State Championships a hit with young riders on Grand Final Eve

Twenty of Victoria's most accomplished Pony Club riders took centre stage at Southside Racing Cranbourne on Grand Final Eve when they contested the 2026 Pony Club Victoria (PCV) Ride To Time State Championships.

The championships were 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 were relocated to Southside Cranbourne owing to The Valley’s redevelopment works. The event was sponsored by the Moonee Valley Racing Club and saw riders from Pony Clubs across Victoria compete for state honours in front of family, friends and racing fans.

The State Championships featured 20 finalists, ranging in age between 13 and 22, who earned their place through regional qualifying events conducted throughout the year. Riders from across Victoria's 10 Pony Club zones competed in the Maiden and Open divisions, which were held before the commencement of the Friday night race meeting at Southside Cranbourne.

Competitors were 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 was 120 seconds for Maiden riders and 109 seconds for the Open division.

A huge congratulations to Jasmine Lynch from the Bairnsdale Pony Club, who won the Maiden Division after posting a time of 1:59.69 - only 0.31 seconds off the target time. The runner-up, Mount Duneed Pony Club’s Madison Borthwick, should also be commended for her time of 2:00.63, which also fell comfortably within a second of the target time.

In the Open Division, Shenae Spratling of the Yarrambat Pony Club took the top honours with an impressive time of 1:49.28, a mere 0.28 seconds off the target time. Four other riders posted a time within two seconds of the target, highlighting the depth of talent in 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.

The Ride To Time State Championships were followed by RV's annual Pony Club Rider Development Day at Racing Victoria on Monday 28 September, where 20 pony club riders participated 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.

Accompanied by eight parents or guardians, the group included several State Championship finalists as well as other Pony Club members who had previously engaged with RV’s Workforce Development Program Coach and jockey Tayla Childs at zone qualifiers and rallies across the state.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of the Ride To Time program is seeing the enthusiasm from both the riders and their families,” said Danielle Smith, RV’s Workforce Development Program Lead.

“Many of these young people return year after year, whether through the State Championships, Rider Development Day or the qualifying events conducted across Victoria, and in doing so they build strong relationships with our Workforce Development team as they begin exploring where a future in the racing industry might take them.

“We're also seeing a growing number of participants enjoying success aboard Off The Track thoroughbreds, which is a wonderful reflection of the versatility of these horses and the strong connection between Pony Club Victoria and the racing industry.

“Through our partnership with Pony Club Victoria, we're able to engage with young riders who already possess a passion for horses and help them better understand the many career pathways available in racing, whether that's in the saddle or in one of the countless other roles that support our industry.”