Ponies
All Ponies must be aged between 5 and 20 years. Stallions and colts are not permitted to run. No Pony may compete in more than one Pony Raceon the same day.
All Ponies aged 5 - 12 years competing in the Racecourse Series must be microchipped. Any Pony found not to be microchipped will not be permitted to run on the day, and future Entries will be declined until The PRA has evidence from The Joint Measurement Board Ltd. that the Pony has been microchipped. The Owner of any Pony found not to be microchipped is liable for a £150 fine.
(i) In the event that a Pony is found not to be microchipped it will be called for re-measurement in accordance with JMB Rules and at the measurement a microchip will be inserted.
No Pony that has raced under the Rules of any recognised Turf Authority including the Arab Racing Organisation may compete.
All Ponies must be Entered and run under the name listed on its valid passport. Ponies are not permitted to use Racecourse Stables on the day of the Pony Race.
All Ponies must hold a valid annual Pony Registration Certificate (PRC) registered with the Chief PRA Steward. All PRC's must be accompanied by a clear photograph of the Pony, a complete copy of the Pony's passport and, if applicable, valid JMB Height Certificate.
(i) PRCs must be received by post or in person by the Chief PRA Steward no later than 12 noon on a Monday in order to be eligable to enter in races whose Entries close the following Friday.
(ii) Any changes to the information provided on the PRC during the course of the season must be notified in writing to the Chief PRA Steward by the Owner within five working days.
(iii) Once registered with a PRC, Ponies are not permitted to run in any race not recognised or authorised by The PRA.
Since 1st August 2009 the Pony and Rider as a combination must have finished
(i) First to fourth in a Point-to-Point Pony Race or
(ii) First to fourth in a Racecourse Series Pony Race or
(iii) First to fourth in an Open Pony Club Race or
(iv) Have attended a British Racing School or Northern Racing College Level 3 Pony Racing Training Day
Ponies must either have been out with a recognised pack of Hounds, Draghounds or Bloodhounds a minimum four times in the current season or haveattended at least four working Pony Club Rallies together with a qualified Rider.
(i)All ponies competing in the Racecourse Pony Racing Series must hold a valid Joint Measurement Board Scheme Certificate (JMB Certificate) or a Full Height Certificate, a photocopy of which must be provided with the Entry and the original presented on the day of the race. Failure to provide this at either stage will result in the Entry being refused and/or the pony withdrawn from competing on the day.
(i) For ponies measuring between 136cm & 138cm and 146cm & 148cm in height, a photocopy of its valid JMB or Life Height Certificate must be provided with the Entry and the original presented on the day of the race. Failure to provide this at either stage will result in the Entry being refused and/or the Pony being withdrawn from competing on the day. Ponies will be checked randomly at venues. Two independent Vets will assess Ponies Entered for a race and a Pony considered to be more than two centimetres (shoe allowance) over height may be required to have its passport/Height Certificate ratified by the Joint Measurement Board. Ratficiation must be done within 28 days and the Pony will not be permitted to race again until its Passport/Height Certificate has been ratified. It is the Owner's responsibility to ensure that a Pony is the height stated on its Passport/Height Certificate. All costs and fees will be met by the Owner of the Pony.
For each race one in the 138cm & Under Racecourse Series a Pony will carry a cumulative 3lb penalty for each race won. In the 148cm & Under Racecourse Series a Pony will carry a cumulative 5lb penalty for each race won. The maximum penalty a 138cm & Under Pony may carry is 12lbs and the maximum penalty a 148cm & Under Pony may carry is 15lbs. All Ponies will carry the minimum weight in The Finals.
Ponies Entered do so under the condition that they may be routinely tested for microchipping and/or prohibited substances in line with procedures within British Horseracing Authority Rule C3 57 under these Regulations at any time when on site at a host Racecourse or Point-to-Point whether declared to run or note.
No Pony shall be eligable to be Entered or run in Pony Races that is trained by a person holding a permit or licence to train under the Rules of any recognised Turf Authority except in the circumstances of the legal parent or guardian of the Rider being such an individual.
Any Pony that is disqualifed from a race by The PRA will have 10 points deducted from the current season.
Pony Identification and Vaccination
(i) No pony shall be permitted to take part in any PRA recognised Pony Race unless
(a) Accompanied by its current valid Vaccination Certificate (which must be handed to The PRA Steward or Organiser on the day for inspection)
(b) Accompanied by its Passport and valid JMB Height Certificate (the originals of which must be handed to the PRA Steward or Organiser on the day for inspection)
(c) It has a Pony Registration Certificate (PRC) registeerd with the Chief PRA Steward in accordance with Regulation 14.
