Ballarat and District Trotting Club will pioneer a new Victorian region-based harness racing model on Thursday.
The club will run an eight-race day-time meeting based on programming which limits travel for trainers and drivers in line with public health recommendations to slow the spread of CODIV-19 virus.
The state has been divided into six regions, with Ballarat and Melton tracks making up the inner-west.
Only horses trained within the region and drivers who live in it can take part at Bray Raceway and Melton.
Dunnstown trainer David Murphy and Myrniong-based Jess Tubbs have the biggest representation in Ballarat with five starters each.
Murphy is also in demand as a driver, with six engagements.
He begins his day with Meet Michaelangelo in the Ballarat Veterinary Practice Trot, 2200m – a winner at Bray Raceway two starts ago.
Meanwhile, Matt Maguire, a relative newcomer to Victoria, will give two starters their first outings for his stable in Ballarat.
Kraze, formerly trained by Scott Stewart, lines up in the Ballarat Commercial Laundry 3yo Trot, 2200m, and promising type Blue Sparkler is first-up in the Ballarat Sound Trotters' Handicap, 2200m.
Blue Sparkler had three wins in four starts for Emma Stewart late last year, with the 4yo not racing since November.
Based at Melton, Maguire is previously from South Australia and the early part of his career with leading trainer-driver Ryan Hryhorec.
By David Brehaut