ABOUT THE EPRA

HISTORY

The European Pony Racing Association was founded in 2022, to provide a forum for those involved in the organisation of Pony Racing across the region. It is formed under the auspices of the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation (EMHF) and is chaired by the EMHF’s Secretary-General, Paull Khan, who explains how the EPRA came about:

“We held an EMHF Seminar in London in 2021, hosted by the British Horseracing Authority, on ‘Sourcing, Educating and Supporting Stable Staff and Young Jockeys’. Clarissa Daly, Chief Executive of the Pony Racing Authority in Great Britain, gave a presentation which highlighted the pivotal role Pony Racing can play in finding future stars in the saddle, as well as other members of racing’s workforce. Many EMHF member countries have cited difficulties in finding jockeys in sufficient number and of the requisite calibre, so it seemed important to find out whether the EMHF could do anything to help in this process.

EPRA Chair Paull Khan

“Delving further into the Pony Racing world, it became clear that the people organising the sport were working very largely in silos, ignorant of what was going on in other countries. This was similar to the situation we had found in Beach Racing, which had prompted us to start the European Beach Racing Association. It seemed to me that there would be benefit in mirroring that approach with Pony Racing. My Executive Council agreed and we put out feelers late in 2021 to gauge the level of interest.

“That level of interest turned out to be very high, I am pleased to say, and no fewer than 13 countries joined the EPRA.

“After a couple of virtual meetings, at which we exchanged information about the Pony Racing set-ups across the continent, and agreed upon how the Association would work, we decided to hold our first in-person Annual Meeting in Hungary, which was a great success”.