High Hope Pony Races

High Hope Steeplechase Pony Races
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Kentucky Horse Park • Lexington, Kentucky

Small Pony Flat Race:  For junior riders who have not had their 16th birthday as of January 1st on small ponies (12.2 hands and under) who are 5 years old and up. Distance: about 3/8 mile on the turf

Medium Pony Flat Race:  For junior riders who have not had their 16th birthday as of January 1st on medium ponies (over 12.2 hands but shall not exceed 13.2 hands) who are 5 years old and up. Distance: about 1/2 mile on the turf

Large Pony Flat Race:  For junior riders who have not had their 16th birthday as of January 1ston large ponies (over 13.2 hands but shall not exceed 14.2 hands) who are 5 years old and up. Distance: about 1/2 mile on the turf

Lead Line Trot Race: For riders not to have had their 7th birthday as of January 1st on small or medium ponies.  Riders may have a leader assigned to them, but may also have additional assistance from an adult for riders who need a little extra help.  This race is meant to be safe,  fun, and not super competitive.

Scroll down for rules.

ALL Race Entries and Fees: $40 (per race) due with entry by NOON on Monday, Sept 17
Nomination Fee for International Challenge (per race, limit of 2 after scratch time): $60 due by NOON on Friday, Sept 14th with $40 additional to enter which is due by NOON on September 17th.
Fees are non-refundable.  Multiple entry fees may be paid by sending one PayPal payment directly to USPonyRacing@gmail.com for the total of all fees.  Please indicate what entries the payment is for and what races they are entering.

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HIGH HOPE PONY RACE RESULTS
INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE RESULTS

2018 H.H. Sheikha Latifa Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival
International Pony Race Challenge

Riders who are between the ages of 10 years old and 14 years old on November 10th are eligible to compete for the opportunity to attend the HH Sheikha Latifa Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ponies Cup at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on the main track (turf) inAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on November 9thto represent the United States.  This trip is sponsored by HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the leading rider of the appropriate age and his or her parents to attend the 2018 Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Conference on Education and Training and the 2018 HH Sheikha Latifa Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ponies Cup in Abu Dhabi, UAE.  Trip total estimated value: $10,875

Riders wishing to participate in the Challenge must be nominate their entries.  Fee structure, entry and nomination information, rules, trip description, and more information on this opportunity may be found HERE.

PRESS RELEASE for the International Pony Race Challenge

*** The High Hope Pony Races will be under the management of U.S. Pony Racing.  Entries and any questions regarding the pony races should be directed to Regina Welsh, US Pony Racing, Director.  She may be reached at Regina@goponyracing.comor 410-340-2347***

RULES FOR HIGH HOPE PONY RACES

  1. Riders in the High Hope Pony Races are to not have had their 16th birthday as of the first of the year.   The rider who participates in the 2018 HH Sheikha Latifa Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ponies Cup MUST have turned either ten (10) or be no older than fourteen (14) years of age on November 11, 2018.
  2. All entries must have protective vest, an approved helmet, overgirth, safety stirrups, yoke/neck strap, paid entry and signed release before being permitted to compete.
  3. Riders may compete in all pony races, but entries riding in more than one race and participating in the challenge must pick two of the three races for which they would like to earn points towards the Challenge. The races that will count for points must be declared by scratch time at NOON on Tuesday, September 18th.
  4. Rider and pony combos must be approved by US Pony Racing. Approval may be done in advance or by attending pre-race clinic on Saturday, September 22 (time TBD) the day prior to the race.  Rider must demonstrate control of their mount and be capable of safely galloping in a group.  Basic rules or racing will also be covered in this clinic.  There is no additional charge for the clinic.
  5. All ponies must have a current negative coggins and a health certificate.
  6. All ponies should be a minimum of 5 years old.
  7. Ponies may be measured on or prior to race day if there is question to their size.Pony measurement cards will be accepted (USEF or MSA cards only).  A small pony shall not exceed 12.2 hands. A medium pony shall be over 12.2 hands but shall not exceed 13.2 hands. A large pony shall be over 13.2 hands but shall not exceed 14.2 hands.
  8. Riders are not to have had their 16th birthday as of the first of the year. Please see additional information about ages that may qualify for the Sheihka Latifa Challenge.
  9. Riders are not to have ridden in a sanctioned or Pt-to-Pt open race over fences or on the flat other than Young Rider Restricted races.
  10. Entry and nomination fees are non-refundable.
  11. Trainers must be at least 18 years of age and assume all responsibility for their entry.
  12. Ponies may only start in one race per race day.
  13. Entry fees must be paid before entry will be accepted.
  14. There will be a limit of 12 runners per race.  Races may be combined or split as deemed appropriate by the committee.
  15. Ponies are not to have started in a non-pony specific flat race in the last 12 months (namely small TB’s at the racetrack).
  16. Riders should be an appropriate size for their mount.
  17. The committee reserves to the right to refuse an entry for any reason.
  18. No whips, spurs, blinkers, check reins or non-traditional gear other than a standing or running martingale.
  19. Entries close at NOON on Monday, September 17th and should be made with US Pony Racing.
  20. No substitution of pony after entries close.
  21. All entries are subject to review by the High Hope Pony Racing Committee. The Committee reserves the right to refuse or disqualify any entry for any reason.
  22. In the event of a tie for the Challenge, the committee reserves the right to determine the tie breaker as they see fit.
  23. All ponies must be measured by a US Pony Racing official before being permitted to run. USEF and Maryland Steeplechase Association measurement cards will be accepted.
  24. NO stallions, ridglings, or mares more than 5 months in foal.
  25. There will be a mandatory course walk for ALL riders either the evening before or the morning of the races.