Committee Notes
Another year has come and gone and although harness racing still has come challenges ahead, there's evidence that management at HRV are making good progress in steering the industry in the right direction. HBV advocacy has been effective in many areas and we congratulate HRV on introducing strategies like the Vicbred Voucher scheme ahead of the sales, and a revitalised (and so far very successful) mare-only race program (see below for more).
Vicbred horses achieved some remarkable feats on the racetracks - we look forward to seeing that continue and hope breeders are excited by plenty of positive tests from 2025.
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Sales Sunday is finally here
This Sunday sees the first of the Melbourne yearling sales take place at Inglis with a big APG catalogue on offer. Buyer registrations are now open, a mega raffle will be held across the event, and a yearling parade will be live streamed from midday on Saturday. Take a look at HBV member-bred lots on our Facebook Page and see below for more lot info.
The final sale of the season will be hosted at Inglis by Nutrien on Sunday 12th April - more HERE.
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Get ready to shine
Get ready for the industry night of nights on March 22 Victoria's major awards will be announced at Melton including the Caduceus Living Legend, Gordon Rothacker & Pearl Kelly awards, plus the horses, trainers, drivers, breeders and broodmares of the year. Tickets will be available soon - read more HERE.
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February is time for teal
A terrific night of trotting to round out Summer at Melton on Saturday 28th of February - get on board for the Girls Night Out in aid of the amazing Team Teal movement to raise awareness and funds for gynaecological cancer. Details and ticket bookings HERE.
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Mare races proving a boon
In collaboration with Harness Breeders Victoria, the racing department trialled additional mares’ races in high horse population areas in January, reinforcing Victoria’s commitment to mares in their racing and breeding careers. After the success of the concept during that trial period, HRV will continue its big program of mares-restricted races through February, March, and beyond. Read more and find all the upcoming dates HERE.
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Vouchers boost Vicbred
Breeding and sales vouchers provided by Harness Racing Victoria to winning owners as part of the new multi-million dollar Vicbred Vouchers Program are already being used to purchase services to Victorian stallions, and this Sunday may be utilised to purchase a Vicbred yearling at the Australian Pacing Gold Melbourne Yearling Sale.
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Quality at APG
Buyers will be spoilt for choice at Sunday’s Australian Pacing Gold Sale at Oaklands with a quality lineup of of 76 lots due to go under the hammer starting at 1pm. A parade of yearlings will be held on Saturday from 12 noon. The most in-form sires from across the country are among 31 individual stallions represented by their progeny – among the yearlings are 24 by first season sires. Read more HERE.
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2025 Humbletonian Day
HBV were pleased to again issue over $2,200 in cash bonuses to winning breeders on our sponsored all-Vicbred, all-maiden raceday just before Christmas at Maryborough. Congrats to breeders of Sweet Lady Lou, Keayang Kauna, Aldebaranharlequin, Ijustcantseeit, Blackjack Whacko, Stepbystep, Sahara Seakret & Imaboganboy on their suceess.
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Lewis siblings share luv
The western Victorian-based brothers Terry, Peter, Garry, David and Paul Lewis have experienced a purple patch with their breed over the past month or so.
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Vicbred links to the past
Six of the 10 newly crowned APG Yearling Sales Vicbred Super Series champions carry the blood of previous winners of the time-honoured classic.
Its Confidential, the winner of the $100,000 Final for three-year-old colts and geldings, is a son of the dual Vicbred champion Poster Boy and Speak No Evil, the three-year-old fillies’ champion in 2018. Both were bred and raced by Bill and Anne Anderson’s Lauriston Bloodstock, who also bred Its Confidential.
Read more HERE.
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Blind mare founds dynasty
I Am Wilma, the convincing winner of the fastest heat of the APG Yearling Sales Vicbred Super Series for three-year-old trotting fillies at Melton, was the result of a breeding program hatched by Jeparit enthusiast Wayne Schulze and his former breeding partner Dale Eastman that goes back to 2000. Read more HERE.
