The club will host the night meet on Saturday, September 12.

Manager Mark Roberts explained there would be a minimum of four races with stake money of $20,000 each.

"For the meeting you're looking at a minimum of $120,000 in stake money," he said.

"It's a significant increase on normal midweek races."

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Roberts said there would probably be eight races on the card.

Ecklin South trainer Mattie Craven is thrilled.

"A meeting of metro significance is not only reward for trainers, drivers and owners but also those who don't get any recognition," he said.

Craven said it meant less travel for south-west trainers and drivers.

They would normally have to travel hours for big-money meets.

"We spend that much time on the road chasing these races," he said.

"We purposely haven't gone to a number of Saturday nights because those races have been in Shepparton.

"We find it's just a bit too far to go most of the time.

"We're electing to go to races at Ballarat and Bendigo.

"To get one at Terang, it's not just beneficial for us but our owners, horses and all the people in racing throughout our region."

Craven also felt it was a reward for effort during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Everyone has worked so hard through this period to make sure all protocols are followed which has enabled meetings to go ahead so far," he said.

Roberts was stoked for the south-west harness racing community.

"It'll give people in the region down here the chance to run for that better prize money," he said.

"Whereas in recent times in regional races they have had to go to Shepparton or Bendigo.

"It makes a difference for participants in terms of the time they get home at night."

Harness Racing Victoria is operating under a region-based model due to the pandemic.

There are hubs such as Melbourne and surrounds, which includes Cranbourne and Melton, and North West which is Mildura.

Terang is currently in the country hub for racing which includes Ballarat, Bendigo, Charlton, Echuca, Kilmore, Maryborough, Shepparton and Stawell.

It means teams from these eight other areas can attend the Terang meet on the second Saturday in September.

Roberts isn't sure how many the night meet, restricted to participants-only, will attract.

"It's hard to tell," he said.

"The basic rule of thumb is the better prize money brings in the better horses."

Roberts explained Harness Racing Victoria had already been distributing its metropolitan class meets to areas such as Bendigo and Shepparton.

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