What if a race wasn't about speed -- but about healing? Tour d'Horse 2026: a six-day ride with a powerful purpose. A race run at walking pace.
KIDS Foundation
Australia’s racing and equestrian communities — alongside some of the country’s most recognised rural and retail brands — are coming together for one of the most unique and meaningful fundraising events on the calendar, as the KIDS Foundation’s Tour d’Horse 2026 begins in just one week.
Some of Australia’s leading trainers — Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Chris Waller, Michael Freedman, Anthony and Sam Freedman, Peter Snowden and Tony and Calvin McEvoy — headline a powerful field for Tour d’Horse 2026, alongside major industry leaders Coolmore, Emirates Park, Yulong, Magic Millions and Inglis, with the MRC Foundation, James Harron Bloodstock and Bennett Racing also represented.
Support extends beyond racing, with contributions from the equestrian and agricultural sectors, including Boneo Park, Thenford Farm, Somerstone Farm, and Woolooma Station, alongside broader business and community partners such as Banter Foundation, RB Sellars, Koala, Oreana and the Petstock Foundation.
Among those riding is acclaimed actor and singer Tom Burlinson, Olympic equestrian Amanda Ross, acclaimed director Simon Wincer, leading international jockey Rachel King, and media personality and ambassador Emma Hawkins. Her husband, AFL great Tom Hawkins, will support the week by volunteering his time with KIDS Foundation participants. Emma rides as part of the KIDS Foundation team.
Champion jockeys Jamie Melham and Ben Melham will also take part, riding in support of the Victorian Jockeys’ Association (VJA), highlighting the work the VJA and KIDS Foundation do together to support jockeys and families impacted by injury and trauma, adding another deeply meaningful layer to the week.
Jamie returns to Tour d’Horse after taking part in 2025, describing it as one of the most meaningful experiences and a highlight of her year, which included winning the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double.
Founded by KIDS Foundation CEO Dr Susie O’Neill OAM following the tragic loss of her granddaughter Bella in 2021, Tour d’Horse has grown into a powerful national movement, with horses playing a central role in the healing that inspired it.
For Dr O’Neill, the support behind Tour d’Horse reflects something much deeper than the event itself.
“What sits behind this week is people coming together for a shared purpose, to support children and families navigating trauma, injury and life-changing illness,” Dr O’Neill said.
“It’s not just about the ride or the horses. It’s about connection, community and showing these young people that they are not alone.”
That purpose is reflected in the stories behind the other teams taking part. Among them is Team Thiele, riding in honour of Matt Thiele, a KIDS Foundation Youth Ambassador and burn survivor who beat the odds to survive a car fire at just three years old, and whose recovery journey has been shaped by the support of KIDS Foundation as he now returns as a mentor and inspiration to others.
Team Ride 4 Bella honours the memory of Dr Susie O’Neill’s granddaughter Bella, with her sister Nellie riding in this year’s Tour, raising funds for the Bella Fund to support families navigating spinal muscular atrophy through KIDS Foundation programs.
The event is made possible through the incredible generosity of the White family, who have opened their iconic Belltrees Station in the Upper Hunter Valley, providing not just a breathtaking backdrop, but a home for the week where this powerful journey unfolds. The White family will also support the ride through the care and provision of the horses, the quiet heroes of the Tour, with Anto and Alec leading out the ride as part of Team Belltrees Station.
Riders will take part in a six-day ride covering approximately 200 kilometres through the Upper Hunter Valley, centred around Belltrees Station. Riders are partnered predominantly with retired racehorses, showcasing their versatility, intelligence and heart in a completely new environment.
While physically demanding, the ride is also deeply symbolic. Each day concludes with a 100-metre “race”, run not at speed, but at a walk. Teams line up side by side, with points awarded across the week and an overall winner crowned at the end of the Tour — a reflection of the KIDS Foundation’s philosophy that healing is not a race, but a steady journey where everyone moves forward together.
In 2025, McEvoy Mitchell Racing claimed the title, with Jo and Demi McEvoy returning in 2026 to defend it, bringing momentum from a remarkable year for the stable.
The Tour culminates in a final, moving moment, with teams walking down the Scone Racecourse and crossing the winning post together — a unifying and emotional display that captures the spirit of the event and the shared journey of riders and participants.
At the heart of the week is Camp TANGO (Together Achieving New Goals and Opportunities), a transformative program for young survivors. Each Tour d’Horse team is paired with a TANGO participant, creating a powerful connection between the endurance challenge and the real-life journeys it represents.
With 27 teams confirmed, Tour d’Horse continues to build momentum as a major national fundraising event.
Additional event sponsors include Aushorse, Thoroughbred Breeders’ Australia, Godolphin Lifetime Care, Makybe Stables, Newgate and Bell River Thoroughbreds.
Daily broadcast-quality footage, rider interviews and imagery will be distributed throughout the week, with media opportunities including live crosses, feature stories and talent access.
Tour d’Horse 2026 runs from 11–17 May in the Upper Hunter Valley, NSW.
Media Kit https://kfkidsfoundation.blob.core.windows.net/assets/nova/2026-TDH-Media-Kit.pdf
Media Contact
Melanie Mullen 0418 331 994
KIDS Foundation: PR & Content Lead
[email protected]
Contact details:
Melanie Mullen 0418 331 994
KIDS Foundation: PR & Content Lead
[email protected]