Copious Cash at the 2023 APHA World Show Creates Impressive Gains

By Jessica Hein, PHJ News

Expanded titles, great prizes and copious cash generated increases for the 2023 APHA World Show. The championship took place June 23-July 9 at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas. More than $1.4 million was awarded in cash and prizes, and the show saw gains in tons of areas, including total horses and total entries.

2023 APHA World Show Facts & Figures

• 1,193 horses (9% increase)
• 5,564 entries (24% increase)
• More than $1.4 million awarded in cash & prizes
  • Cash payouts exceeding $1 million (29.5% increase)
• 22 all-around saddles awarded plus 3 “leading” award trophy buckles
• New Bronze Champion titles & prizes
• New Intermediate World Show Champion & Reserve Champion buckles

Welcome!

• 23 new classes offered
• Largest single class: PBRIP Barrel Racing Sweepstakes with 90 entries
• Largest combined class: Ranch Riding Sweepstakes with 107 entries
• 352 total classes, of which 243 were world championship classes
• 243 different horses were recognized as champions at the show
• 405 different horses were recognized as champions or reserve champions at the show
• 532 different horses were recognized as champions, reserve champions or bronze champions of APHA events at the show
• Participants from 47 U.S. states, 3 Canadian provinces, as well as Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom

Impressive Gains

• 50% increase in mounted shooting entries
• 38% increase in APHA added-money classes for Paints
• 34% increase in Breeders’ Futurity classes
• 33% increase in Youth Solid Paint-Bred entries
• 19% increase in Intermediate Exhibitor Division entries
• 14% increase in Novice Amateur entries
• 14% increase in Amateur Walk-Trot entries
• 5% increase in Youth entries
• 3% increase in Open entries

Money, Money, Money

• $84,450 scholarships awarded to 136 Youth in APHA classes
• $105,500 paid in Breeders’ Trust Pleasure Stakes
• $101,000 paid in Gold Breeders’ Futurity classes
• $289,348 paid in pleasure/all-around purses
• $278,964 paid in ranch event purses (including the Ranch Horse Triple Crown Challenge)
• $172,502 paid in reining event purses
• $32,700 paid in cutting purses
• $27,400 paid in working cow horse purses
• $17,286 paid in roping purses (plus $200,900 in the American Rope Horse Futurity Association Cowtown Classic rope horse futurity)
• $70,456 paid in speed events and mounted shooting purses
• $8,000 in Tobiano Incentive bonus payouts

All-Breed Opportunities

• 168 entries in new International Ranch Horse Association world championship classes
• 17% increase in National Reining Horse Association all-breed classes as part of the Cowtown Reining Classic presented by Tenda Horse Products & Farm Paint
• 266 horses and 418 entries in the new ARHFA Cowtown Classic, paying out $200,900
• 41% increase in Ranch Horse Triple Crown Challenge Open and Non-Pro entries
• New Ranch Horse Triple Crown Challenge Youth classes added 118 entries

The 2023 APHA World Championship Show figures don’t yet include numbers and payouts from most halter events—those take place at the APHA/WCHA Halter Million September 23-October 1, 2023, in Fort Worth, Texas. Learn more about that event at apha.com/haltermillion.

 

Put the 2024 World Show dates on your calendar now, so you can get a piece of the action:

• 2024 APHA World Show: June 21-July 7, 2024
• 2024 APHA/WCHA Halter Million: September 21-29, 2024