Category: Fixtures

Qualifying to race this season…

Posted on by Verity Green

Due to hunting and many Pony Club activities drawing to a halt under COVID, we know that many are now struggling their pony and jockey to race.

Please get in touch with your area, postcode, name and jockey/pony details here if this is so or if you have any questions about qualifying.

We are trying to ensure that all children can qualify to race and will put on Training Days where we can, within Government Guidelines.

The 2020 PRA Racecourse Series – Fixture List Released.

Posted on by Verity Green

The Pony Racing Authority are delighted to announce dates for the 2020 Racecourse Series.

We will continue to run open races for ponies measuring 138 cm and under and 148 cm and under.  The 138 cm ponies will carry a minimum weight of 7st 10 lbs and the 148 cm ponies will carry a minimum weight of 9 stone.

New for 2020
We will run a Novice Series for ponies measuring 148 cm and under, carrying a minimum weight of 9 stone. We have introduced a new 146 cm and under category for all ponies measuring under 146 cm including 138 cm novice ponies. Ponies measuring under 138 cm will carry a minimum weight of 7 st 10lbs and those measuring between 138.1 cm and 146 cm will carry a minimum weight of 8 st 10lbs.

Any novice ponies measuring 146 cm and under wanting to compete in a 148 cm and under open race will carry a minimum weight of 8st 7lbs.

Any novice ponies competing in 148 cm and under open races will carry a minimum weight of 8st 10lbs until they are no longer a novice.

Novice Series
The novice series is for all individual children or ponies who have not been placed (1st – 4th) in any Racecourse Series Final in the previous 2 years (2018 and 2019). The aim of the Series is to allow novice combinations to start competing in the Racecourse Series. The races are run as any other Racecourse Series pony race and points won count towards both the Novice Finals and the Racecourse Series Final. Points for Novice Races will be awarded as follows:
6 points for a win,
4 points for second,
2 points for third
1 point for fourth.

All winners of novice races will carry a 3lbs penalty for each win in the Novice Series.
The first 2 placed combinations in each Novice race will automatically qualify for the Novice Finals. The next combinations with the most points will qualify for places until all places are filled.
Any combination winning more than 2 Novice races is no longer eligible to enter further races in the Novice Series, except the Novice Final, in that season.
The Novice races will this season be for ponies measuring 148 cm and under and 146 cm and under. 146 cm ponies will carry a minimum of 8st 10lbs and 138 cm ponies will carry 7st 10lbs. Penalties will be carried in the Novice Finals.
All those riding in Novice Races gain points for the prestigious Racecourse Series Finals at the end of the season.

 

FIXTURE DETAILS

Sunday 19th April – Wincanton Racecourse. Before the main card.
138cm Open over 8f.  148cm Open over 1m 2f.

Monday 25th May – Huntingdon Racecourse. Before the main card.
138cm Open over 7f.  148cm Open over 1m 1f.

Sunday 31st May – Fakenham Racecourse. After the main card.
138cm Open over 7f.  148cm Open over 1m 1f.

Sunday 7th June – Goodwood Racecourse. Before the main card.
138cm Open over 6f.  148cm Open over 6f.

Sunday 5th July – Market Rasen Racecourse. Before the main card.
146cm Novice over 7f.  148cm Novice over 1m 2f.

Saturday 11th July – Ascot Racecourse. Before the main card.
138cm Open over 6f.  148cm Open over 1m.

Friday 17th July – Haydock Racecourse. After the main card.
138cm Open over 5f.  148cm Open over 1m 2f.

Tuesday 21st July – Chelmsford Racecourse. Before the main card.
146cm Novice over 6f.  148cm Novice over 7f.

Thursday 30th July – Nottingham Racecourse. Before the main card.
138cm Open over 6f.  148cm Open over 1m 2f.

Monday 3rd August – Carlisle Racecourse.  After the main card.
With special prizes for ‘Northern’ based riders.
146cm Novice over 6f.  148cm Novice over 1m.

Thursday 6th August – Great Yarmouth Racecourse. Before the main card.
138cm Open over 6f.  148cm Open over 8f.

Tuesday 11th August – Chepstow Racecourse. Before the main card.
138cm Open over 1m 2f. 148cm Open over 1m 3f.

Friday 14th August – Wolverhampton Racecourse. Before the main card.
146cm Novice over 6f.  148cm Novice over 1m 1f.

Monday 17th August – Lingfield Racecourse. Before the main card.
138cm Open over 7f.  148cm Open over 1m.

Thursday 20th August – Stratford Racecourse. After the main card.
138cm Open over 7f.  148cm Open over 1m 1f.

Tuesday 25th August – Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse. After the main card.
146cm Novice over 7f.  148cm Novice over 1m 2f.

Thursday 27th August – Newbury Racecourse. Before the main card.
138cm Open over 6f.  148cm Open over 1m.

Monday 31st August – Southwell Racecourse.  Before the main card.
138cm Open over 7f.  148cm Open over 1m.

Sunday 6th September – York Racecourse. Before the main card.
146cm Novice Finals over 7f.  148cm Novice Finals over 1m 1f.

Sunday 13th September – Ffos Las Racecourse. Before the main card.
138cm Open over 1m.  148cm Open over 1m 2f.

Sunday 27th September – Musselburgh Racecourse. Before the main card.
138cm Open over 7f.  148cm Open over 1m.

Sunday 25th October – Aintree Racecourse. Before the main card.
138cm Open Finals over 6f.  148cm Open Finals over 1m 1f.

All race details correct at time of going to print (13 February 2020). 
Please go to the PRA website for updates and further information.

The Charles Owen Finals

Posted on by Rachael Handley

Since the end of March 2015 the Charles Owen Racecourse Series has featured on many racecourses around the country, with jockeys aiming to secure as many points as possible to qualify for the prestigious finals, this year kindly hosted by Aintree Racecourse.

Both Finals were tightly contested races with the top ponies battling out for both race wins and also points towards the Leading Pony title. After 8 wins from 8 races, Sophie Smith was one of the leading favourites to claim the 138cm title with her pony Push The Button, but sharing the top in the Leading Pony table was Tyler Heard with the Jobs Not Straight.

The 148cm race was also going to be a memorable race for many of the jockeys before they graduated from Pony Racing. James Bowen with Cudlic Verona went into the race as winners of the Leading Pony Title and as partnership that have not finished outside the top two in qualifying races. But there was going to be tough competition from Joshua Bryan (Follow the Star), Conditions Final winner Rachel Sharpe (Mr Marshall) and AJ O’Neill who although only had four runs to his name, included 3 wins.

138cm Final

  1. Sophie Smith and Push the Button
  2. Tamby Welch and Churchill
  3. Tyler Heard and The Jobs Not Straight

148cm Final

  1. AJ O’Neill and Miss Wonderful
  2. Joshua Bryan and Follow the Star
  3. James Bowen and Cudlic Verona

 

Thank you to all those who took part in the series this year and we look forward to seeing more new faces on the  Racecourse Series next year.