A NEW harness racing series will hold its qualifying event in Swan Hill next month after being created by Kyabram’s Llowalong Farms.
The series for mid-class pacing mares, hopes to support mare and filly racing, as well as encourage owners towards breeding.
Owners will be competing for $20,000 at the series final, as well as the chance to win free service to one of Llowalong Farms’ 2023 stallions.
Following the first of two heats in Echuca, Swan Hill will host the qualifier on July 26 before the series’ final at Bendigo on August 2.
Swan Hill Trotting Club’s Gerard Moloney said Llowalong Farms had been a strong supporter of the trotting club.
“We’ve got a very good association with the team at Llowalong,” he said. “All three clubs are sponsored by Llowalong Farms and have been for a number of years.
“It’s an honour for us to run the heats, and we are sure to be down in Bendigo to cheer on any local horses that might get to the final.
“It’s a feather in our cap, we’re rapt to be a part of this series.
Mr Moloney said the stallions at Llowalong Farms was top-notch, including an American world champion making his Australian debut, King Of The North.
“They stud five or six stallions over there,” he said. “They’re really good quality, the quality of stallion is very high at Llowalong.
“They just acquired another really top-notch stallion (King Of The North), who will be another highly sort after stallion.
“The winner of each of the heats also receives a stallion service, as does the winner of the final as well. It’s a pretty amazing series really.
“Each of the clubs also receives the stallion service fees and we are able to use them however we would like to.
“Every year we are a stallion tender, so Swan Hill will be planning on using the stallions that we receive in that stallion tender, which will be fantastic for us.”
The series is named after the two daughters of Llowalong Farms principal Dr Kath McIntosh.
Dr McIntosh said the promotion of mare and filly racing was important for the future of the entire racing industry.
“It’s so important for the broader industry to support mare and filly racing,” she said.
“It ensures we have viable commercial markets for fillies and sets up a progression to the breeding barn where all our race stock comes from.
“Llowalong Farms is proud to contribute through our support of this series, and with the addition of a stallion service to each winner, hopefully we can encourage owners to have a go at breeding this season too.”
Llowalong will host a farm open day on September 10, where the farm will parade sires.
