On the heels of Tim Tetrick heading downunder for a number of races in Australia this month, some of his contemporaries will follow suit in early 2016.
Some of the best drivers from around the world will converge in Australia next March for the inaugural International All Star Series conducted by Harness Racing Victoria.
Five local drivers will represent Victoria on tracks right across the state, while five star international reinsmen will make up the World Team.
The series will culminate on Great Southern Star night at Tabcorp Park Melton (Saturday, March 12).
HRV General Manager of Operations, Vaughn Lynch is excited about the new series which will cast an international spotlight on Victorian harness racing across International Week.
“We’re pumped to have some of the best drivers in the world heading Down Under to compete in the International All Star Series,” Mr. Lynch said. “And I expect the Victorian stars will be holding their own, too, led by world record reinswoman and the first woman to ever win a New Zealand Trotting Cup, Kerryn Manning.”
Representing Victoria will be Chris Alford and Gavin Lang (over 5,000 wins each), Greg Sugars (over 2,000 wins), Kerryn Manning (world record reinswoman) and Jason Lee (two-time Concession Driver of the Year).
The World team will be made up of New Zealand pair Dexter Dunn (current World Driving Champion) and Anthony Butt (seven-time A. G. Hunter Cup winner), Canada’s Yannick Gingras (the No. 1 money-winning driver in North America and one of the biggest names in the sport worldwide) and leading U.S. drivers Brett Miller and Corey Callahan.
“This is going to be great. I’m so excited to be heading to Victoria for the first International All Star Series,” Gingras said. “There will be no holds barred out there and I’m really looking forward to getting on track, as I imagine all the guys will be.”
The International All Star Series will see the stars trek from Melton on Monday, March 7 to Echuca on Tuesday night, March 8. Then it will be off to Maryborough for Wednesday, March 9, Ballarat on Thursday night, March 10 and the action turns to Bendigo on Friday night, March 11.
There will be four International All Star Series races on each night except the final meeting, the Great Southern Star, when there will be one.
In addition to attending the trots around Victoria the drivers will also be getting involved in a range of community events, sending the harness racing message to the masses.
“The Victorian industry will garner worldwide attention from this series,” HRV CEO John Anderson said. “It will engage young people right across the state and trots fans will be able to meet their heroes in person, which will be great for the promotion of the industry.
“Providing country clubs with the opportunity to showcase the world’s best is also a key component and one that I’m sure the clubs involved will embrace enthusiastically.”
All the competing drivers will be wearing personalised silks, which they helped design themselves to reflect their personalities. All of the races will be penalty free and trainers’ incentives will also be offered.
HRV acknowledges the important State Government funding this project has received as part of the Victorian Racing Industry Fund.
(with files from HRV)
