Let’s go pony racing! How to experience the thrill of galloping down a real racecourse
Calling all future Rachael Blackmores and William Buicks! If you love nothing more than shortening your stirrups for an exhilarating gallop, why not give pony racing a try?
This fast-growing, adrenaline-fuelled sport for riders aged nine to 16 is a great way to experience the thrill of riding on some of Britain’s premier racetracks.
But it’s also proving an essential foundation for future jockeys and point-to-point riders. Champion jump jockey Sean Bowen, young Flat racing star Billy Loughnane and Grand National hero Rachael Blackmore all learned their craft in pony ranks.
Group One-winning Flat jockey Hollie Doyle started out as an “uncompetitive” youngster on her Pony Club pony.
“As soon as I rode in a pony race, I knew I wanted to be a jockey,” she says.
The sport’s governing body, the Pony Racing Authority (PRA) is there to guide you every step of the way, from teaching you the basics through to your first official race and beyond, ensuring you and your pony progress at your own pace.
Pony racing: three steps to the racetrack
Step one: join a taster day
If you’re tempted by pony racing but unsure how to begin, your first port of call is to attend a PRA taster day. They are normally unmounted and tend to take place on the morning of a Pony Club race day, offering a great opportunity to watch the action as well as getting involved in all sorts of activities, such as refining your racing position on a mechanical horse and learning what tack and equipment is needed.
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Step two: practice makes perfect on a training day
The next step is to take your pony to a PRA or Pony Club training day, where you’ll learn all the ingredients that go into race riding, from how to line up at the start to the balance, control and fitness required for riding in a forward seat.
These events also act as qualification for the upcoming season and are a great opportunity to meet fellow rookie jockeys. PRA advanced training days focus on the finer details, while the British Racing School, Scottish Racing Academy and National Horseracing College offer further courses.
Step three: under starters orders!
There are essentially three types of racing to take part in:
- Stand-alone Pony Club race days
- The point-to-point pony racing series
- The PRA racecourse series, which is the premier league of pony racing and held at professional racecourses between May and October (suspended in May 2026 due to a flu outbreak)
Vine branch member William King-Harris, 11, competes in Pony Club race days and was hooked from day one.
“He came last in his first race, but he didn’t care, he just loved being a part of it. There’s great camaraderie and he loves the thrill of it all,” says his mother Charlotte King-Harris, who teams up with other families to hire out local gallops and makes use of the regular racing rallies hosted by their Pony Club.
William, who rides 148cm Bowhaylands Midnight, says: “I love it because you get to race with your friends and riding at proper racecourses makes you feel like a real jockey.”
Up to 10 races take place on Pony Club racedays, split into height sections, with categories from beginners to open riders. Two or three races are held at the point-to-point fixtures, catering for both novice and more experienced riders, with various championships to aim for.
When you’re ready to graduate to the showcase racecourse series, you’ll be competing either before or after professional racing, with each contest (138cm or 148cm and under) mirroring that of a real race, right down to a best turned out award.
Lucas Murphy, 16, who won his first race against the professionals in April, progressed through all three levels alongside his younger brother Finn.
“There’s no gender issue in pony racing – or racing itself – everyone’s on a level playing field,” says their mother Verity Green, who organises the popular Area 9 Pony Club race day at Cheltenham Racecourse.
“With the changing landscape of the UK, riding at speed across open fields is difficult for a lot of people, so pony racing gives you that opportunity.
“But it’s not just about lining up and going as fast as you can! Pony racing is a great skill for any rider to learn – it helps with balance, fitness and judgement of pace, which then applies across the disciplines.”
What you need to take up pony racing
Do I need a flashy pony, fancy silks and expensive racing saddle?
You absolutely don’t need a specialist pony – you don’t need a pony at all!
Head of the PRA Lucinda Campbell-Dutton says, “You can race any type of pony under 148cm”, with the only stipulation being that it is aged between four and 20. The only specialist equipment you need is the requisite safety gear.
Riders aged 11-16 who don’t have a pony but have regularly attended a riding school can apply to the PRA academy scheme, funded by The Racing Foundation and the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
Sally-Ann Dale, whose 12-year-old daughter Lucie competes in Pony Club race days on her home-produced ponies, hosts the PRA academy at her Ghyll Park Equestrian in East Sussex.
“What I think we lack at schools nowadays is team spirit and that’s what Ghyll Park is all about,” says Sally Ann. “I tell the kids that racing is not a team sport, but when you go to the start, you’re a team. Talk to each other and jump off together. I’m more than happy to help anyone.”
As Verity Green sums up, “The way that racing opens its doors and looks after the progression of its young riders is phenomenal. My children have had an absolute ball.”
So what are you waiting for? Head to ponyracingauthority.co.uk for further information and above all enjoy yourselves – let us know how you get on!
Meet the 2025 pony racing champion
Last season, Chloe Fox-Pitt notched up 15 straight wins with Avalon Dancer in the 138cm PRA racecourse series, including the Aintree final. The now 13-year-old is back with the mare in 2026, having also secured the ride on the prolific 148cm She’s A Corker. Chloe, daughter of racing presenter Alice Plunkett and retired five-star event rider William Fox-Pitt, also enjoys eventing, Pony Club and hunting.
How I began racing: “I got a racing Shetland for a Christmas present and did two seasons on him before I got former show pony Maesteg Ruth to do pony racing on. She was very experienced and taught lots of people to race ride.”
Top tips for starting out: “Get as much experience as you can. I went to various places to get training on the mechanical horse. I did three race training days with my pony just to get to grips with it all and to learn what to do.”
The secret of success: “A big part is having a fast pony, but learning when to go, when to pull and how to start a race are equally important. It took me a while to get to grips with Avalon Dancer because she was much hotter than my first pony, but having a pony as good as her last season was so much fun.”
The best aspect of pony racing: “I’ve made so many friends, got to ride at the big racecourses and speak to some amazing people about racing.”
This week’s H&H magazine is our Junior Special with 48 pages for seven-to-14-year-olds who love horses and ponies – check out what else is inside, and if you’d like a copy find your nearest stockist or order a single issue for delivery by post
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Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.