Barrel Racing Direct Qualifying Events Announced for 2024 AQHA World Show

From AQHA:

The top 10 1D American Quarter Horses in the following barrel racing events will be invited to compete at the 2024 Nutrena AQHA World Show. Direct qualifying invitations are specific for the 2024 Nutrena AQHA World Championship Show. Invitations will be for junior or senior classes, which are based on the age of the horse at qualification. Competitors who receive an invitation will be responsible for entry fees to the 2024 Nutrena AQHA World Championship Show. To be eligible for the direct qualifying invitation, competitors must enter and follow all rules associated with the qualifying events.

 

Open Events

• Lucky Dog Productions, March 1 – 3, Texarkana, Arkansas
• Better Barrel Races Finals, April 23 – 28, Oklahoma City
• Xtreme Barrel Race, May 28 – June 2, Reno, Nevada
• Virginia Barrel Classic, May 30 – June 2, Lexington, Virginia
• NBHA Summer Run Super Show, July 5 – 7, Perry, Georgia
• IBRA Barrels 4 Badges, May 11, Edinburgh, Indiana

Aged Events

• Greg Olson Futurity, January 12 – 13, Buckeye, Arizona
• Kinder Cup Futurity, February 6 – 11, Kinder, Louisiana
• Valley Girls Barrel Daze Futurity, April 11 – 14, Moses Lake, Washington

• Old Fort Days Futurity, May 13 – 18, Fort Smith, Arkansas

• Mid-West Xtravaganza, June 13 – 16, Columbiana, Ohio

 

Other Ways to Qualify

• Earn the required number of qualifying points at AQHA-approved events. Bonus: Qualifying this way gets added to your horse’s permanent record! Not sure which division you are eligible for? Check out this blog to learn more about divisions and levels.
  • Junior Barrel Racing: 1.5 open points for Level 3 | 0.5 open point for Level 2
  • Senior Barrel Racing: 2.5 open points for Level 3 | 1 open point for Level 2
  • Amateur Barrel Racing: 2 amateur points for Level 3 | 1 amateur point for Level 2
  • Select Amateur Barrel Racing: 1 point age 50-69 | 0.5 point age 70 or older
• Participate in four AQHA-approved events during the qualifying period. AQHA events encompass all judge numbers for a particular show or circuit. For example, the Arizona Sun Circuit is considered one event, even though it includes eight sets of points. This qualifying method will not be added to the horse’s permanent AQHA record.
• Pay a higher entry fee to enter. Open Level 3 classes will require a $7,500 nomination fee per class, while amateur and Select amateur Level 3 classes will require a $5,000 nomination fee per class.  Open Level 2 classes will require a $5,000 nomination fee per class, while amateur and Select amateur Level 2 classes will require a $3,500 nomination fee per class. That money will be added back to purse in the respective class with a portion of this buy-in fee retained by AQHA.

Looking for events near you? Find a show near you or encourage the producers in your area to add AQHA barrel racing classes to their events!

AQHA news and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more information visit www.aqha.com/news or tune into our Podcast, “Let’s Talk AQHA.”