THE Up The Yard Challenge Race for Irish stable and stud staff will return to Punchestown for their new meeting on bank holiday Monday, February 3rd.

First introduced in 2017, the concept was to host a challenge race to provide an opportunity for stable and stud staff to achieve the ambition of riding not just on a racecourse, but at the home of Irish jump racing.

Event organiser and Punchestown sponsorship manager Leona Hughes said: “Most who work in horse racing usually have a dream to ride in a race at some stage. Ireland is full of brilliant jockeys. It’s such a competitive industry and we all know some talented horse men and women, who ride out every day, but for whatever reason didn’t go on to become jockeys.

“The Up The Yard Challenge gives them a chance to take centre stage and show everyone what they can do.”

Hughes is urging those interested to check the qualifying criteria and then be brave and get themselves nominated. Racing yards and stud farms are invited to nominate riders that meet the criteria by Monday week, December 16th.

From the nominees, a final list of 16 riders and four reserves will be selected. All selected riders must qualify to take part by completing a one-day charity race assessment at RACE in Kildare. Nominees must have their names, date of birth, contact number and name of nominating yard submitted by email to lhughes@punchestown.com by December 16th and this must include approval by the employer.

Rider criteria

  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • Must not have ridden under rules on the track/point-to-point in any jurisdiction prior to the event
  • Must be 12st or under with an allowance of 5lb for mares