ABOUT THE MBNA AMERICA RACING CHALLENGE
 CORPORATE PARTNERS  | MBNA CHALLENGE FAQ's

The MBNA America Quarter Horse Racing Challenge is racing's richest program - the championship series design for America's Horse.

A total of 71 races take place in 10 regions across the United States, Canada and Mexico throughout the year. American Quarter Horses compete in one of six different types of races, depending on their age and ability.

A season ending championships takes place with a total of six championship events and seven undercard races where MBNA Challenge enrolled horses are preferred for entry.

The MBNA America Racing Challenge is a $5 million purse and bonus awards program, of which more than 60% is added money from AQHA corporate sponsors and host racetracks.

The 2005 MBNA America Challenge Championships will be held at Los Alamitos on Saturday, November 5.

 Races for the 2005 MBNA America Challenge include:

CORPORATE PARTNERS

AQHA Corporate Partners that support the MBNA America Racing Challenge will contribute $1 million in 2004 to challenge purses and awards.

MBNA contributes more than 40% of its AQHA sponsorship dollars to the MBNA Challenge program. In 2004, this totals $800,000 contributed directly to MBNA Challenge purses. MBNA offers financing for trailers, trucks, etc., and special financing for AQHA Members, call 1-800-834-9262. Get your AQHA MasterCard by calling 1-800-847-7378 or  1-800-416-7879 in Canada.

ABOUT THE MBNA CHALLENGE

The MBNA Challenge is organized in ten regions covering the U.S., Mexico and Canada. This regional format has culminated with 10 exciting and successful Challenge Championship events, held most recently at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas. The 2005 MBNA America Challenge Championships are scheduled to be held at Los Alamitos Race Course on Novermber 5. Each region has 6 divisions for horses (Canada and Mexico do not host a Distance Challenge race) of different ages and abilities:

• Ford Juvenile Challenge: 2-year-olds, 350 yards
• Bayer Legend Derby Challenge: 3-year-olds, 400 yards
• Professional's Choice Claiming Challenge: 3-year-olds & up, 350 yards, For horses which have raced for a claiming price of $5,000 or less in the 12 months prior to entry deadline for time trials.
• MD Barns Distance Challenge: 3-year-olds and up, 870 yards
• John Deere Distaff Challenge: 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 400 yards
• MBNA America Championship Challenge: 3-year-olds and up, 440 yards

Horses that win a regional final in one of these six divisions qualify for the MBNA America Challenge Championships held each fall at a selected track. More than $5 Million in total purses and awards are projected to be given away in 2005 including MBNA Challenge Championship night, which boasts more than $1 Million in total purses and awards! No other racing program offers as much money and as many opportunities to compete.

RACING IN THE REGIONS

American Quarter Horse racing has been divided into 10 regions.

Four races are contested in each region including the MBNA America Championship Challenge, John Deere Distaff Challenge, Professional’s Choice Claiming Challenge, Bayer Legend Derby Challenge and Ford Juvenile Challenge. The MD Barns Distance Challenge is run in all regions but Canada and Mexico.

The winners of each of these races receive an automatic starting position to the Challenge Championships, contested each fall.

Horses can run in any region.

The goal of the MBNA America Racing Challenge is to provide more racing opportunities for older American Quarter Horses, ensuring them and their owners the rewards of longer racing careers.

The program is open to all registered American Quarter Horses.

1. HOW DO I ENROLL MY HORSE IN THE MBNA CHALLENGE?

Enrolling is easy. The earlier you enroll your horse in the challenge program the sooner you will reap the rewards. To enroll just mark the “MBNA Challenge” box on your horses preprinted registration form or complete this form . If you have questions or need further assistance, please call the MBNA Challenge Hotline at 800-831-4447.

Enrollment Fees:
Weanling - $240
Yearling - $540
2-year-old - $7,700
3-year-old and up - $20,000

2. HOW LONG IS MY MBNA CHALLENGE ENROLLMENT VALID?

Your MBNA Challenge enrollment is good for the life of your horse. Even if you do not plan on racing your prospect in the MBNA Challenge as a two-year-old, or an injury shortens your horse’s racing season, you may always return as a three-year-old or older. Once you have enrolled your horse in the program they are qualified to enter in any MBNA Challenge race where they meet the conditions. Race nomination fees must be paid whenever you want to enter your horse in any challenge race similar to any other stakes race.

