Pony Club Kickstart Days at Newmarket and York

Pony Club Kickstart Days at Newmarket and York

Pony Club Kickstart Days at Newmarket and York

Pony Club Kickstart Days open to both Pony Club Members and the general public

The partnership between The Pony Club and QIPCO British Champions Series has been further enhanced for 2017, to offer young equestrians across the UK the opportunity to discover the exhilarating sport of horseracing at three of the nation’s most historic racecourses: Newmarket, York and Ascot.

Along with the popular activity that runs each year at QIPCO British Champions Day in October, QIPCO British Champions Series will now also stage two ‘Kickstart’ days at the beginning of this year’s prestigious Series in May 2017.

‘Kickstart’ days are open to both Pony Club Members and the general public and will be held alongside racing at Newmarket Racecourse on QIPCO 1000 Guineas Day on Sunday 7th May and York Racecourse on Saturday 27th May. The inclusion of a day at York will, for the first time, give young equestrians in the north of the country the chance to get involved in the partnership’s activity.

The ‘Fan Zone’ in association with the Pony Club will return to QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 21st October. The wide range of exciting activities will run alongside the best horseracing action that Britain has to offer, as some of the world’s most valuable thoroughbreds fight it out at Europe’s end-of-season finale.

At all three racedays, attendees will get the chance to earn their Horseracing Certificate through which children have the chance to enjoy a bitesize lesson at the Jockey School, meet an ex-racehorse, find out about the tack and kit used for racing and complete a tour of the racecourse. In addition, Pony Club Members will get the chance to earn their Intro to Pony Racing badge.

ASCOT, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 18:  General views at BQIPCO British Champions Day 2014 at Ascot Racecourse on October 18, 2014 in Ascot, England.  (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse)
ASCOT, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 18: General views at BQIPCO British Champions Day 2014 at Ascot Racecourse on October 18, 2014 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse)

There will also be opportunities to learn about career prospects within racing, such as further education at the British Racing School or Northern Racing College. All attendees will receive ‘The Horseracing Handbook’, which they can use to follow the QIPCO British Champions Series races throughout the summer.  All three days are designed to be highly educational, as well as fun.

Under 18s go free to racecourses nationwide when accompanied by a paying adult and the activities on offer at all three days are also free of charge. A special promotion for accompanying adults is available now for the days at Newmarket Racecourse and York Racecourse, more information is available at the web address below. A maximum of four children per accompanying adult is permitted.

For more information about the Pony Club Kickstart Days, events, ticket promotions, and to register your interest for one or more of the days, visit www.pcuk.org/bcd/2017. To find out more about the 2017 QIPCO British Champions Series, visit www.britishchampionsseries.com.