by Trots Media
The annual Harness Breeders Victoria Vicbred Humbletonian meeting at Maryborough on Thursday will see 10 Vicbred eligible horses secure their first ever win.
Every horse on the 10-race card is a maiden and given they are signed up to Harness Racing Victoria’s (HRV) Vicbred program, the connections of each winner will receive a first win bonus of $7000 courtesy of HRV – except in the case of a five-year-old or older horse winning, where the bonus will be $3500.
“This is a great day for those owners who have supported the Victorian breeding industry by paying up for their horse to be Vicbred eligible,” HRV General Manager of Racing Glen Canty said.
“The horses running at Maryborough on Thursday have not been in the winner’s stall yet, so this is their chance to earn top dollar. It’s one way HRV and the breeding industry can say thank you to these owners and breeders for continuing to support Vicbred and racing their horse.”
HRV has paid out $158,000 via the Vicbred First Win bonus on Humbletonian day over the past three years ($46k in 2014, $56k in 2015 and $56k in 2016).
The funds committed to support days such as the Humbletonian ensure the Victorian breeding industry remains strong.
“Our local breeders play a vital role in our industry and our ongoing support of the Vicbred program will help the breeders prosper into the future,” Mr Canty said.
Harness Breeders Victoria (HBV) has also once again thrown its support behind the Humbletonian day.
As well as being naming-rights sponsor for all races on the 10-event card, HBV is offering $2500 worth of bonus prizemoney across the 10 races ($250 each race) to the breeder of each winner.
“HRV is thankful for the ongoing support of Harness Breeders Victoria, not only through HBV offering the bonus payments to the winning breeders but through promotion of the event itself,” Mr Canty said.
The Maryborough club is also offering a $250 cash bonus to the winning breeder of each pacing race, providing that person is on-course on Thursday.
And the Victorian Square Trotters Association (VSTA) is also offering $250 cash bonuses to the winning owners of the trotters’ races, providing that person is on-course and a financial member of the VSTA.
The Maryborough Club has also struck a deal with photographer Clair Weston, which will see owners receive a winning post photo of their winning horse, a snap of the horse and driver returning to scale and a post-race shot of the owners.
The day’s racebook competition will see $300 offered to a punter who can select the last five winners’ jackpot and there will be chocolate draw giveaways throughout the day.
HRV is also co-funding owners’ and breeders’ hospitality with the Maryborough club.
Owners and breeders of horses engaged on the day will receive a hospitality voucher on arrival that is redeemable for food or drinks throughout the day.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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