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Certificate III · national qualification
Certificate III in Racing (Trackwork Rider)
This qualification trains you to ride thoroughbreds in trackwork, the early morning gallops and pacework that keep a racehorse fit between races.
- How long it takes
- 1 to 2 years
- typical for this level
- Main job
- Track Rider
- $57,200 (estimate) median pay, In demand
- Taught by
- 1 provider
- VIC, SA
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate III in Racing (Trackwork Rider) asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- a genuine interest in thoroughbred horses
- confidence handling and riding horses
- good physical fitness and stamina
- clear communication skills with trainers
Before you start
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
Where this course can take you
Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.
Jobs you can do with it
Track Rider
Track riders ride racehorses in early morning trackwork, building a horse's fitness and telling the trainer how it felt and handled.
What else you need
In Victoria, new trackwork rider applicants must show this certificate or be enrolled in a trackwork rider course, and the award alone does not confer registration. Check requirements with your state racing authority and confirm the provider is registered.
Median pay$57,200 (estimate)
In demand
Jockey
Jockeys ride horses in races, steering a mount to its best finish while keeping horse and rider safe.
A step towards this job. What else you need
Median pay$67,600 (estimate)
If you study further
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.
Where you can study this course
There's one place you can study this course. No provider pays to be listed here.
- Website for Skillinvest (opens in a new tab)
Skillinvest
6 campuses, SA, VIC
4.5from 11 Google reviews
What you’ll learn
18 units: 11 that everyone takes and 7 you choose.
- Riding horses at trackwork
- Pacework and gallop work
- Handling horses in stables
- Reading racehorse fitness
- Horse health and fitness
- Racing integrity and safety
See all 11 core units
Core units
Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.
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Questions to ask before you enrol
Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?
Questions people ask
Who is this qualification for?
It is for people who want to work as trackwork riders, exercising thoroughbred horses on a trainer's instruction. You learn to handle horses in stables and at the track, ride at the paces a trainer asks for, and report accurately on how a horse felt and performed. Trackwork riders work independently with limited supervision, and roles include animal attendant, dog groomer, dog trainer, track rider and zookeeper.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
There are no entry requirements for this qualification. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.