The Australian Grand Circuit for Pacers
History
The Circuit began in 1977 and was designed to be the showpiece of the Australian Harness Racing Industry with horses competing from every state within Australia. In 1992 New Zealand was admitted and the Circuit was renamed the Australasian Grand Circuit.
The best horses available are brought together to race for very attractive prizemoney. With the associated opportunities for promotion and marketing, this benefits both owners and harness racing clubs as well as the industry overall. In its first season in 1977, total stakemoney for the eight races forming the Circuit was $554,020.
The Grand Circuit has eliminated date clashes of major races which so often prevented the best horses from competing against each other to the detriment of clubs and the public.
Points were awarded during the Circuit, five points for a win, two points for second and one point for third. The horse with the greatest number of points is crowned Australasian Grand Circuit Winner. The Australian Harness Racing Council holds in perpetuity the Australasian Grand Circuit Trophy on which the name of each Grand Circuit Winner is engraved.
In the past there were a larger number of races (for example: 16 legs in 2005/2006) but in 2012 major changes were announced which reduced the number of races in the circuit, established minimum prizemoney levels and a new points system This was not popular with all industry participants.