Standardbred outplacement program Raising the Standards is set to receive an official assistance package, set out by Harness Racing Victoria and the Coalition Government as part of the Victorian Racing Industry Fund.
The Infrastructure Development Project will allow for improvements to be made to the Black Saturday-affected Raising the Standards training property located in Clonbaine, Victoria.
Raising the Standards is an ex-harness horse rehabilitation and re-homing program endorsed by Harness Racing Australia and Harness Racing Victoria.
In operation since 2009, Raising the Standards has provided quality retirement options and education to a high number of Standardbred horses.
Harness Racing Victoria Chief Executive Officer John Anderson said the assistance package was a clear show of support for Raising the Standards and a measure of both HRV and the Coalition Government’s commitment to standardbreds post their racing careers.
“The Raising the Standards program is overseen by Nicole Tassone and is at the forefront of re-educating and re-homing these wonderful horses.
“Over recent years the organisation has already placed more than 120 retired standardbreds in new homes all over Victoria where they assume roles as pleasure, pony club and show horses.
“HRV values the support and contribution from the Victorian Coalition Government to assist HRV with this initiative to improve and further develop the facilities utilised by Raising the Standards to continue its great work in finding new homes for many more retired standardbreds.”
The infrastructure improvements made possible as a result of the package will provide necessities to Raising the Standards’ horses such as additional paddock shelters as well as holding and quarantine yards.
An upgraded horse float and the re-surfacing and upgrading of Raising the Standards’ existing arena, to provide a safer working area for the training of program horses will also be funded by the $54,713 each contributed by the Victorian Government and Harness Racing Victoria.
Such improvements will provide respite to Raising the Standards’ team, who have been working tirelessly to maintain an exceptionally high level of care to program horses without suitable infrastructure.
Victoria’s Minister for Racing Dr Denis Napthine confirmed the Coalition Government’s commitment to the post-racing wellbeing of retired racing animals and said the issue was a priority for all racing codes.
“The Government takes the issue of animal welfare in all three racing codes very seriously. A commitment to animal welfare and continual improvement in this area is integral to the good governance and integrity of the Victorian harness racing industry.”
Raising the Standards has housed and re-trained several harness racing greats over the past three years including A G Hunter Cup winner About To Rock, Vicbred Super Series and Australian Pacing Gold champion Blatant Lie and Inter Dominion heat winner Diamonds N Furs.
The Raising the Standards program also works closely with organisations such as Riding for the Disabled, training horses specifically for RDA programs. An exclusive Channel 7 report featuring this collaboration can be found here.
For further information on Raising the Standards simply visit www.raisingthestandards.com.au or email raisingthestandards@hotmail.com.