(ii) Every Pony must have a valid Vaccination Certificate, which undeniably relates to that Pony, completed, signed and stamped on each line by a Veterinary Surgeon, who is not the owner of the animal. It must state that the pony has received two injections for primary vaccination against Equine Influenza given no less than 21 days and no more than 92 days apart. (Only these first two injections need to have been given before the pony may compete). In addition, a first booster injection must be given no less than 150 days and no more than 215 days after the second injection of the primary vaccination. Subsequently, booster injections must be given at intervals of not more than one year apart (anniversary injections are acceptable eg. 1st March each year), commencing after the first booster injection. None of these injections must have been given within the preceding seven days, including the day of the Pony Race.
(i) A Passport will not be regarded as being completed as required under The PRA Regulations if any record of vaccinations against Equine Influenza is altered in any way. An incorrect entry must be deleted and a new entry made, signed by the Veterinary Surgeon who was responsible for giving the vaccination.
(ii) The owner of any Pony which enters the racecourse on the day on which a PRA Pony Race shall be guilty of an offence when either:
- That pony has not been vaccinated as required for which there is an instant fine of £25 which will be imposed on the day
- The vaccination section of the Passport has not been endorsed as required or the said document is not available for inspection as required for which there is an instant fine of £25 which will be imposed on the day
(iii) If there is a breach of Regulation 49(ii) the Pony will not be permitted to run on the day
(iv) It shall be the responsibility of the Owner to ensure that when any Pony enters the racecourse on the day on which a PRA Pony Race is held that its Passport is available for inspection at any time while it is on that property. It is also the responsibility of the parent / legal guardian of a Pony to ensure at all times vaccinations required under the Pony Racing Regulations have been correctly administered and properly entered on the Passport.
Disqualification of Ponies
Where a Pony has been the subject of an examination and the result of an Analysis of any Sample is positive, the Pony and Rider shall be disqualified for the racein question. Furthermore the Owner shall be guilty of an offence and will be required to pay a mandatory fine of £250 to The Pony Racing Authority.
A Pony may be disqualified from its race on account of its Rider carrying the incorrect weightor not weighing in, taking the wrong course or through dangerous riding.
A pony is not qualified to be entered or to start for any Pony Race if it has run under the Rules of any recognised Turf Authority
A pony is not qualified to start for a race:
(i) If it has not been duly Entered for the race
(ii) If it has not been declared a runner
(iii) If it has not been vaccinated in accordance with Regulation 49(ii) or if the details of such vaccination are not correctly recorded on its Passport
(iv) If its Rider has not weighed out
(v) If the correctly endorsed Passport has not been produced
(vi) If it has received any vaccination against equine influenza within the seven days previous to the race
(vii) If it is found to exceed the height allowed
(viii) If it contravenes Regulations 10-20
Pony Heights
Ponies must measure 138cm & Under or 148cm & Under on the day of the Pony Race, referable to the height restrictions that apply to the race in which the Pony is entered.
Any Pony may be subject to a formal re-measurement at the request and absolute discretion of The PRA (or, under the terms of its Rules, the JMB) at any time during the Pony Racing season by written notice from either The PRA or JMB and sent by First Class post to the address of the Owner ("the notification letter"). For the avoidance of doubt it will not be a defence for the Owner to claim the notification letter was sent to the incorrect address provided that the notification letter was sent to the Owner's address provided to The PRA on the PRC.
If requested to present a Pony for re-measurement it is the responsibility of the Owner to comply. The Owner is solely responsible for ensuring that the PRC held by the Chief PRA Steward for each Pony owned by the Owner contains accurate information. Accordingly, it is the Owner's responsibility to notify the Chief PRA Steward in writing of all changes (including of address) and other changes of Ownership throughout the Pony Racing season in accordance with Regulation 14(ii).
Failure to comply with a notification letter will result in the Pony's disqualification from the current Pony Racing season. In the event that a Pony subject to a notification letter has not been presented for any reason whatsoever for re-measurement by The JMB within 20 working days of the date of the notification letter the Pony will be disqualified from all recognised PRA Pony Races during the current season.
Failure to comply with a notification letter will result in the Pony's disqualification from the current Pony Racing season. In the event that a Pony subject to a notification letter has not been presented for any reason whatsoever for re-measurement by The JMB within 20 working days of the date of the notification letter the Pony will be disqualified from all recognised PRA Pony Races during the current season.
Ponies will be formally re-measured in accordance with the Joint Measurement Board Ltd. Rules subject to the absolute requirement under these Regulations that the Owner complies with Regulation 24. For the avoidance of doubt Regulation 24 takes precedence over the Rules of The JMB Ltd.
Any Pony that has its JMB Height Certificate withdrawn by The JMB or is formally re-measured at the request of The PRA or JMB and subsequently found to be above height with respect to the height restrication applicable to the race in which it was running will be disqualified from that category and the Owner liable for a £150 fine to The PRA at the discretion of The PRA Board. For the avoidance of doubt, if a Pony running in 138cm races is found to be above that height then it will be entitled to run in 148cm races during the current season.