Strong Charlton turnout to HRV roadshow

Harness Racing Victoria’s industry roadshow series rolled into Charlton on Tuesday night, and despite wild weather and a busy local calendar, more than 50 participants showed up.

The September roadshows are designed to give participants and the broader trots community a chance to engage directly with HRV leadership, review the 2025 financial year, and hear about forecast plans for 2026 and beyond.

The sessions are fronted by HRV chair Bernard Saundry, CEO Matt Isaacs, and members of the HRV Board, with open discussion on key industry issues such as finances, the Melton land negotiations, the National Ratings system, and the future of the stallion levy.

Charlton Harness Racing Club president Andrea O’Gorman said the support from both community and harness racing attendees was a welcome boost to the club’s efforts to reinforce Charlton’s ongoing importance to the wider industry and the local community.

“We were thrilled to have 55 people attend,” O’Gorman said.

“It demonstrated what we have been emphasising to HRV – that we have huge support as an organisation in our local community, which was great,” she said.

“Given the two funerals (for prominent harness racing people in the local area) were on, there were three other meetings on in town that night and the Charlton theatre was open, we were very happy.”

HRV leadership also toured the Charlton Harness Racing Training Centre – a community-driven initiative that provides a low-cost training base for professional trainers.

The centre allows emerging young trainers to establish themselves in the industry without the prohibitive costs of setting up stand-alone facilities and is currently home to three active stables run by young trainers: Zac Steenhuis and Brittany O’Brien; Michael Gadsden and Emily Wombwell; and Tori Hutchins and Luke Dunne.

HRV’s upcoming Strategic Plan (2026–28), due for release in the coming weeks, is expected to highlight the training-centre model as a key opportunity to strengthen the grassroots base of the industry into the future.

“The tours of the training centre were an eye-opener for them I think,” O’Gorman said.

“All in all, we feel we had a productive private meeting and ingrained in (HRV leadership) a good understanding about the importance of the training centre for our future.”

The Charlton session followed Monday’s Kilmore forum, which drew around 20 in-person attendees but a much larger online audience of 150 via TrotsVision.

There, HRV chief executive Matt Isaacs signalled cautious optimism about the code’s future, pointing to the Melton land negotiations as critical to rebuilding the industry’s financial base.

Last night’s Charlton forum reinforced the importance of grassroots voices in shaping what comes next for the sport.

The series now heads to its final stop at Terang tonight (Wednesday, Sept 17, from 7pm).

From Terry Gange for Harnesslink