Birchip is now home to Victoria’s first harness slot race.

Birchip, a town famous for its bull and Australia’s best vanilla slice, is now home to Victoria’s first harness slot race.

The $125,000 Cargill Running of the Bulls on March 8 is the newest addition to the racing calendar, which will have country Victoria at its core.

Birchip Harness Racing Club secretary Brad Sharp said the concept was the realisation of a “dream that has been in the pipeline for four or five years”.

“We are over the moon to have reached this point,” Sharp said. “We are so proud of our once-a-year meeting, and this new race is an incredible addition to the day in 2026 and beyond.”

Thanks to the generous support of major sponsor Cargill, the feature event in Birchip will be run for $125,000 in each of the first two years and boasts a unique set of conditions that asks slot holders to find the right horse at just the right time in their career.

Harness Racing Victoria CEO Matt Isaacs said it was a “terrific concept between the club and HRV, which will turn up the dial on what is already one of the great Sundays of country racing.”

“I congratulate Birchip and its harness racing community in embracing this opportunity,” Isaacs said. “I am sure plenty will line up to be the first slot holder or trainer to win the Running of the Bulls, and that many more will flock to be trackside on March 8.”

Each horse in the final field will represent one of 10 slot holders, which will include the race sponsor Cargill. The remaining nine successful parties will be chosen based on criteria, including their previous engagement and cooperation with the club and HRV, and their capacity to promote and attend the race.

Slots have been set at $10,000 per year, with a two-year commitment for 2026 and 2027. Slot holder expressions of interest close on November 14, 2025, before a committee selects the successful applicants, who will then be tasked with finding their perfect horse.

The 2026 race conditions have been carefully crafted to draw a field of emerging types and country warriors. They include:

• A 2150m pacing race for horses 4YO and older, with a preferential barrier draw (NR)
• Horses must have a national rating of no more than 90 and have not won a race worth $50,000 or more since January 1, 2024
• Horses with a national rating of 91+ are eligible, providing they haven’t won a race worth $15,000 or more.
• The horse must be Victorian-trained from December 1, 2025

Sharp said the club had already received outstanding community support for the concept.

“The club thanks Cargill Cares for getting behind us, a small group of passionate club supporters for planting the seed, and HRV for its support to make it all happen.”

Andrew Lee is the co-chairperson of Cargill Cares, an arm of multinational food corporation Cargill that supports initiatives with local impacts.

“Cargill Cares is set up to support organisations and not-for-profit clubs, and we are really happy to get this project off the ground,” Lee said.

“Myself and fellow co-chairperson, Andy Barber, are thrilled to support this event along with Cargill Cares.

“The annual Birchip meeting is a special one for the local community, and it will now go to a whole new level with Victoria’s very first harness slot race.”

Click here to visit the Running of the Bulls landing page for more information and to register your slot interest.

Originally written and published by HRV at TheTrots.com.au.