The first of the Devon and Cornwall Area's pony racing season kicks off at the Mid Devon point-to-point on Sunday with new faces and ponies set to make their mark in this exhilarating sport.

The sport of pony racing has grown increasingly popular over the last few years and has helped to fulfil its aim of encouraging more young people to consider a career as a jockey.

Since being introduced in Britain in 2004, around 100 riders have graduated from pony racing and are now either riding as jockeys or working within the horseracing industry.

Some of the sport's graduates include Sam Twiston-Davies, who won the Christie's Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup on Baby Run in March 2010, Harry Derham, Rhys Flint, Lucy Alexander and Feliz de Giles.

Lee Glanville, pony racing coordinator for the Devon and Cornwall Area, said: "The grounding pony racing gives young jockeys is really paying off now. They are graduating to point-to-pointing, National Hunt and flat racing, having already ridden in upwards of 40 races and they are showing that they can win races on the biggest of stages."

Lee said that point-to-point pony racing is a great entry point to the sport as it is perfectly possible to compete in the 138cm races on a normal, hunting fit pony club pony.

"If the child then gets a taste for the sport, they can 'step up' to a really competitive 138cm racing pony to gain more experience before moving up to the 148cm ponies, which are altogether different and generally full Thoroughbred ponies.

"Despite people's fears, ponies can generally cope with the excitement without detriment to performance in their 'day job' and the children can race ponies they really know well.

"There is great camaraderie between the riders and friendships are being forged which will last a lifetime."

Alongside new combinations in the area this season, there's also the familiar faces of the best of last year's performers including Tina Smith, who will be battling to retain her area 138cm title from 2011 on Bejowan's Bouquet.

In the first race at Black Forest Lodge on Sunday, Tyler Heard has his first ride on former Devon and Cornwall area champion pony Bronze Lawrance, who is on loan from the Welch family this season.

Barnaby Treneer has a new pony, Plym Steps and it's also first time out for Bubba Liscious ridden this time by Christopher Gregory.

Thomasina Eyston, of Diptford, near Totnes, has her first 148cm ride on Sunday. After starting out last year with a 138cm pony called Super Ted and loving every minute of the training and her four races, Thomasina has a new, but experienced 148cm pony for the coming season in the form of Annie IV, a nine-year-old mare bought from the Welch family. Though from a horsey family, Thomasina's family have never previously been involved in horse racing.

Certainly with a father, Charles Eyston, whose company competed in the TVR Tuscan Challenge and at Le Mans, and a relation, George Eyston, who held the Land Speed Record – going very, very fast is in the blood. Thomasina competes her ponies across a number of disciplines with her local pony club, the Dartmoor Hunt, and regularly follows hounds as well – as part of her and the ponies' training.

Thomasina said: "I just love the speed of pony racing. With Ted I got my first experience of pony racing, and he was good to start off on because he is so well behaved. I am now looking forward to this coming season on Annie because she is a lot faster and it would be great to finish in the top four."

In the 148cm race, successful show rider Millie Wonnacott will undergo a change of discipline to try pony racing on Mick The Miller, formerly a good pony with the Gould family who have produced many winning pony racers. Although Millie has become known on the pony showing scene, racing is in her blood. Her father David is a former professional jockey and her mother Claire was an amateur jockey, while her late grandmother, Joan Wonnacott, trained many winners under rules.

Claire said: "Millie follows racing closely and has always wanted to have a go. She's very lucky to have Mick to ride this season and we hope he's the perfect schoolmaster for her."

Heidi Lewis has her first outing on Miss Mopsy, while the most experienced in the field would be Hannah Welch on Vadlawalkover, a good staying pony, Pippa Glanville on Petite Pois and Chester Williams on She's So Cool.

Ms Glanville said: "We are very lucky in the Devon and Cornwall and Wessex areas that the area point-to-point committees are so supportive and we have worked hard to make the pony racing a valuable part of the race day experience. Once competent on the point-to-point circuit, there is the chance to take part in the national Charles Owen series which runs from April to October."

This year's fixtures have just been announced and there will be pony racing at Newton Abbot on July 27. Charles Owen races take place at racecourses all over the country and the top 12 points earning riders and ponies can qualify for the national finals which will take place in Newmarket on October 6. On Sunday, the 138cm race is off at 11am with the 148s following at 11.20am. The first ponies will be in the paddock at 10.45am.