Committee Notes
The commercial sales wrap up this month and we wish our members with stock on offer this weekend in melbourne all the best with their lots. Figures obtained from HRV show there are plenty of positives in racing mares and fillies in Victoria and hope that this is reflected in the results at Nutrien.
We are pleased that the current committee of Maurice Hanrahan, Jess Tubbs, Sally McPherson, Ian Stanley and Clyde Little will be joined by additional members. Final details and positions are being worked through and will be advised in the near future. It is worth noting the recent appointment to the HRV board of long-time HBV member and breeder, Dennis Bice of Yorkshire Park and congratulate Dennis on his new role. The new HBV committee looks forward to continuing to work with HRV on improving the situation for breeders for the 2024 season and beyond, and welcome their announcement on 2YO Vicbred First Win Bonuses (see article below).
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Nutrien Sales Melbourne
A reminder that the final yearling sales of the season will take place at Oaklands this weekend, a three-day event with a parade and our best presented yearling awards on the Friday and the sales across Saturday and Sunday. The catalogue is available HERE and you can find more information including how to register HERE.
Thanks to HRV's 2023 season data on Victorian race, the value of fillies and mares in our state is clear - buyers shouldn't hesitate when it comes to inspecting filly lots at Nutrien this Sunday:
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Breeder Education Opportunities
A proven way to get the most from your investment in breeding is to have a solid knowledge of reproductive health. These upcoming events in Shepparton and Ballarat are a MUST for breeders coming into the 2024 breeding season. The GV Equine Hospital has long been recognised as expert in this area and at $50, their two-day short course cannot be missed, while the Minitube Tech Day gets into the nitty gritty of the AI process, and is perfect for anyone thinking of working in the field. Our own Breed To Succeed event is being planned for August but these opportunities are a fantastic way of building your knowledge.
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Minitube Equine Tech Days
From breeding supporters Minitube: Equine Tech Days aim to bring together the respective parts of the horse breeding industry for discussion and further learning. From veterinarians, veterinary nurses, technicians, industry bodies and breeders, there is something for everyone! Download the information flyer HERE.
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2023 Season Victorian Breeder Awards
Harness Breeders Victoria are looking forward to our 2023 season program of awards for member breeders. For the first time, the three key breeding awards - the Woodlands Stud Victorian Breeder of the Year, the Benstud Victorian Pacing Broodmare of the Year and the Aldebaran Victorian Trotting Broodmare of the Year - will all be announced and presented at HRV's Victorian Harness Racing Awards dinner on June 23rd. We look forward to showcasing the nine nominees for these prestigious awards in the lead up to the night and celebrating our winners with the rest of the industry. Once again, after HRV's event, we will be presenting trophies to each member-breeder who's Vicbred-eligible horse is named as winner of a Victorian Horse of the Year category, thanks to the sponsorship of Minitube Australia, Llowalong Farms, Renown Silverware and Australian Pacing Gold.
The Metro Printing Ian Daff Memorial Award will be announced and presented at the start of the Nutrien Equine Melbourne Yearling Sale at Oaklands on Sunday 14 April. The winner, someone deemed to have given tenured service to the wider Victorian breeding industry, will be interviewed by Campbell's Comments soon after the announcement. We will also be showcasing our Haras des Trotteurs Group One Performers, and the Nutrien Equine Time Excellence Award recipients across this week.
Learn all about the HRV event including the nominees in each Horse of the Year category:
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CLOSES THIS MONTH!!
Get those cameras clicking, Vicbred breeders - we’re on a quest to find a fantastic foal to grace the cover of the 2024 Australasian Standardbred Stallion Guide.
A panel of graphic designers will select six finalists to be presented six images to a VERY special judge who will choose their favourite foal photo to grace the cover of all hard copy Stallion Guides in 2024. All entrants will also be showcased in a dedicated album on our Facebook Page, and the final six will feature in the Guide itself. Read full details with terms and conditions HERE.
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Member Group Results
Congratulations to Group 1 & topline race winning member-breeders:
Robert Watson - Soho Spectre (GR1 NSW Derby)
Danny Zavitsanos - Fox Dan (pic, GR1 Bathurst Gold Crown)
Yabby Dam Farms - Im Ready Jet (GR 1Sumthingaboutmaori Mares FFA)
Breckon Farms - Kyvalley Hotspur (Charlton Trotters Cup)
Buckland Park Homestead - Mercenary (Horsham Trotters Cup)
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Preparers - don't forget that there will be trophies and prizes on offer for the best presented yearlings at April's Nutrien Equine Standardbred Yearling Sale taking place at Inglis Oaklands and proudly co-sponsored by HBV as a way of recognising and promoting professionalism in this element of our industry. You can find the criteria used for this program by clicking the image above.
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2024 Member Renewals Due
The season is now well underway and we still have a number of members who have not renewed - simply return that form or use the new, easy direct-pay function via the link below to take up membership for the 2024 season and help support breeders across Victoria.
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Vicbred Bonuses for $4,501 two-year-old races
In March, Harness Racing Victoria announced a strategy to be trialled throughout April and May, which is hoped to provide trainers more confidence in getting their two-year-olds to race level. The races will be run with a minimum of five starters for pacers and four for trotters. These races will be programmed as $4,500, but if a field of eight or more runners accept for the race, the stake money will increase to $7000. Harness Racing Victoria has subsequently confirmed that the winners of all $4,501 two-year-old races programmed for both pacers and trotters will also be eligible to collect their full Vicbred bonuses, seeing the winner of these smaller-field races take home up to $14,251:
- Vicbred Pure bred horses will earn with prizemoney $14,251
- Vicbred Platinum bred horses will earn with prizemoney $11,251
- Vicbred horses will earn with prizemoney $10,251
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Breed To Succeed - Mare Health & Placentitis
Paul Campbell of Campbell’s Comments talks to Dr Kath McIntosh of Northern Rivers Equine Veterinary Clinic about placentitis, what it means for broodmares and general broodmare health.
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Harness Breeders Victoria Committee Meetings
The next meeting of the HBV committee is scheduled for Saturday 13 April 2024 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 a meeting, members should email papers or correspondence no later than two weeks prior to meeting dates (next meeting not withstanding - the next one will be held in May).
The minutes from our most recent AGM can be viewed HERE. |
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Headline image: Illawong Bardot (Muscle Mass) and her Sebastian K foal, bred at Rhiannon Park.
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