2025 Graded Races Announced by Barrel Racing Industry Alliance

The Barrel Racing Industry Alliance has released the comprehensive list of graded barrel races for 2025. This system, introduced in 2023, mirrors the graded stakes model used in the racing industry and aims to recognize the highest levels of competition in barrel racing.

Qualifying barrel races are ranked by Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3, with Grade 1 being the highest grade. Races receiving grades for 2025 were evaluated by BRIA according to total entry numbers, payouts and quality of competition.

Race grades are designated with a single number of 1, 2 or 3. Races that have specific entry criteria, such as pedigree, state-bred, sale participation requirements or other criteria, are denoted with an “R” in front of the grade to designate those races as restricted.

Beginning in 2025, rodeos will be graded based on payout and quality of competition. This approach acknowledges the high level of competition at many rodeos, even though they may have limited entry numbers.

Grades will appear on AQHA’s QData Database Online Reports as races are entered into the database. The wins and finalist placings of horses in graded barrel races will then appear on catalog pages produced by the QData Catalog Builder and on the QData Online Data Reports. Barrel race grades, as well as the official black type status of each horse, are noted on the QData Online Reports.

The graded races coincide with the barrel racing black type system and are designed to help breeders, owners and buyers more accurately evaluate the quality of a horse, sire and dam.

A complete list of graded races for 2025 is available now at barrelracingalliance.com.

For more information, contact BRIA@aqha.org.

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