Over one-third of the 440 horses competing at this weekend’s Marcus Oldham Ballarat International Horse Trials are former racehorses.
Racing Victoria’s (RV) Off The Track program, which aims to facilitate the placement of retired thoroughbreds in secondary careers, is now in it’s sixth year of sponsoring the event.
One of Victoria’s premier equestrian events, the Ballarat International Horse Trials attracts a wide range of riders from juniors making their competitive debuts right through to Olympic standard athletes.
Held over the next three days in Ballarat’s picturesque Victoria Park, the event will see elite competitors from across Australia take on the best of Victoria’s equestrian talent.
Six of RV’s Acknowledged Retrainers will be in attendance competing on a host of retired racehorses, including Simon Tainsh, Lou Abey, Sophia Landy, Teagan Carney, Maureen McGrath and Molly Barry.
In the RV Off The Track EVA 105, a total of 28 former gallopers will do battle. With a further 28 lining-up in the CIC*, including 2016 Triequithon winners Anna Church and Viewbank Icon, as well as new RV Acknowledged Retrainer Sophia Landy aboard former Gai Waterhouse-trained hurdler, Camon Houdini.
The CIC** will feature 10 Off the Track thoroughbreds including Testa Rossa gelding Ruadhan, and Shinakuma ridden by Molly Barry.
The feature class, the Ballarat Business CIC***, is highlighted by the appearance of LP Boudin, a former Fran Houlahan-trained 24-start gelding, who is now a seasoned eventer.
Additionally, Off The Track is also sponsoring the best performed ex-racehorse for the cross country element of all EVA and FEI classes.