Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Chairman Dale Monteith has welcomed today’s Andrews State Government announcement of a joint funding package of $362,000 to help ensure harness horses are afforded a quality life in retirement after their racing career has finished.
The Government is providing $181,000 to the Harness Education Re-homing Opportunities (HERO) program, HRV’s flagship and industry-leading horse welfare program, to retrain retired racehorses to become trail riding ponies, competitive show and eventing horses, or simply pleasure animals and family pets.
“HRV is extremely grateful to the State Government for this ongoing funding, which will help us to recruit suitably-skilled people as registered re-trainers and to increase the number of horses in the HRV HERO program,” Mr Monteith said.
“The response to the program has been overwhelming and we are receiving enquiries on a daily basis from owners and trainers who are interested in offering horses.
“We look forward to further increasing the number of horses re-homed each year with this vital assistance.”
Speaking to media today at Aldebaran Park in Nagambie, Victorian Minister for Racing Martin Pakula said the Government was proud to be supporting the HERO program.
“The HERO program has been an outstanding success in its first 12 months and we’re proud to be supporting it for another year,” Mr Pakula said.
“This program is vitally important because it improves the welfare of harness racehorses by re-training and re-homing them.”
Also at today’s announcement were former top-line pacing racehorses turned HERO ambassadors Villagem and Tanabi Bromac.
In the first year of the HERO program, more than 200 horses were either re-homed or placed with a registered HERO trainer in preparation for re-homing.
So far this financial year, more than 60 horses have been brought into the program and many of them have already been placed in their new homes.
The HERO program is also working with the Victoria Police Mounted Division to identify horses that may be suitable for police duty.
Funding for the program will be sourced from the Government’s Victorian Racing Industry Fund. HRV will also contribute $181,000 to support the program.
Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said Government funding was vital for the horse racing industry.
“This funding boost will help to support the racing industry which delivers thousands of regional jobs and economic benefits to the community,” Ms Symes said.
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