April Breeders’ Bulletin

Breeders Bulletin

15 Apr

Written By Harness Breeders Victoria

Our latest newsletter is available now - read below or click HERE to access the version with live links.

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Committee Notes

March was a wonderful month for recognising the achievements of Vicbred breeders in 2025 and HBV again congratulate the Breeder and Broodmare of the Year winners and thank our sponsors for their support. Congratulations too for tenured HBV member and leading breeder Duncan McPherson OAM on being awarded the 2025 Gordon Rothacker Medal.

Stallion Guide is about to commence production - if your business is keen to directly reach thousands of Australian breeders, or you know one that does, reach out to Sally HERE.

Another sale season is complete (albums on our Facebook Page) and it will be an issue HBV will be discussing with relevant bodies coming up - we appreciate your feedback and ideas for the future too. Refer to the bottom of the email for more on contacting the committee.

Best wishes for those with stock racing in the expanded mares program and Kindergarten Series (see below).

2026 Foal Quest is Here!

Trawl your photo albums, breeders - we’re on a quest to find a fantastic foal to grace the cover of the 2026 Australasian Standardbred Stallion Guide with our annual Foal Quest. All 2025 Vicbred 2025 are eligible but to be in the running, there are a few guidelines HERE.

2025 Metro Print Ian Daff Trophy

Well known Bendigo studmaster, breeder and official John Campbell was honoured by Harness Breeders Victoria for more than 50 years’ service to the breeding industry with the coveted Ian Daff Memorial Award. Campbell, a son of Hall of Fame breeder and studmaster Jack Campbell, followed his father into the sport, helping out at the Loddon Valley Trotting Stud at Durham Ox after leaving school. Read more HERE.

2025 Woodlands Stud Victorian Breeder of the Year

Sydney-based breeder Mick Harvey 's achievements in 2025 were recognised when he was named Woodlands Stud Victorian Breeder of the Year. He recognised the performance of  Vicbred-eligible horses across the season, and named Victoria's flagship futurity program as a key reason for getting involved. Read more HERE.

Horse of the Year Awards

Congratulations also to the following breeders on their Vicbred horses being recognised with Victorian Horse of the Year honours - Robert Watson (Soho Americano), Ash Haynes (Arcee Phoenix), Alabar (Kiss & Bay Of Biscay), Aldebaran Lodge (Harperseven) and Yabby Dam Farms (Tracy The Jet & Hilltop Hugh).

Stallion Guide Advertising

Bookings for adverts in the 2026 Australasian Standardbred Stallion Guide will be opening very soon - and it's not just for studs! Any business wishing to reach thousands of breeders across the country can reach them direct with this high-quality, much-valued publication. If you're keen to get your product or service in front of a group that spend around $60M annually in producing the next foal crop, contact Sally today.

Revamp for Spring Vicbred

The Vicbred Super Series will launch a big spring of Victorian harness racing in Semptember ahead of the merging of the Breeders Crown and Vicbred Super Series in 2027, which will keep alive the state’s great traditions while elevating the next generation of Vibcred superstars. Read more HERE.

Just Loving the Trotters

Retired Romsey businessman Graeme Love has no regrets about switching from the pacing to the trotting gait about 15 years ago. “I raced about 20 pacers and best one I ever owned was Dallas Sally. She won four in a row at Harold Park,” Love said. Read more HERE.

Beginner's luck for breeder

It was a case of beginner’s luck for Beremboke (near Ballan) breeder Frank Gauchi whose first broodmare The Cooler is the dam of Insulator, the winner of the first two-year trotting race for the season at Maryborough. Read more HERE.

John enjoying the ride

Melbourne owner/breeder John Dorrington is no stranger to the harness racing scene and looks to have a smart customer on his hands in the progressive New Shuffle.
Read more HERE.

Victoria boosts NSW sale

The strength of the Victorian breeding industry was on full display at the Nutrien Equine Sydney Yearling Sale at Warwick Farm on Sunday. Vendors from south of the border sold 16 lots for a total of $694,000, an average of $43,375. Read more HERE.

Member Highlights...

* Peter Gleeson (Celebrity Royal, GR1 Tasmania Cup)
* Brooklyn Lodge (Birdsong, GR1 Gold Tiara)
* Redbank Lodge (Swayzee, GR1 AG Hunter Cup; Leap To Fame, GR1 Miracle Mile & Kilmore Cup, GR2 IAHP Sprint)
* Ian Stanley (pic, Ubetcha Tigerpie, GR2 Renshaw Cup)
* The Pangrazio & Shaw families (Jilliby Ballerini, GR2 Kilmore Trotters Cup, GR3 Bendigo Trotters Cup, LC Terang Trotters Cup)
* Alex Smith (Brooklyn Dan, GR2 Gold Chalice, LC Caduceus 3YO Classic)
* Alabar (Our Vinnie, LC Northam Cup)
* Ross Angove (Ima Boxa, LC Metro Regional Championships)
* Juanita Breed & Aaron Brown (Wicked Confession, LC Running of the Bulls)
* Dr Hugh & Lorraine Cathels (Notanotha Naughty LC Gold Coronet)

HBV ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of Harness Breeders Victoria to present the 2025 season Annual Report was held on Monday 15 March 2026. You can find the 2025 Annual Report and AGM minutes HERE.
A full committee is critical to the functioning of a highly effective kindred body and there are still a couple of vacancies standing - please consider nominating for a position of the 2026 committee by completing and returning a Nomination Form HERE.

Victorian Microchipping of Foals

Microchipping packs are dispersed within days of the live foal notification submission. The packs are sent to the foal's location. Please ensure that if you are engaging your own vet, they scan the code found on the microchipping guidelines to register as an HRV-approved vet. This code is sent with the package or via HRV's website at Foal Notifications & Microchipping - The Trots. This must be done prior to visiting your property to microchip your foal.

Note: HRV will send microchip rebates ($250) once a month to breeders. DNA verification and foal notification through Victoria is required to receive a rebate. More details and all FAQ’s can be found at Foal Notifications & Microchipping - The Trots.

HBV Membership 2026

Membership for season 2026 are still under renewal - if you have not joined HBV for the current season you will soon receive a reminder by post.

Membership in this coming season is more important than ever to ensure the breeders' collective voice is truly being heard - support your very active kindred body in continuing to lobby government, HRA and HRV on behalf of Victorian breeders and commit to representation to the Harness Racing Advisory Council.

Membership benefits will remain the same, including awards eligibility and a hard copy of the 2026 Australasian Standardbred Stallion Guide delivered straight to your door.

Renew Your Membership For 2026 Here

Breed To Succeed - Nutrition in the Breeding Band

A session with experts David Nash (KER) and Andrew Soper (Barastoc) talking all things feeding, nutrition, supplements and breeding with Paul Campbell Campbell’s Comments.You can find all the interviews HERE.

Additional Mare Races for 2026

In collaboration with Harness Breeders Victoria, HRV's racing department trialled additional mares’ races in high horse population areas, reinforcing Victoria’s commitment to mares in their racing and breeding careers and have committed to continuing this program across coming months. The upcoming mares’ races, venues, and grades are listed below:

2024-2025 HRV Annual Report

All the facts, figures and happenings from the previous year, including all the financials.

Read more HERE.

Harness Breeders Victoria Committee Meetings

The next meeting of the HBV committee is scheduled for April and a summary of proceedings will be posted on our website shortly after. We invite members and interested parties to submit papers or correspondence for consideration by the Committee by post or email. Please refer to previously summaries on our website to ensure the issue has not previously been addressed by the Committee. For consideration at the each meeting, members should email papers or correspondence to contact@hbv.org.au.