About 130 riders are expected to converge on the Horsham Velodrome for an action-packed day of racing, starting at 2pm.

Horsham Cycling Club member and carnival co-ordinator Geoff Witmitz said there was a chance this could be the final time the carnival is staged.

Witmitz said several factors such as volunteer numbers were making it harder to run each year.

"It's the same with other organisations - the numbers have been stagnant and if we look at how much it costs going forward we have to consider that it will more than likely be the last one," he said.

"The cost of running it in a regional area is increasing.

"It is about having the people around at Christmas time to actually run the event.

"I've been doing this for about 14 years and something needs to change because this will be my last time running it, so there is a lot of uncertainty going forward."

Witmitz said there was a possibility the carnival could continue if the Horsham Cycling Club had an influx of volunteers to help run it.

The Horsham Cycling Carnival is part of a larger Cycling Victorian Christmas Carnival series.

The series starts in Horsham tomorrow, with other carnivals in Bendigo on Sunday, Shepparton on Monday and Wangaratta on Tuesday.

Another reason for the decline in the Horsham carnival's fortunes is competition from the Tasmanian Christmas carnival series.

With more money on offer in Tasmania, many top riders are attracted south across the Bass Straight, foregoing the Victorian races.

Last year Cycling Victoria handicapper Laurie Norris said the Tasmanian series appeared to be in decline, but it has come back stronger this year.

Despite uncertainty about the future of the Horsham carnival, Witmitz said Saturday's races would be high-quality and exciting.

Many elite junior riders from across the country will race in front of the Horsham crowd.

"We've got some very significant junior entries and the most competitive fields will be in the under-15 to under-17 age brackets," he said.

"Our senior fields have got a range of masters and riders from the ACT, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

"There are some good elite women coming, so the fields should be great for racing."

Successful Horsham rider Sam Witmitz, Geoff Witmitz's son, will compete in the carnival.

Fellow Horsham product Mark O'Brien will attend the carnival but will not compete.

State championships will be decided in the men's under-15 scratch race and open men's and women's elimination races.

Other highlights will include the Ian Niblett Memorial Wheel Race finals and the Horsham Cycling Club Invitational Keirin.

Geoff Witmitz said the 47-race program would provide a great family atmosphere and was free for all spectators.

The carnival will begin at 2pm and conclude at 8pm at the Horsham Velodrome.