New Harness Breeders Victoria chairman has concerns

Newly elected Harness Breeders Victoria chairman John Coffey, one of the most respected figures in harness racing in this country, has viewed his concerns regarding a number of issues confronting the breeding industry in this country.

“I refer firstly to the 11 percent drop in the number of mares bred in Australia by chilled or frozen semen last season compared to the year before,” Coffey said. “Victoria and NSW where an estimated two-thirds of the broodmare herd are based have borne the brunt of the reduction.”

The number of services in the country in the closing season was 4,284, which represents a drop of 530 from the previous year.

“Secondly, the yearling sales for the last two years have been hard work with poor clearance rates, particularly this year. Sure there have been a few high priced yearlings but the middle market for yearlings has gone out the back door!” he said.

“Consequently the majority of breeders who are consigning yearlings to the sales are losing money.”

Coffey said that the National Ratings System was “hurting the breeders of young horses”.

“There is a strong opinion from many vendors that the National Ratings System is discouraging people from buying yearlings to race as two and three-year-olds. The incentive with the system is to race older horses.”

He said that there are some integrity issues that are a problem in the industry at the moment – at least in Victoria, NSW and Tasmania.

“These issues are affecting the breeders quite substantially”.

Coffey stated: “It think it is the owner-breeders that are being impacted more than the commercial breeders. It is not impacting the breeders at the top end.

“We need to find what issues are hindering people from breeding.

“I think it would be a good idea if Harness Racing Australia showed some leadership and started to run some surveys and workshops as a matter of urgency.

“Alternatively, Harness Breeders Victoria can show the way by conducting workshops around the state and reporting back its findings to Harness Racing Victoria.

“The board of Harness Breeders Victoria are committed to looking after the interests of the small breeders.”

Catch A Wave (Captaintreacherous), the winner of The Nullarbor, is proving a great advertisement for the Vicbred scheme. The Captaintreacherous gelding was bred and raised at the Judd family’s Benstud Standardbreds at Katunga

Flaming Flutter, a dual Inter Dominion Final placegetter and who is now standing stud in New York, left his first winner from his only Australian foal in the Maryborough three-year-old winner Doug’s Flame

John Coffey, Pat Driscoll, Lorraine Barnes and Dr Hugh Cathels are the new members of the Harness Breeders Victoria committee. They join Clyde Little (secretary), Maurice Hanrahan (treasurer), Ian Stanley and Sally McPherson

by Peter Wharton, for Harness Racing Victoria