HomeCoursesAnimal careCertificate III in Racing (Trackwork Rider)
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.
- Course code: RGR30518
Where you can study this course
- Campuses
- 6 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
Last reviewed 21 September 2026.
Is this course right for you?
Entry requirements
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
- Providers can set their own conditions, such as a minimum age or a current job in the industry, and practical training may need a workplace placement. Check each provider above.
Entry recommendations
To be prepared for this course, 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
What will you learn?
You learn to handle horses in stables and at the track, ride at the paces a trainer asks for, and report back accurately on how a horse felt and performed. Most of the work is done on your own under a trainer's instruction, so the course builds both riding skill and the judgement to know when a horse is right to race. Licensing rules differ between states and territories, so check with your local Principal Racing Authority before you enrol.
- Riding horses at trackwork
- Pacework and gallop work
- Handling horses in stables
- Reading racehorse fitness
- Horse health and fitness
- Racing integrity and safety
Units of competency (11 core, 7 elective)
The qualification is made up of 18 units. Everyone completes the 11 core units below, and the remaining 7 are electives chosen from the list on training.gov.au, so they vary by provider. Select a unit to see what it covers.
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Career pathways
Roles this qualification is a recognised route into, and what else you need.
A recognised route into Track Rider
Track Rider
Track riders ride racehorses in early morning trackwork, building a horse's fitness and telling the trainer how it felt and handled.
Explore this career →- Weekly pay
- $1,100
- Full-time share
- 58%
- Employment size
- 860 workers
- Average age
- 27 years
- Average full-time hours
- 38 hours
- Gender share
- 61% female
- Future growth
- +0%
- Job market
- Not in shortage
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.
A step towards Jockey
Jockey
Jockeys ride horses in races, steering a mount to its best finish while keeping horse and rider safe.
Explore this career →- Weekly pay
- $1,300
- Full-time share
- 75%
- Employment size
- 530 workers
- Average age
- 29 years
- Average full-time hours
- 43 hours
- Gender share
- 39% female
- Future growth
- +12.7%
- Job market
- Not in shortage
Certificate III in Racing (Trackwork Rider) is required before entering the Apprentice Jockey Training Program and the Certificate IV in Racing (Jockey). It does not itself confer a jockey licence, so check with your state racing authority. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
Where this fits
Certificate III in Racing (Trackwork Rider) in animal care: the study that leads into it, the study that follows, and other routes at the same level.
Before
No earlier step listed.
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Certificate III in Racing (Trackwork Rider)
Data from training.gov.au and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (CC BY 4.0).