Pony Racing Up and Going

Pony Racing is up and going across the nation with the first of the National Pony Racing Series to be conducted at Brisbane’s Eagle Farm Racecourse on Saturday 12 August.

Staged under the banner of the Thoroughbred Industry Careers (TIC) and Pony Club Australia (PCA), its TIC Chief Executive Officer Lindy Maurice who said “the series is for riders to have fun.”

“Yes, the young riders to have fun by experiencing the sport of racing and all the excitement a live race day offers, while also serving an important purpose for the wider industry.”

“This series will help create awareness of career opportunities within the thoroughbred industry and help build relationships between the equestrian and thoroughbred communities.”

“It also helps the riders become educated about thoroughbred welfare and life after racing and we will be working with ‘Kick Up For Racing’ to deliver these important messages.”

“Many pony racing riders in Europe have had very successful careers in the thoroughbred industry worldwide, with the race series open to all PCA members aged between 9 and 15 years old.

“With pony height to be capped at 13.3hh, there is an open invitation for ‘Taster Days,’ designed for fun and educational learning experience, but a shortlist of capable riders for qualifying days.”

“The first of those Taster Days was held just outside Brisbane earlier this month, with Channel 7’s Horse Racing documenting that day on its National Racing coverage on the Saturday.”

Thoroughbred Industry Careers (TIC) has teamed up with Pony Club Australia (PCA) to launch a National Pony Racing Series, which is scheduled to kick off in Brisbane on 12 August.

Run across the five states of Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, and South Australia, it’s to culminate in ‘The Finals’ during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival in April.

In total 120 riders will compete across the race series with 10 riders in each race, and with the series having 12 qualifying races it’s comprising of six individual qualifying race days.

Competing in two different age and height categories before the two finals, which will see the winners and runners-up from each state compete in their sponsors racing colours.

Each pony will wear sponsored racing colours and some of the biggest names in Australian Racing have put their support behind the series including Annabel Neasham Racing and Arrowfield Stud.

In addition, there’s Carl and Lorraine Holt, Chris Waller Racing, Ciaron Maher Racing, Craig Sneesby, Frank and Christine Cook, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing, Godolphin and Inglis.

There’s also Hermitage Thoroughbreds, Jonathan Munz, Linda Huddy, Lizzie Jelfs Racing, Magic Millions, Ranvet, Seymour Bloodstock, Tony Gollan Racing, Woppitt Bloodstock, Yulong Stud.

With Gai Waterhouse, Lizzie Jelfs and Kerrin McEvoy as the Official Series Ambassadors, the series moves onto Moonee Valley on 27 October, following the opening on 12 August at Eagle Farm.

Next it’s the WATC at Ascot on 9 December, the Gold Coast TC the 6 January, ATC at Warwick Farm on 26 January, SAJC Morphettville on 11 March before The Finals at the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

The TIC has staged pop-up exhibition races in Australia that have proved hugely popular with a broad racing audience, which has led to the TIC National Pony Racing Series being formed.

Pony Racing is an exciting sport that’s been administered in Ireland, England and USA, with the emphasis to advance riding ability and skill, along with balance, fitness and control, with the safety of both pony and rider paramount.