RISE Racing is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of the new harness.org.au website, scheduled for go-live on 29 June 2026.
The new platform represents a significant investment in the future of Australian harness racing and has been designed to improve performance, security, usability, and long-term sustainability. The redevelopment has been guided by extensive industry consultation and a clear focus on delivering a modern platform capable of supporting the evolving needs of participants, punters, and industry stakeholders across Australia.
Why we are upgrading the site
The upgrade of harness.org.au is a necessary and important step to ensure the Australian harness racing industry has a secure, reliable, and sustainable digital platform for the future.
While the existing website has served the industry well for many years, it is built on ageing technology that is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, enhance, and protect. Continuing to rely on legacy systems would expose the industry to increasing operational, performance, and cybersecurity risks over time.
The new website has been developed to:
- Improve performance and reliability during peak racing periods
- Better support future growth and the ongoing evolution of industry services
- Strengthen security and protection against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats
- Improve navigation, accessibility, and the overall user experience
- Provide a modern technology platform that can be more efficiently maintained, supported, and enhanced
This upgrade is not simply a visual refresh. It is a critical investment in the future of Australian harness racing that ensures the industry's primary digital platform remains secure, resilient, scalable, and capable of supporting participants, punters, and stakeholders for years to come.
Built with Industry Input
A key priority throughout the redevelopment process has been meaningful engagement with the industry. This has included:
- Direct consultation with professional punters, ensuring that the presentation of race meetings, form, and results meets the needs of high-frequency and data-driven users
- Deeper collaboration with State and National jurisdictions, helping to validate functionality, data requirements, and overall usability
- Ongoing feedback from stakeholders to refine navigation and improve access to key information
This approach has ensured the new website reflects how the industry actually uses data, rather than simply mirroring the structure of the previous platform.
What’s Improved
The new harness.org.au website delivers a range of enhancements, including:
- Improved data presentation for race meetings, form, and results
- Simplified navigation to make it easier to find relevant information
- Improved performance, particularly during peak racing periods
Supporting You Through the Change
We recognise that changes to familiar systems can take time to adjust to. To support participants during the transition, RISE Racing has put in place a number of support measures:
- Dedicated Call Centre Support
A Call Centre (Tel: 1300 556 649) will be available for an initial period following launch to assist with any questions or issues.
- Direct Support Access
You can contact the RISE Racing support team at webadmin@harness.org.au.
- Training and Walkthrough Video
A video overview of the new website will be available, highlighting key features and how to navigate the platform. The videos can be found HERE (YouTube).
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A dedicated FAQ section will be available at harness.org.au/faqs
Access to the Existing Website
To assist with the transition, the current website will remain available for a limited period (approximately 6 months).
A link to the existing site will be clearly available from the new harness.org.au website, allowing users to continue accessing familiar layouts while they transition to the new platform.
A Positive Step Forward
The new harness.org.au website has been designed to better serve the needs of the modern harness racing industry – balancing performance, usability, and the depth of information required by participants and punters alike.
We encourage all users to explore the new platform, review the available training materials, and reach out to the support team if assistance is required.
Further updates, including confirmation of the go-live date and access to training materials, will be provided shortly.
