JOHN DEERE BECOMES TITLE SPONSOR OF AQHA’S BONUS CHALLENGE RACES

The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal, January 23, 2008 – John Deere, an American Quarter Horse Association Corporate Partner since 2003, will be the title sponsor of AQHA Racing’s Bonus Challenge. The John Deere Bonus Challenge is an additional benefit for horses enrolled in the Bank of America Racing Challenge.

Formerly known as the Bank of America Challenge Supplemental Stakes, the John Deere Bonus Challenge races are open exclusively to Bank of America Challenge-enrolled horses and provides matching funds to the host racetracks. John Deere Bonus Challenge races do not offer berths to the Challenge Championship races, however, any Challenge horse can still qualify at a Regional Challenge race or be eligible for the Challenge-preferred undercard races at the Bank of America Challenge Championships.

The John Deere Bonus Challenge races are designed to offer Challenge-enrolled horses more racing opportunities at racetracks that don’t host regional qualifying races for the annual Bank of America Challenge Championship stakes, which this year will be held at Evangeline Downs on November 8. There are 24 John Deere Bonus Challenge races scheduled for 2008. 

Eligible races for the John Deere Bonus Challenge include:

• any current overnight stakes for 3-year-olds and older that do not require multiple payments and trials to qualify;
• a new overnight stakes for 3-year-olds and older that do not require multiple payments and trials to qualify; or
• a handicap. 

The first John Deere Bonus Challenge race will be the Rillito Park Challenge Shootout. The race is scheduled for February 17 at Rillito Park. Visit www.aqharacing.com for a complete schedule.

“John Deere Bonus Challenge races have been popular since the original program was introduced,” said AQHA Executive Vice President Bill Brewer. “John Deere’s support of the program will allow more races at more racetracks than ever before. The races take place where John Deere’s customers are so we think it’s a great fit.” 

To find out more about the John Deere Bonus Challenge or to enroll a horse in the Bank of America Challenge program, visit http://racing.aqha.com/racing/challenge/index.aspx.

The Deere & Company, founded in 1837 (collectively called John Deere), has grown from a one-man blacksmith shop into a corporation that today does business around the world and employs approximately 50,000 people. John Deere is the world leader in manufacturing, distributing and financing a full line of agricultural equipment.

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.