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Racing

Significant boost for two-year-old harness racing in Western Australia

Racing WA has announced a significant boost to two-year-old harness racing prizemoney, reinforcing WA’s position as the leading jurisdiction in Australia for juvenile standardbreds.

Picture: Racing WA

From 7 August 2026, the 2YO Diamond (Fillies) and the 2YO Pearl (Colts and Geldings) will each increase from $100,000 to $250,000 to be the richest single-sex two-year-old harness races in the country. 

Racing WA Head of Harness Racing and Special Projects Cameron Browne  said the changes reflected the opportunities of racing in WA. 

"There are few moments in racing more rewarding than watching a new crop of two-year-olds step out onto the track," he said. 

"Performances like Ideal Beach winning last year's Group 2 2YO Pearl Final and Wishing Belle in the Group 2 2YO Diamond Classic (pictured below) were real highlights and showcased the depth of emerging standardbred talent we have here in Western Australia." 

The prizemoney increase will see WA become the richest harness racing jurisdiction in Australia for two-year-olds, with total feature race prizemoney rising to $1.33 million.  

When combined with the existing $215,000 Westbred Classics, WA now sits clearly at the forefront of juvenile harness racing nationally, Brown said. 

"This is about concentrating our investment into fewer, higher-impact feature races, with the Pearl and Diamond to be held on the same night in 2026 at Gloucester Park" he said. 

"By doing so, we can improve race quality, attract stronger fields and provide greater certainty for owners, trainers and breeders planning ahead, while also supporting stronger wagering outcomes." 

Both the Diamond and the Pearl will remain stakes-paid races and the uplift is a result of national funding and a reallocation of existing feature races, ensuring eligibility continues to reward early commitment and underpin a strong commercial model for WA-bred stock. 

"We're seeing real momentum in two-year-old racing in WA, and these changes reflect our confidence in the future," Brown said. 


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