structure applies:
- A late fee of twice the applicable fee for applications up to three months late for all futurities schemes; and
- A late fee of 3% of the applicable race final stakemoney (e.g. 3% of Vicbred 2YO Pacers final stakemoney) for applications submitted from three months to six months late, rising to 4% for applications submitted more than six months late; and
- Late foal nominations will be charged as a multiplier of the original fee, so for those applications that are three to six months late, a late fee of five times the original fee is applicable, whilst for those applications more than six months late, a late fee of ten times the original fee is applicable.
(July 2023)
Foal Nomination
AUS Foals BORN in Season 2025/2026: Due 1st May 2026
Late Fees Apply 1st May onwards, contact HRV If required
NZ Foals BORN in Season 2025/2026: Due 1st August 2026
Forms available on HRNZ Website (Return to HRV)
Yearling Nomination
No Yearling Fees for VICBRED
Age Acceptance
VICBRED Age Acceptances for 2026 have now been finalised.
Harness Racing Victoria automatically invoiced eligible horse/s 8/12/2025 (for 2026) if no action had been taken prior.
Payment for invoices was due 2/2/2026. If payment was not made, invoice/s were automatically cancelled.
To check the VICBRED status of horse/s:
- Log into HarnessWeb
- Select OWNERSHIP
- Select MY FUTURITIES
- Select VIC
- Select VICBRED
If you don’t have HarnessWeb, please contact HRV Customer Service – 03 8378 0200 or email info@hrv.org.au to check the VICBRED status of horse/s.
If for some reason you missed the deadline but still want your horse to be VICBRED eligible, the following late fee structure applies:
- Payment from 14/2/2026 – 14/5/2026 – $880 for a Single Year Acceptance.
- Payment from 15/5/2026 – 14/8/2026 – 3% of respective gaits final prizemoney for a Single Year Acceptance.
- Payment from 14/8/2026 to VICBRED Super Series Acceptance time: 4% of respective gaits final prizemoney for a Single Year Acceptance
- Payments received post Vicbred Super Series Acceptance time: $880 for the remainder of that particular year.
Stallion Nomination
Lodged through Harness Racing Australia: Due 31st October of each year
Contact
All enquires, including Nomination Forms and Late Entries, can be directed to:
- EMAIL: info@hrv.org.au
- PHONE: (03) 8378 0200 (Futurities)
The Vicbred Voucher is a $2.75 million ownership and breeding celebration, which awards $5000 vouchers on select races from September 2025 until November 2026, thanks to the State Government’s Victorian Racing Industry Fund.
The program sees 550 races across the two seasons carry $5000 vouchers for winning owners, which gives them a head start towards breeding or buying their next winners.
Breeders also get a direct boost, with the Vicbred Super Series heats, semi-finals, finals, and consolations awarding $5000 vouchers to the winning breeder as well as $5000 to the winning owner.
The Vicbred vouchers give owners $5000 towards:
- Purchasing a Vicbred Pure or Vicbred Platinum nominated yearling at the Nutrien or Australian Pacing Gold Victorian standardbred yearling sales;
- Or compensating a service by a Victorian registered sire, subject to the mare being inseminated and foaled down in Victoria.
The $2.75 million worth of $5000 vouchers will be apportioned as follows:
- $750,000 across 150 maiden race winners from September 1, 2025, to November 30, 2026
- $750,000 across 150 open-age race winners from September 1, 2026, to November 30, 2026
- $1.25 million across 250 winning owners and breeders of 2025 & 2026 Vicbred Super Series heats, semi-finals, finals, and consolations