Racing’s next generation will get the chance to showcase their talent on Adelaide Cup Day (Monday, March 11) when the South Australian leg of the National Pony Racing Series is held at Morphettville.
SA is the final leg of the new series which is run across five states and culminates in the finals at Randwick during Sydney’s Autumn Carnival in April.
To participate in the series on Adelaide Cup Day, riders must attend a Pony Racing Taster Day at Onkaparinga Pony Club on Shillabeer Road, Oakbank on Sunday, February 11 from 9am. This will follow onto the adjacent Oakbank Racecourse in the afternoon.
Taster Day is open to all ages and sizes of riders and ponies or horses, who can walk, trot and canter independently.
“If you want to make one of the fields for the Morphettville Pony Races it is imperative that you attend this Taster Day on the pony you wish to try out on,” said Lindy Maurice from Thoroughbred Industry Careers.
“Pony Club members of all ages and abilities are welcome to come and learn new skills, and from this day preliminary fields which meet the criteria will be selected for more training and subsequent selection on the Sunday before the Adelaide Cup.
“Not only is the Pony Racing Series a lot of fun, but it gives young riders the chance to race on the hallowed turf of some of the nation’s best-known courses and Adelaide Cup Day will be a real thrill for South Australia’s up and coming riders,” she said.
The winners and runners-up from the two pony races on Adelaide Cup Day will qualify for two National finals at Randwick.
Each pony racer at Morphettville and across the series will wear sponsored silks of some of the biggest names in racing.
“This series will help create awareness of career opportunities in the thoroughbred industry and help build relationships between the equestrian and thoroughbred communities,” said Lindy.
“Many pony racing riders in Europe have gone on to have very successful careers in the thoroughbred industry worldwide.
“It also helps the riders become educated about thoroughbred welfare and life after racing,” she said.
Champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy, Hall of Fame trainer Gai Waterhouse, Lizzie Jelfs and Lisa Coffey are official ambassadors for the series which is a collaboration between Thoroughbred Industry Careers and Pony Club Australia.
To secure your place at the Pony Racing Taster Day please register on this link: https://pca.justgo.com/Workbench/i/r/public/EventsAndBookingsPublic/details/83A799BA74C7E08D87A186756438433D199CD394/
