Young riders from across Britain will compete in the Qatar Racing Pony Racing Championship for the first time at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday, October 17, 2026, with the contest set to open the action on Qatar Racing British Champions Day.
The championship will be contested by riders on ponies measuring 148cm and under and will form part of the Dragon TV & Film Racecourse Series 2026, delivered by the Pony Racing Authority (PRA). Its place on one of the most important afternoons of the British racing calendar will give emerging riders an opportunity to compete at Ascot before the focus turns to a seven-race programme featuring five Group 1 contests.
The Qatar Racing Pony Racing Championship will also underline the role pony racing can play in developing future professional jockeys. The discipline will give young riders valuable experience in competition while helping them learn how to ride different ponies, understand race situations and develop the skills required for a career in the saddle.
Several leading jockeys will have progressed through pony racing, including Billy Loughnane and Hollie Doyle. Their experiences will provide a strong illustration of how early competition can contribute to the development of riders who go on to compete at the highest level.
David Redvers, Bloodstock & Racing Manager at Qatar Racing, will welcome the championship’s inclusion on British Champions Day. Sheikh Fahad and Qatar Racing will be delighted to support the first staging of the contest at Ascot, while the organisation will also recognise the contribution of the Pony Racing Authority and others involved in bringing the initiative to the prestigious fixture.
Qatar Racing Pony Racing Championship will open the Ascot programme
The Qatar Racing Pony Racing Championship will provide the young competitors with an opportunity to experience the atmosphere of British Champions Day and race on one of the country’s most renowned tracks.
For Billy Loughnane, the occasion will carry particular significance. The 2022 All-Weather Pony Racing Series champion and current leader of the British Flat Jockeys Championship will draw on his own experience of pony racing, which he has credited with providing an important foundation for his professional career.
Loughnane will have learned to adapt to different ponies, develop a greater understanding of racing and gain competitive experience through his early involvement in the sport. He will regard the chance to compete at Ascot on British Champions Day as a major moment for the young riders taking part and an experience they will remember throughout their careers.
Hollie Doyle will also bring her own connection with pony racing to the occasion. A former Pony Club member and four-time winner on Qatar Racing British Champions Day, Doyle will continue to underline the importance of providing young riders with opportunities to develop their skills.
She will regard pony racing as an important way of teaching the fundamentals of riding and competition while encouraging young participants to build a lasting connection with racing. Competing at Ascot on British Champions Day will give the riders an experience that could prove influential as they progress.
Lucinda Campbell-Dutton, Chief Executive Officer of the Pony Racing Authority, will also welcome the opportunity to showcase young talent on such a significant stage. The PRA will be grateful to Sheikh Fahad, Qatar Racing and Ascot for supporting the championship and providing a platform for riders competing in the 148cm-and-under category.
The contest will form part of the wider Dragon TV & Film Racecourse Series 2026 and will place the development of young riders firmly within the programme of Britain’s biggest Flat-racing occasions.
Qatar Racing British Champions Day will take place at Ascot on Saturday, October 17, marking the grand finale of the British Flat season. The seven-race card will include five Group 1 races, more than any other British raceday, alongside the Qatar Racing British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes and the Balmoral Handicap, sponsored by Qatar Racing.
The afternoon will also see the Champion Jockey, Champion Apprentice and Champion Owner titles awarded, adding another important dimension to the fixture.
The Balmoral Handicap will be a Class 2 contest, with entries due to close at noon on September 15. Its inclusion will form part of a programme that will bring together established stars of British racing while also creating space for the sport’s next generation.
The Qatar Racing Pony Racing Championship will therefore provide a distinctive opening to the afternoon. Rather than simply serving as an additional contest, it will give young riders the chance to experience the scale and atmosphere of British Champions Day while demonstrating the importance of pony racing as a pathway into professional racing.
With Ascot providing the setting and British Champions Day supplying one of the sport’s most prominent platforms, the championship will place future riding talent at the forefront of the afternoon before the attention turns to the leading Flat races of the season.
The Qatar Racing Pony Racing Championship will make its debut at Ascot Racecourse on October 17, opening Qatar Racing British Champions Day. The 148cm-and-under contest will bring young riders into the spotlight and highlight the contribution pony racing will make to the development of future professional jockeys.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.