Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) has introduced an all new Regional Championships series to make way for inaugural running of the Million Dollar Pace.

The Million Dollar Pace has been scrapped for this season due to the recent regionalisation of harness racing in NSW.

The four regional bases introduced by HRNSW last week will now host Regional Championships series, that will culminate in four group one finals, including one at Wagga on Friday May 22.

The series will have the same conditions as the Million Dollar Pace and be only for Australian bred horses with a rating no higher than 70.

HRNSW chief executive John Dumnesy believes the Regional Championships will be an adequate replacement for the Million Dollar Pace.

"Firstly I must thank Tabcorp executives for providing harness racing the opportunity to convert the series which now provides for all eligible horses in NSW to contest," Dumnesy said.

"Whilst we have lost other races from the calendar because of the required regionalisation within NSW and the closing of state borders, which limited opportunities for all horses, these Regional Championships will deliver to our participants - owners, trainers and drivers.

"From last February all eligible horses must have been located and trained in a specific region, so this aspects remains in place.

"The Championships dates have been held to the schedule previously set for the Million Dollar Pace so the training of horses specifically set for that race series is not affected."

Each of the four regions in the state will host two rounds of heats, with a maximum of five heats per round. Prizemoney for the heats will be $9,500.

Each region will also run a $14,500 consolation final alongside of the group one $100,000 final.

The heats of the Regional Championships at Wagga will be run on Fridays, May 8 and May 15, before the final on May 22.

Meantime, Temora trainer Ray Walker continued his good run with a winning double at Riverina Paceway on Tuesday night.

Walker had success with Roll A Dream ($5.00) in the Auswest Seeds NR47 Pace (2270m), with Daryll Perrot doing the steering.

Walker then guided debutant Red ($4.40) to victory in the Lion Nathan Maiden Pace (2270m) to complete the double.

It was a confident drive from Walker on Red, making an early move to the lead and he kept him running all the way to score by eight metres in a mile rate of 1:58.1.

"He went okay. I'm not sure how good the ones are behind him but I'm pleased with him," Walker said of Red.

"He might be better than I think he is, hopefully."

Red is owned by Michael Cahill at Goolgowi. Roll A Dream is owned by Walker and his wife Jane.

Walker also had Plumpton Road run second.

READ MORE