3. HOW DO I NOMINATE MY HORSE TO A RACE?

To participate in a regional MBNA Challenge race, find the race with the conditions that best suit your horse’s age and ability, and locate a race in the area where you plan to compete. All payments are taken by the MBNA Challenge office according to advertised payment schedules. All payments may be made via phone, fax, or mail. All nominating and sustaining payments must be received in AQHA offices by the last day of the grace period to be eligible. No refunds of race nomination fees are made once the grace period for that payment deadline has passed.

Race Nomination Fees:
Nomination Fee - $200 ($100 for juvenile and claiming races)
Sustaining Fee - $600 ($400 for juvenile and claiming races)
Late payment - $2,500

If you miss the first payment, you will be required to pay the $2,500 late fee, in addition to any fee you may have already made, at the time the sustaining fee is due. This payment may be made to the host racing facility from your horseman’s account or directly to the MBNA Challenge office. All horses must pass the entry box for trials and final, even if trials may not be required. Entry for the trials and final of each MBNA Challenge race are made through the racing office at the host track for that particular race - just like any other race at the racetrack. It is always the trainer’s and/or owner’s responsibility to make sure their horse is entered in the trials. A list of races, payment dates, and race nomination forms can be found at www.aqharacing.com.

Here are some points to remember when making an MBNA Challenge entry:

• All payments for MBNA Challenge races will be made in U.S. Funds only. No exceptions will be granted.
• When mailing all nomination and sustaining payments to AQHA, mail early to avoid missing a deadline because of slow mail delivery.
• Use express mail delivery or certified mail. The extra cost ensures prompt delivery before approaching deadlines.
• Canadian owners should especially consider using express delivery services, fax transmissions or telephone to ensure timely receipt.
• All owners, trainers, jockeys and grooms must be licensed by the host racing commission before competing.

4. DO I HAVE TO PARTICIPATE JUST IN THE REGION WHERE I LIVE?

Your MBNA Challenge enrolled horse is eligible to participate wherever there is an MBNA Challenge race. You are not restricted to a particular region and you may enter your horse in as many MBNA Challenge races as you wish in a year.

5. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MONEY I PAY FOR ENROLLMENT AND ENTRY FEE?

Enrollment fees collected each year are set aside in an interest bearing account called the Purse Supplement Fund. When a weanling becomes two-years-old, the $240 paid by its owner starts to be distributed. The enrollment fee is disbursed over a period of four years (17%, 36%, 33%, 14%). Thus, the current year Purse Supplement is also comprised of enrollment dollars from three previous enrollment years. To date, AQHA has not charged any administrative fees and all enrollment and entry fees including interest have been returned to horsemen in the form of purse money and bonus awards. Entry fees for individual races remain in the race account into which they are paid. No funds are distributed from that race to other accounts. 10% of each gross purse is held for distribution as stallion owner and nominator awards for every MBNA Challenge race.

6. WHERE DOES THE PURSE MONEY COME FROM?

All purses are comprised of a combination of funds from the current year Purse Supplement Fund, host track contributions, sponsorship money from AQHA Corporate Partners, and horsemen’s entry fees.

7. WHAT ARE STALLION OWNER AND NOMINATOR AWARDS?

Stallion owner and nominator awards are awarded to the stallion owners and nominators of the top five finishers in every MBNA Challenge race. Stallion owner awards are 3% of the gross purse while nominator awards are 7% of the gross purse. They are distributed according to the standard MBNA Challenge 5-horse payout purse distribution scale. Nominator and stallion owner awards will be paid within 30 days of the running of the race, or as soon as laboratory tests results are complete.

8. WHAT KIND OF PRIZES DOES THE MBNA CHALLENGE AWARD HORSEMEN AND HORSES?

MBNA Challenge Trials: Winning owners receive a Montana Silversmiths belt buckle.

MBNA Challenge Regional Final: The winning owners receive a Lisa Perry bronze, and trophy blanket. The winning jockey and trainer each receive a Montana Silversmiths belt buckle. The top three finishers in each race receive Professional’s Choice gift certificates and every qualifier receives an MBNA Challenge gift packet.

