Young riders set to shine at Ride To Time State Championships on Grand Final Eve

Twenty of Victoria's most accomplished Pony Club riders will take centre stage at Southside Racing Cranbourne on Friday when they contest the 2026 Pony Club Victoria (PCV) Ride To Time State Championships.

The championships are the culmination of the annual Ride To Time series, a grassroots initiative supported by Racing Victoria (RV) that combines rider development with valuable exposure to careers and opportunities within the thoroughbred racing industry.

Traditionally held at Moonee Valley, this year's finals have been relocated to Southside Cranbourne owing to The Valley’s redevelopment works. The event, which takes place on the eve of the AFL Grand Final, is sponsored by Moonee Valley Racing Club and will see riders from Pony Clubs across Victoria compete for state honours in front of family, friends and racing fans.

The State Championships will feature 20 finalists, ranging in age between 13 and 22, who have earned their place through regional qualifying events conducted throughout the year. Riders from across Victoria's 10 Pony Club zones will compete in the Maiden and Open divisions, with the Maiden final scheduled for 4:00pm and the Open final at 4:15pm before the commencement of Friday night's Southside Cranbourne race meeting.

Competitors will be challenged to complete a 1000-metre course as close as possible to a predetermined optimum time, requiring exceptional pace judgment, balance, rhythm and horsemanship. The target time is 120 seconds for Maiden riders and 109 seconds for the Open division.

With more than 30 Ride To Time sessions delivered annually across Victoria, the series provides a unique opportunity for Pony Club riders to experience riding on racecourses and training tracks. The series also forms an important part of RV's workforce development strategy by creating pathways for young horse enthusiasts to learn more about careers in the racing industry.

Throughout the past year, RV’s Workforce Development Program Coach and jockey Tayla Childs has travelled across Victoria attending Ride To Time qualifiers and Pony Club rallies to engage directly with participants, share insights into life as a jockey and highlight the broad range of career opportunities available in racing.

While some participants may pursue ambitions as jockeys or trackwork riders, the series’ broader objective is to make the racing industry more visible and accessible to young people with an existing passion for horses, showcasing opportunities ranging from stablehand and trackwork roles through to administration, welfare and regulatory careers.

Ride To Time also plays a part in highlighting the many post-racing pathways available to thoroughbreds, with one of this year’s finalists, Ella Hogan, competing aboard Group 3 Easter Cup winner Plein Ciel. Now retired from the track, Plein Ciel and Hogan, who will represent the Moyhu Pony Club from the North Eastern Zone in Friday’s Maiden division, were selected to represent Australia in the 2026 Pony Club International Alliance Virtual Dressage Training Challenge earlier this year. 

The Ride To Time State Championships will be followed by RV's annual Pony Club Rider Development Day at Racing Victoria on Monday, where young riders from across the state will participate in mechanical horse coaching, strength and conditioning sessions delivered by the Victorian Institute of Sport, and educational workshops focusing on rider mindset and equine welfare.

Quotes attributable to Danielle Smith - RV Workforce Development Program Lead

“Ride To Time is much more than a competition, it is an important workforce development initiative that helps connect young people who already have a passion for horses with the many career opportunities available in the racing industry.

“The series would not be possible without the ongoing commitment of Pony Club Victoria, those who deliver the many Ride To Time sessions throughout the year, and the sponsorship of the Moonee Valley Racing Club and Southside Racing.

“With more than 5,500 Pony Club members across 165 Pony Clubs in Victoria, qualifying for the State Championships is a significant achievement, and we congratulate all 20 finalists who will represent their zones on what promises to be an exciting evening at Cranbourne.”

Quotes attributable to Tayla Childs - RV Workforce Development Program Coach & Professional Jockey

“Every weekend I meet Pony Club riders who are curious about what it takes to become a jockey or work in racing, and Ride To Time provides a natural way to start those conversations.

“Having come through the Pony Club system myself, I know that for many of these riders competing at a racecourse in front of a crowd is a really special experience and one they'll never forget.

“The State Championships are a celebration of their hard work and dedication, but they're also a reminder of the opportunities that exist for young people who love horses and want to explore where that passion could take them.”