Written by Keely Mckitterick
Cover image courtesy of Thoroughbred Industry Careers
Lindy Maurice, chief executive officer and founder of Thoroughbred Industry Careers (TIC) is pleased to announce TIC has teamed up with Pony Club Australia (PCA) to launch a National Pony Racing Series. The series will run across five states: Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia.
Thoroughbred Industry Careers and Pony Club Australia are set to hold the first qualifying race of the series in Brisbane at Eagle Farm Racecourse on Saturday, August 12. They will culminate in ‘The Finals’ during the autumn racing carnival in Sydney next April 2024.
The announcement comes on the back of several hugely popular pop-up exhibition races.
An exhibition pony race | Image courtesy of Thoroughbred Industry Careers
TIC exhibition pony races have been held at several tracks in Australia recently. A broad racing audience enjoyed the exhibition races and these were the catalyst for Thoroughbred Industry Careers and Pony Club Australia to inaugurate the TIC National Pony Series.
“This series will help create awareness of career opportunities within the thoroughbred industry and help build relationships between the equestrian and thoroughbred communities,” Maurice said.
“This (TIC National Pony) series will help create awareness of career opportunities within the thoroughbred industry and help build relationships between the equestrian and thoroughbred communities.” - Lindy Maurice
The TIC National Pony Series will hold a number of Taster Days where all Pony Club Australia members are invited to participate. The Taster Day will shortlist the most capable riders for the qualifying races and provide participants with a fun and educational learning experience.
The first Taster Day was held in July just outside Brisbane, Queensland, with Channel 7’s Horse Racing documenting the day on national coverage on Saturday.
The TIC National Pony Series is open to all Pony Club Australia members aged between nine and 15 years old, with the height of ponies capped at 13.3hh.
The TIC National Pony Series will comprise 12 qualifying races over six individual qualifying racedays with two different age and height categories before the two finals. This will see the winners and runners-up from each state complete.
The Brisbane Racing Club will host the first qualifying event on August 12, followed by Moonee Valley Racing Club on Friday, October 27, and the Western Australia Turf Club at Ascot on Saturday, December 9; the qualifying events will continue at the Gold Coast Turf Club, Saturday, January 6, 2024, the Australian Turf Club at Warwick Farm on Friday, January 26, and the South Australian Jockey Club at Morphettville on Monday, March 11, before The Finals in Sydney over the autumn.
Gallery: Moments from previous pony races, images courtesy of Thoroughbred Industry Careers
TIC Chief Executive Officer Lindy Maurice said the objective of the series is for riders to have fun by experiencing the sport of racing and all the excitement a live raceday offers while also serving an essential purpose for the wider industry, given pony racing has laid the foundations for many successful riders, particularly in Europe.
“Many pony racing riders in Europe have had very successful careers in the thoroughbred industry worldwide,” Maurice said
“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.”
Lindy Maurice | Image courtesy of Thoroughbred Industry Careers
With 120 riders and ponies set to compete across the series, each qualifying event will consist of 10 riders per race, and each pony rider will wear sponsored colours from some of the biggest names in Australian Racing.
Among the organisations to pledge their support to the TIC National Pony Series are Godolphin with their royal blue and the black and yellow diamonds of Arrowfield Stud. Yulong's bottle green, white checked sleeves will also be represented.
Annabel Neasham Racing, Chris Waller Racing, Ciaron Maher Racing, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing, Woppitt Bloodstock and Seymour Bloodstock will be represented.
Queensland’s premier stable, Tony Gollan Racing, has pledged its support, as have Hermitage Thoroughbreds, Ranvet, Carl and Lorraine Holt, Francis and Christine Cook.
Other prominent racing identities include Craig Sneesby, Linda Huddy, Jonathan Munz and Lizzie Jelfs Racing in addition to auction houses Inglis and Magic Millions, who will all have their colours on show.
TIC National Pony Series has appointed Champion Trainer Gai Waterhouse, champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy and the prominent racing media personality Lizzie Jelfs as official ambassadors for the series.
