Harness Racing in Australia is largely a sport for the everyday average person. Those involved love their horses and do the very best on limited funds to produce some of the best horses in the world. The Harness Racing Industry is largely a family based industry with many families having bred, owned, trained and driven standardbreds over many generations. They have bred to the best they could afford, mostly from overseas shuttle stallions in an attempt to improve the breed in Australia. 

Harness Racing Australia, which is made up of a board represented by each state of Australia, are wanting to introduce a $2 million dollar slot race which would make it the worlds richest harness race. Unlike other codes Thoroughbred racing and Greyhound racing who already have large purse races which are funded by those taking part in the race or sponsorship, Harness Racing Australia are proposing to introduce a Tax or Levy on stallion service fees for stallions that are not permanently located in Australia. This tax/levy is set at different amounts depending on whether the stallion shuttles from overseas each season or is frozen semen.  This tax/levy will hit the very people at the core of the industry, the everyday breeders in such a way many will be unable to afford to continue to breed.  HRA consulted with the industry once and an overwhelming 90% of breeders were opposed to the tax, note harness racing participants are not opposed to the race but are opposed to funding a race that would allow the rich to get richer and that will never offer them any benefit. 

Some breeders costs will increase by thousands of dollars each year which they simply don't have and will never see any benefit from. 

The Breeders Voice is asking participants be they breeders, owners, trainers or drivers to sign this petition including their name & address plus their role in the industry to stop this unnecessary tax/levy being introduced. 

1. We are calling for Harness Racing NSW to rescind their decision in support of HRA's stallion tax/levy proposal to help fund the Eureka race.
2. We are calling on Harness Racing Australia to rescind their decision to impose a stallion/levy tax to fund the Eureka race. 

If this decision is not rescinded many family based and small everyday breeders together with commercial breeders will either cease breeding or drastically reduce their involvement in a sport they love which will inevitably result in a loss of jobs and livelihoods.