Harness Racing Victoria will pay out Vicbred bonuses totalling $46,000 to the winners of eight races at Maryborough this Thursday.
The Maryborough Harness Racing Club will host a non-winners day for Vicbred eligible horses, with horses who are yet to record a win in their career racing for bolstered prizemoney thanks to HRV and race day sponsor Harness Breeders Victoria.
Harness Breeders Victoria has contributed $250 towards the stake money for each race, while every successful owner on the day will receive a free winning photograph courtesy of the Maryborough club.
HRV CEO John Anderson said the day provided owners and their maiden horses an opportunity to race for lucrative prizemoney.
“These owners have paid up to be part of the Vicbred series however they haven’t won a race in the lucrative Super Series or received their first win bonus. By conducting this ‘maiden’ meeting connections now have the opportunity to race for substantial prizemoney,” Mr Anderson said.
“The racing is sure to be ultra-competitive and we’re thankful also to Harness Breeders Vic for pitching in $250 to the stake money for each race, and the Maryborough club who will donate a photograph of the winner to each successful owner.
“These bonuses are a great initiative and a very popular way to support our owners, who are the lifeblood of our great sport.”
Maryborough club secretary/manager Les Chapman is looking forward to the “maiden race day”.
“It’s wonderful to be able to give the owners of these horses, who are yet to win, the opportunity to win a race that carries significant prizemoney and provide them with a winning photo to hang on the wall and mark the occasion,” Chapman said.
“This is the fourth time we’ve had the opportunity to run this meeting and it has always been very well supported.
“It will be a very competitive day’s racing.”
Great Western trainer/driver Michelle Wight says the non-winners day is a great initiative.
“Absolutely brilliant,” she said.
“It’s another opportunity for owners to pick some great prizemoney and being a Vicbred bonus it’s great to reward home-bred horses.”
Wight will put the polish on three-year-old trotter Somebuddylikeyou, which broke several times on debut but still ran fourth at Maryborough first-up, and pint-sized filly Ithappensinvegas in the two-year-old pace.
“I bred and own both horses so potentially it could be a huge pay day,” Wight quipped.
“It’s a great initiative.”