Tasracing will officially welcome back the trotting gait to Tasmania’s Standardbred racing industry from 1 July next year.
Tasracing chief executive officer Vaughn Lynch said trotting races would be regularly scheduled from next year.
“Trotting is the most popular gait internationally, especially throughout France and in Scandinavian countries where they race trotters exclusively,” he said.
“It is an important step forward for the local industry.
“We are confident that this will give Tasmanian harness racing the opportunity to be exported around the world.”
The announcement that trotting is set to return to Tasmania coincided with Yabby Dam Racing, a leading Victorian-based trotting establishment, becoming the naming rights sponsor of the 2017 Australian Drivers’ Championship to be held in Hobart on 28 October 2017.
Principal Pat Driscoll said sponsorsing the drivers’ championship in Hobart was the perfect way for Yabby Dam Racing to engage with the Tasmanian industry.
“I am obviously very supportive of the reintroduction of trotting in Tasmania from next year,” he said.
“We are very much looking forward to working with local owners and trainers to build the trotting population in the state.”