MBNA Challenge Championships: The winning owners receive a Lisa Perry bronze and trophy blanket. The jockey and trainer each receive a Montana Silversmiths belt buckle.

Horses that have participated in more than one MBNA Challenge Championship receive the awards as follows:

2 Championship Races - Professional’s Choice Saddle Pad

3 or more Championship Races - Tex-Tan Saddle (Gift Certificate)

Leading Customer Awards: The leading owner, trainer, breeder and jockey by points accumulated from the running of regional final races will each receive an award from an MBNA Challenge corporate partner. Races won at the MBNA America Challenge Championships will not be considered. The leaders in these categories will be presented the award at the MBNA America Challenge Championships.

Points are awarded as such:

1st place - 15 points
2nd place - 10 points
3rd place - 8 points
4th place - 7 points
5th place - 6 points
6th place - 5 points
7th place - 4 points
8th place - 3 points
9th place - 2 points
10th place - 1 point

9. WHAT ARE THE MBNA AMERICA CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIPS?

Each horse that wins a regional MBNA Challenge final automatically receives a berth in their respective divisions at the MBNA America Challenge Championships. A horse may run in as many regional races in a season as the owner wishes. A horse can continue to run in regional races even after qualifying for the Challenge Championships. Horses who finished second or third in a regional final may be eligible for the final should the winner not be able to participate. In addition to the six Championship races, horses that do not qualify for a Championship race may have preference to run in an undercard race on MBNA Challenge Championship night. There is a list of preferences for the six undercard races that are specifically for the horses that do not win a regional final.

10. WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE AT AQHA TO HELP YOUTH LEARN MORE ABOUT HORSE RACING?

1. The AQHYA Championship Experience: AQHYA Members are selected from all over the country to participate in a 4-day, hands-on experience with trainers and horses while attending the MBNA America Racing Challenge Championships. Participating youths must be at least 16 years old.

2. The AQHYA Ownership Experience: AQHYA Members, ages 8-18, are able to own or lease their own racing American Quarter Horse and compete in the AQHYA Claiming Stakes to earn purse money and scholarships. Participating horses must be MBNA Challenge enrolled.

To learn more about these two programs, contact the AQHYA department at AQHA, 806-376-4811, the MBNA Challenge Hotline, 1-800-831-4447.

11. WHAT IS TEAM WRANGLER?

Team Wrangler is a year long competition featuring members of the American Quarter Horse Association of Professional Horsemen. Members of Team Wrangler hail from both racing and show disciplines within the American Quarter Horse industry. Teams consist of 30 members divided into three teams: Team Riata, Team Twenty X, and Team Cowboy Cut. The three teams will compete for points throughout a one-year period beginning in January 2002. Racing members are chosen based on points earned in regional MBNA Challenge races during the regular racing season, but not including the MBNA Challenge Championships. Any Team Wrangler member who wins an MBNA Challenge Championship race earns a $250 bonus (1 per team member) for their entire team. Winning team members receive $1,000 each and Wrangler will award the AQH Foundation $20,000 for scholarships designated for AQHYA Members who are members of the All-Star Team.

In addition, Wrangler also sponsors the Wrangler Trainer (race) and Wrangler Exhibitor (show) of the year awards. Each winner receives $2,500 and a Montana Silversmiths belt buckle. The Wrangler Exhibitor of the Year and the Wrangler Trainer of the Year are determined by points earned during the specified time period.

12. IF MY HORSE IS A TOP FINISHER IN AN MBNA CHALLENGE REGIONAL OR CHAMPIONSHIP RACE, ARE THERE ANY OTHER RACING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE?

Yes! The winner of the $300,000 MBNA America Challenge Championship (G1) on November 1 will receive an automatic berth in the $500,000 Champion of Champions (G1) scheduled to be run in December at Los Alamitos Race Course. In addition to an MBNA American Challenge Championship berth for each regional race winner, the winner of the MBNA America Central, New Mexico and Texas Challenge each receive a berth to the Grade 1 $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park. More incentive to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the most prestigious racing program in the American Quarter Horse industry!