PONY RACING IN THE WESSEX AREA

After a highly successful and enjoyable third Pony Racing season in 2007, Point-to-Pointing in Wessex will again be embracing the concept of Pony Racing in 2008 and encouraging youngsters to become involved in racing and perhaps even to become jump jockeys. The coming season will also include pony racing at four point-to-point meetings in our neighbouring Sandhurst area.

The 2008 series of races for 9–15 year old jockeys will take place at the following Point-to-Points:

Date	Meeting	138 cms race	148 cms race	Before/after racing
16/02/08	Vine & Craven	Open	Open	Before
02/03/08	Taunton Vale Harriers	Open	Open	After
09/03/08	Blackmore & Sparkford Vale	Open	Open	After
15/03/08	Quantock Staghounds	Open	Maiden	After
16/03/08	New Forest	Open	Open	Before
22/03/08	Mendip Farmers	Maiden	Maiden	After
24/03/08	Taunton Vale	Open	Open	Before
24/03/08	Vine & Craven (2)	Open	Open	Before
30/03/08	Cattistock	Maiden	Open	After
13/04/08 Rescheduled	Hampshire	Open	Open	Before
12/04/08	Portman	CANCELLED	CANCELLED
20/04/08	Seavington	Open	Maiden	Before
05/05/08	Cotley	Open	Open	After
05/05/08	Hursley Hambledon	Open	Open	Before
10/05/08	Minehead Harriers & West Somerset	Maiden	Maiden	Before
14/05/08	Weston & Banwell Harriers	Open	Open	Before
28/05/08	Larkhill Racing Club	FINAL	FINAL	Before

Please pay special attention to the meetings where we will be holding Maiden races. The Maiden races will be run on the same basis as a Point to Point Maiden race. Once the pony has won a race, they will not be eligible to enter any further Maiden races within the Wessex Area and must take part in Open races in the area thereafter.

For further details, race times and updates, please contact Kim Tripp (Chairman) on 01278 780924 or e-mail Ann Watts (Secretary) on ann4brian@hotmail.co.uk

Entries will be taken by Rachel Stamp, whose details appear below and on the Entry Form. The entry fee is £15 per entry to be submitted on the Official Entry form. For ease of administration, please send one cheque per entry form you submit. Entry fees not received by the close of entries will be subject to a £5 surcharge.

Those placed 1st or 2nd in each race will automatically qualify for the ‘Wessex Area Pony Racing Finals’

Races will take place over 4 furlongs to 9 furlongs and there will be two races restricted to 138cm and under, and up to 148cm ponies. The Area finals will be held at the end of the season at Larkhill Racecourse.

All ponies and riders must have been hunting a minimum of four times together or have attended four working PC rallies, so that they are sufficiently competent to take part.

The experience will be as near to the real thing as possible with riders to wear silks and parade in the Paddock before the race.

The key details are listed below and the full text of the rules can be found at Pony Racing Rules.

Further information on Pony Racing in Wessex can be obtained from:

Kim Tripp
Tel: 01278 780924

Ann Watts
Email: ann4brian@hotmail.co.uk

Entries are to be submitted with an entry fee of £15 seven days before each fixture to:

Rachel Stamp
Apple Tree Farm, Westhill Lane, Bason Bridge,
Highbridge, Somerset TA9 4RF
Tel/Fax: 01278 792359
Email: rachelstamp30@yahoo.co.uk

Please make cheques payable to " Wessex Area Pony Racing"

The 2008 Pony Racing Entry Form is available here

The full Pony Racing Rules is available here

---

For more information on Pony Racing, please see
The Pony Racing Authority website

---

PONY RACING – THE KEY DETAILS

Races
Distances of approx 4 furlongs to 9 furlongs

138cm and under
148cm and under

Maximum number of runners will be 10

Pony Eligibility
Must be at least five years old and not more than 20 years in 2008

Joint Measurement Scheme Certificates of height are to be available on the day and will be accepted

Ponies that have run under any recognized Rules of Racing of any Turf Authority are not eligible

All ponies must be vaccinated against Equine Influenza and have a certificate

Rider Eligibility
Riders MUST be members of the Pony Racing Authority (see http://pra.gb.com for details)

Riders MUST be aged 9-15 years on the day of the pony races

Saddlery & Equipment
Ponies must be turned out with well fitting and properly maintained saddlery

All riders must wear an Approved body protector and a protective helmet manufactured to one of the minimum standards

Dress
Riders must wear cream, white or beige jodhpurs

Silks/racing colours are to be provided by the competitors