It was announced on Monday (January 18) that the board of Harness Racing Victoria has determined that standing-start races will cease to be programmed for pacers effective September 1, 2016.
Via release, HRV stated that an alarming decline in wagering turnover on standing-start races in recent seasons has now become detrimental to the future of the Victorian industry.
Feedback from wagering operators states punters are switching off standing start races – especially younger punters – and that standing start races are damaging harness racing’s brand, according to HRV.
The racing organization has stated that analysis of wagering trends has shown that for the six months ending December 31, 2015 there has been a 27 per cent gap in wagering between mobile and standing-start races, and that the gap is increasing each year. Also, the number of standing-start races has progressively declined over the years.
In season 2010-11 there were 190 standing start races for pacers, compared to just 86 – or 2.25% of the total number of races run – in season 2014-15.
“The board has been reviewing standing start races for some time, both from a wagering and an image perspective. On both counts the Board has viewed standing start races as harmful to the viability of the industry,” HRV CEO John Anderson said.
“It is imperative that HRV acts in the best interests of the industry and at times that means decisions such as this have to be made for that purpose.
(With files from HRV)