THE reintroduction of pony trot racing at harness meetings around the state has led to the resurgence of junior involvement in the code.
Many years ago hardly a race meeting passed during the summer and early autumn months without pony trot racing being scheduled at country and metropolitan tracks.
But for eight years pony trot racing was banished to the back blocks for a number of reasons but thanks to a joint venture between the industry’s controlling body Tasracing and the race clubs this pathway into the sport for children between the ages of six and 16 has been reopened.
Pony racing has always been considered by the industry as a great pathway for children to learn many of the skills required to participate in harness racing.
Caring for the horse at home and learning how to prepare their steeds for their races is a necessity and on race day the young drivers are taught how to behave at a race meeting with the horse’s welfare always the first consideration.
In Hobart last Sunday night the final pony trot meeting of the season was held and five horses and six drivers competed in two races.
The events were well organised and the way all horses were turned out was a credit to these youngsters and their parents and relatives who spend countless hours preparing the horses for race day.
The pony trots were reintroduced during the summer of the 2012-13 season and boasted nine ponies on the roster and that has increased to 14 this season.
Popular southern based trainer-drivers Adrian Duggan and Marc Butler assisted with the running of the two races on Sunday night as their children were competing.
Billy Butler aboard My Sir Duke emerged triumphant in his heat from Rassy Big Girl that was driven by a very enthusiastic Jacob Duggan who looked to be emulating his father the way he was encouraging his horse to the line.
The competition was keen but at the end of the day the aim is for these children to have fun as well as learn the importance of caring for a horse and to learn the various aspects of harness racing that could one day lead to them becoming qualified reinsmen and reinswomen.
Adrian Duggan believes the pony trot races should remain an integral part of the industry.
“For a while there the young ones were starting to shy away from going to the race meetings but now that we’ve got the pony races back up and running the kids can’t wait to get to the races,” he said.
“The kids love being able to drive in these well organised races and they have some responsibility with them as well because they look after them at home and are required to get them ready for race day just like we do with our horses.”
“These children who are competing in the pony races are our future.”
“While not all of them will go on and try and make a career from driving and or training, they are at least being given the chance to see whether or not they like it and that’s very important,” he said.
This season pony trot races were held at 15 race meetings between December 5 and March 16 with the likelihood of that being extended next season.