APHA Masterpiece Racing Challenge provides opportunities for 3-Year-Olds

The American Paint Horse Association has launched a new program that provides added incentives for owners of 3-year-old racing Paints and Appaloosas. This program is designed to boost purses available to 3-year-olds, as well as enhance the value of enrolled horses.

The Masterpiece Challenge features nine qualifying races held in Oklahoma, Wyoming, Canada, Idaho and Texas. The winners of those races plus the at-large qualifier (as selected by the APHA Racing Committee) will be invited to compete in the APHA Masterpiece Challenge Race held in the fall at Lone Star Park. The first Challenge Race will be held in 2012.

If the winner of any qualifying race is not enrolled in the program or declines the invitation, the invitation will be extended to the next highest enrolled finisher of that particular race. If the qualifying race is a 3-year-old and older race, the invitation will be extended to the highest placing 3-year-old enrolled horse.

Eligibility for the race includes a one-time enrollment fee, plus a $25 administrative fee, into the program.

•  For the 2012 Challenge Race, Paints and Appaloosas (2009 foals) can enroll by July 1 of their 2-year-old year at a great discount or by December 31 of their 2-year-old year at a higher price.
•  For the 2013 Challenge Race, Paints and Appaloosas (2010 foals) can enroll by December 31 of their yearling year at a great discount or enroll by December 31 of their 2-year-old year at a higher price.
•  For the 2014 Challenge Race, Paints and Appaloosas (2011 foals) can enroll by December 31 of their weanling year, by December 31 of their yearling year at a slightly higher price or by December 31 of their 2-year-old year at the highest price.

The early-bird enrollment opportunity into the APHA Masterpiece Challenge is by July 1, 2011 for 2009 2-year-olds, and by December 31, 2011 for 2010 yearlings and 2011 weanlings. This provides the most cost-savings to enroll into this program.

For enrollment forms or to find out more about the APHA Masterpiece Challenge, please see http://www.paintracing.com/pdfs/MasterpieceChlg_EnrlForm.pdf or call (817) 222-6444.

More about Paint Horse racing
Horse racing has long been one of America’s favorite spectator sports. With the recent growth of the Paint Horse breed, it’s no wonder that Paints have become one of the hottest tickets in the horse racing industry.

Since 1966, when APHA officially recognized the sport, Paint racing has made major strides forward. In that inaugural year, 17 starters ran for $1,290 in just two states—Texas and Oklahoma. In 2010, more than 500 starters competed in 429 APHA-recognized races for record purses totaling more than $4.1 million.

A total of 17 states now feature Paint racing, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Paint Horses also race in Canada.

For more information on Paint Horse racing, contact APHA’s racing department at (817) 222-6444, email racing@apha.com, or visit www.paintracing.com.