A reality most sports faced at the turn of the decade, the COVID-19 pandemic and challenging cost of living has impacted harness racing support in the region.
Attendance has declined and the Gold Cup has not been at the gold standard once seen before.
But new chief executive of the Shepparton Harness Racing Club Rob Auber wants that to change.
As the 2026 Shepparton Gold Cup was launched on Wednesday evening, the intent to promote the event to its previous reputation as a major sporting date on the Goulburn Valley calendar was evident.
“We're really working hard to get it back and resurrected to a major event for the community to come along and have a great night,” Auber said.
“Part of what the launch is really about to to sell the story and promote the cup and its history.
“I think it's fair to say it used to be a quite a major racing event in Shepparton but probably over some time it has slightly declined since COVID.”
A reinvigorated event, the Gold Cup will host more than just harness racing on January 17 next year, with the addition of a Shepparton trotters cup and heats and finals for Echuca and Cobram harness racing clubs.
These extras will not only set up an enticing Goulburn Valley Regional Cup and Goulburn Valley Trotters Cup, but further the attraction of the Gold Cup’s night.
Away from the racetrack, plenty of effort will also be applied, with hopes even the casual race-goer can enjoy the night of trots.
“We've got a new partner called Monroe and Associates Conveyancing that have come on board, and they've chipped in $5000 as a first prize package to the ‘fashion on the field’ event,” Auber said.
“We're going to have some very lucrative prizes for people to get dressed up on the night to come there, we're going to set up a prosecco bar where people can purchase tickets which will include, finger food, drinks and live entertainment.
“There'll be kids activities, food, bands, so we're going to make the night a massive night from an event perspective, and we want to try to get the message out and get as many people as possible to come along and support their cup, Shepparton's cup.”
Shepparton’s harness racing facilities have become a major hub for the sport, with some of the top class breeding set-ups and complexes in the state.
It highlights the Shepparton Gold Cup won’t be a makeshift fixture - its high quality facilities and competitors make it one of Victoria’s most enticing days, which is why Auber is dedicated to promoting that forgotten fact to the region.
“We have over 100 horses that are homed at the Shepparton complex, that are trained at the complex and also race at the complex,” Auber said.
“We create a lot of opportunities from an investment point of view and as a major centre for racing in Victoria.
“It’s an important fabric of our region.”
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