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Summer member highlights
* Cahillio Pty Ltd (Don Hugo, GR1 Blacks A Fake)
* Danny Zavitsanos (Arrhythmia, GR2 Breeders Crown 2YO Fillies)
* Durham Park (Captain Perfect, GR2 Breeders Crown 3YO C&G)
* David & Anne Jack (Adelaide Red, GR2 Breeders Crown 2YO Trotting Fillies)
* Staffordshire Park (Keayang Kurki, GR2 Breeders Crown 3YO Trotting Fillies)
* Redbank Lodge (War Dan Buddy, GR3 4&5YO Championship)
* Louise Pangrazio, Mal & the late Joan Shaw (Jilliby Ballerini, GR3 Bendigo Trotters Cup & LC Devlins Dancer)
* Di Kelly (Steno, GR3 Make Mine Cullen)
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98 not out for this breeder
Ninety-eight-year-old Shepparton breeder Helen Head is living proof that age is just a number. A mainstay of the Victorian yearling sales since 1990, Helen and her late husband Graham established Grenada Park Standardbreds in 1974 with their foundation mare being the New Zealand-bred Madame Han. The couple were recognised for their achievements in the sport with the Harness Breeders Victoria Breeders of the Year award in 2007. Read more HERE.
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Beginners luck...
It was a case of beginner’s luck for Melton breeders Ian and Angelica Attard, whose first ever broodmare Elita ranks as the dam of the star two-year-old filly Pre Eminant, an impressive winner of an APG Yearling Sales Vicbred Super Series heat at Bendigo.
Read more HERE.
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Double delight for breeder
Prominent Wagga horseman & HBV member Paul Kahlefeldt (Redbank Lodge) had a ‘night of nights’ at Cranbourne last Saturday when he bred the winners of two of the four Group races at the Gippsland club’s signature meeting. Read more HERE.
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SAVE THE DATE - HBV ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting of Harness Breeders Victoria to present the 2025 season Annual Report and appoint 2026 committee members will take place online HERE. All financial members are invited to attend. An agenda and the Annual Report will be circulated in the new season.
7PM MONDAY 16 MARCH 2026
A full committee is critical to the functioning of a highly effective kindred body - please consider nominating for a position of the 2026 committee by completing and returning a Nomination Form HERE.
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2024-2025 HRV Annual Report
All the facts, figures and happenings from the previous year, including all the financials.
Read more HERE.
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Silver winner is just fine
A deal arranged by legendary Goulburn Valley trotting scribe Gus Underwood and leading nursery Llowalong Farms about five years ago paved the way for the APG Yearling Sales Vicbred Super Series Silver 2YO Trot winner Hallebesofine. Read more HERE.
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Foal Notifications
Breeders can now submit foal notifications online via HarnessWeb from August 1 rather than waiting until September. It provides more flexibility for managing breeding records and you can watch a step-by-step tutorial via YouTube above.
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Changes to mircrochipping
HRV will introduce a flexible, breeder-friendly approach to microchipping Victorian-registered foals, which has been designed to support participants while streamlining processes and reducing industry costs. Owners will have two microchipping options for the 2025 season to comply with HRA rules for horse identification, which are each supported by one-off $250 rebates per foal. Read more HERE.
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Traceability Rule Updates
A recent change has been made to the options available when selecting the option of “Industry Retirement Program” from the drop down menu when retiring your Standardbred in HarnessWeb. The retirement category labelled “Industry Retirement Program” specifically refers to retrainers/rehomers or retirement organisations recognised by State Controlling Bodies (SCB) and, once selected, will only allow you to choose from a pre-determined list of options. Read more HERE.
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HBV Membership 2026
Membership for season 2026 are now open and reminders have been posted out.
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.
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Breed To Succeed - Leg Conformation in the Foal
A detailed presentation on foal leg conformation and treatment options from preeminent veterinary surgeon, Dr Ian Fulton of Ballarat Veterinary Practice, with a comprehensive Q&A with Paul Campbell of Campbell’s Comments.You can find all the interviews HERE.
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Harness Breeders Victoria Committee Meetings
The next meeting of the HBV committee is scheduled for March following the AGM 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. |
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Headline image: A 2024 colt by Poster Boy out of Christian Cullen mare Glenferrie Diva, bred by Noel Templeton
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