Recognising the best of Vicbred in 2022
Following an in-depth committee review of our awards program, Harness Breeders Victoria are pleased to announce the revamped schedule for 2023. While the format of the announcements is still being confirmed, we hope to be making announcements in late March, before the Nutrien Equine Standardbred Yearling Sales.
Our premier award, the Victorian Breeder of the Year will be a celebration of the racing stock produced by a member across the season and we are working with HRV to be able to split this award to recognise larger, commercial outfits as well as emerging, small-scale breeders if possible. Stay tuned for more on this front. This trophy - or trophies - will continue to form part of Harness Racing Victoria’s state-wide awards event to ensure that breeders are featured and celebrated on our industry night of nights.
Continuing with our recognition of the ladies who make it all happen, we will be awarding a Victorian Broodmare of the Year for both pacing and trotting gaits, based on a committee vote.
Each breeder who has produced a Vicbred-eligible Group 1 performer anywhere in Australia for the season will receive a plaque, and all breeders of horses who recorded a time faster than 1:56 or TR1:59 will receive a certificate acknowledging the accomplishment.
We’re aiming to link the Ian Daff Memorial Award to the Ian Daff Memorial race night at Tabcorp Park Melton in March, to enhance the focus on both the late Ian Daff, and the worthy winner of this trophy. For the first time in 2023, the winner will be selected from nominations submitted from the public. These are open until January 5 – refer HERE for details on criteria and how to nominate.
To eliminate duplication and confusion, HBV will cease to conduct its own Championship Awards program. However, if a Vicbred-eligible horse bred by a member is awarded the Victorian Horse of the Year in its relevant category, the breeder will be recognised with a trophy from HBV. Similarly, where a HRA Sire of the Year is awarded to a stallion who was available exclusively at a Victorian stud where the stud master or principal was a financial member for the season, HBV will acknowledge the accomplishment with a trophy. These trophies, were applicable, will be struck and presented after HRA and HRV’s award announcements.
HBV will also continue to celebrate and recognise the efforts in producing and conditioning yearlings by sponsoring the HBV Nutrien Equine Best Presented Yearling Awards. Four awards will be presented, one to a yearling of each gender and gait, following the Melbourne Yearling Parade as determined by an independent judge on set criteria. You can read more about this HERE.
Certain criteria will continue to apply to the awards – horses must be Vicbred eligible and at least one of their named breeders must be a full financial member for the relevant season.
A summary of the 2022 awards:
Victorian Breeder of the Year
Victorian Pacing & Trotting Broodmares of the Year
Victorian Pacing & Trotting Sires of the Year
Ian Daff Memorial Award
Group One Performers
Time Excellence Awards
HBV Nutrien Equine Best Presented Yearling Awards
Championship and Sire awards where HRV/HRA winners are Vicbred and connected to 2022 financial members