The inaugural winner of the Alabar HERO Showing Series for retired standardbreds will be a special guest at this Saturday night’s PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup.
Twenty-two-year-old Ballarat horsewoman Eboni Knights has accepted an invitation to partner Harness Racing Victoria HERO Program Ambassador Villagem in a ridden promotion for life after racing.
Eboni, who works with champion thoroughbred trainer Darren Weir, defeated 21 rivals to claim the Alabar HERO Series Final at Bendigo on January 8 aboard 14-year-old gelding Maxwell Smart (racename Equity Wizzbang).
The event was the culmination of an exciting partnership between Harness Education and Rehoming Opportunities and the Victorian Agricultural Shows Limited and offered a $1000 prize for the overall winner.
Finalists earned the right to compete in qualifiers held at agricultural shows throughout Victoria between July and December, 2016.
Maxwell Smart took top honours at Clunes to progress to the Alabar HERO Series Final, which was held in conjunction with the prestigious Victorian Saddle Horse Championships and brought together the most elite group of show standardbreds assembled in this state.
The success was a far cry from his achievements on the racetrack – one placing and a mere $450 in stake earnings from nine starts.
“When I got him eight years ago I couldn’t ride and he knew nothing about being ridden,” Eboni said of the riding school reject, who was on-sold because he didn’t like horses rushing up behind him on the trail.
Two HERO Program Ambassadors will attend this weekend’s PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup meeting – Villagem, a three-time Group 1 pacing winner of 25 races and $625,000 in stakes, and Waikare Aristocrat, who won 15 races and almost $125,000 as a trotter.
The HERO Program is a joint initiative of Harness Racing Victoria and the Victorian State Government via the Victorian Racing Industry Fund and provides pathways for retired standardbreds to move on to productive life after racing homes.
For further information, visit www.hrvhero.com.au
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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