From the Callers Box – February 2025

Welcome to 2025!

And what a year we’ve got coming up.

The inaugural Ultimate Drivers Championship comes up this month and all eyes from the harness racing world will be focused on Albion Park across the two-day event.

Ten of the world’s best drivers will represent their slot holders and chase the lucrative prizemoney on offer and, most importantly, the title of being the No.1 driver on the planet!

And while the on-track action will be brilliant, what can we expect off the track?

Assessing the media coverage, race night coverage, on-track hospitality and general interest will be vital in the making or breaking of the series.

The concept is superb, so I’m sure a few thoroughbred types will be taking notes throughout the series.

And the day after the UDC, the Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale will take place at Albion Park.

The timing seems ideal, straight off the back of the UDC which hopefully carries strong enthusiasm for the owners, breeders and buyers alike.

It’s a strong catalogue with a great mix of both pacers and trotters and some of the best stallions represented mixed with excellent maternal families.

Will the money be strong?

But as soon as we catch our breath, it’s full steam ahead for the Inter Dominion series, the first of three straight years at Albion Park.

Great prizemoney with revised conditions for the series, it sets up perfectly given the change in date which should attract the very best throughout Australasia.

And with certain features from the normal Constellations carnival being staged in the backdrop, Albion Park will be buzzing in July!

Speaking of changes to the traditional Constellations carnival, that means a severely altered but much beefier summer carnival during November/December awaits.

Races like the Blacks A Fake, Sunshine Sprint and Great Square staged in this new timeslot will ensure quality returns to the Sunshine State again.

And given our normal features like the QBRED Triads and Breeders Classics throughout the year, it’s super exciting.

Let’s harness and build this momentum and make harness racing great again.

We’ve all got roles to play.

Until next time.