The Irish Pony Club (IPC) will join forces with the Curragh Racecourse on the opening day of the inaugural Curragh Autumn Festival on Saturday 28 September.

The initiative, which started 10 years ago, returns to the Curragh having been staged at Naas over the past two years.

The objective of the day is to showcase horse racing to IPC members from all over Ireland and also for the IPC to celebrate the end of their busy summer season with a fun and exciting day for all the family to enjoy.

One of the most exciting aspects of the initiative is the Jockey Skills Training Course, which took place last weekend at the world renowned Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE) in Kildare Town.

Ten lucky IPC members took part in the course: Seersha Watson (Bray Hunt Branch), Rory O’Donnell (Scarteen Hunt Branch), Lauren Hartley (Waterford Hunt Branch), Holly Gleeson, (Newcastle Lyons Branch), Jessica Stokes (Tipperary Hunt Branch), Jack Lucey (Muskerry Hunt Branch), David Russell (Scarteen Hunt Branch), Alexandra Egan (Kildare Hunt Branch), Ted O’Leary, (Westmeath Hunt Branch) and Rachel D’Arcy (Shillelagh and District Hunt Branch).

All participants were assessed over the weekend by the team at RACE and will all receive presentations on the race day and the overall winner will receive the Jockeys Skills Perpetual trophy. The riders will also take part in an exhibition race on the famous Curragh racetrack following the last race at 5.30pm. The riders will all be judged during this race and the most stylish rider will receive a prize sponsored by the Curragh.

The day will be filled with a range of entertainment for all the family, including a display from the winning IPC National Musical Ride team from Co Clare who will perform on the track between races.

The IPC has enjoyed a long and successful association with horse racing with a number of high profile jockeys starting off with the IPC, such jockeys include Joseph O’Brien, Katie Walsh, Nina Carberry, Barry Geraghty, Paul Carberry and Kate Harrington.

The eight race card starts at 1.25pm and more information can be found at www.curragh.ie.