Results and Update from 2016 Buckeye Classic

July 21, 2016 | Filed under: Club & Show News,Club and Show News,Featured,Show Results & Gallery | Posted by:

By: Brittany Bevis

We checked in this morning with Justin Billings of the Ohio Amateur Quarter Horse Association to see how The Little Buckeye and Buckeye Classic are going in Wilmington, Ohio at the beautiful World Equestrian Center.

“We’ve had an incredible start to the show and have welcomed exhibitors from more than 30 states, Canada, England and Australia,” Billings says. “We will give away over $50,000 in free entries to our youth and amateur exhibitors this year alone; that’s over $150,000 since 2013, something never done before. We sold 100 more stalls than last year and were up 600 entries our first weekend.”

Kylee Simspon First Year Exhibitor, First Time to the Buckeye!

Some of the increased growth is due in part to 22 new, Rookie and Level 2 classes added to the schedule this year. Also, a big draw is a set of High Point saddles that will be presented to both Rookie Youth and Rookie Amateur champions.

Random giveaways and fantastic prizes are plentiful at the Buckeye, including special awards for competitors new to the AQHA arena. “Our grassroots exhibitors have a chance to win a champion saddle in our First Year AQHA Exhibitor Random Giveaway. One such exhibitor is Kylee Simpson and her horse Too Hot To Apologize, aka ‘Tucker.’ This is her first time at the Buckeye and her third AQHA show. She decided to attend because our new rookie classes made a big show like the Buckeye approachable. Every youth class she showed in at the Little Buckeye was free thanks to the generosity of our corporate partners.”

Because the temperatures continue to rise this July, Buckeye Classic has partnered with The Equine Chronicle to offer The Equine Chronicle Hospitality Tent, Equine Chronicle Snack Shack and Equine Chronicle Golf Cart to provide exhibitors with free bottles of water, popsicles, and Buckeye Classic ice cream sandwiches!

“We’ve already been through three pallets of water, 800 Buckeye Classic ice cream sandwiches, and 100 dozen buckeye candies. Today marks our Thank You Thursday where we show appreciation to those who make a show like the Buckeye possible. We cap off today’s activities with a poolside sponsor reception where music, food and family fun will be in full supply. This show really is nuts!”