AQHA Youth Racing Experience Winners Named

Six AQHYA members learned more about the racing industry while competing to earn scholarships totaling $10,500 October 24-27 at the 2024 American Quarter Horse Association Youth Racing Experience. The Youth Racing Experience was held during the three-day AQHA Racing Conference and Challenge Championships at The Downs at Albuquerque in Albuquerque, New Mexico

This year, AQHA increased the total amount of scholarships offered to the participants to $10,500, allowing all six of the youth competing to take home a scholarship. This year’s award money was generously provided through private contributions from members of the AQHA Racing Committee.

Six scholarships were presented to the highest-scoring youth who completed educational components and participated in on-site experiences during the Challenge Championships. The winners are determined from the cumulative score of the application, skillathon contest, on-site participation and interview.

The winners of this year’s AQHA Youth Racing Experience were:

1. Makynzie Huse of Walla Walla, Washington, $3,000 scholarship and a champion belt buckle

2. Megan Kenoyer of Peyton, Colorado, $2,500 scholarship and a reserve champion plaque

3. Kayla Gibson of Gillette, Wyoming, $2,000 scholarship and a top-six plaque

4. Lana Brickey of Shallowater, Texas, $1,500 scholarship and a top-six plaque

5. Miranda Reynolds of North Ogden, Utah, $1,000 scholarship and a top-six plaque

6. Cade Laird of Forest, Mississippi, $500 scholarship and a top-six plaque

Youth selected for the national program received an all-expense-paid trip to get first-hand experience in the racing industry. They were matched with professional racehorse trainers to experience daily life in a racehorse barn. In the afternoons, the youth attended informational sessions on various aspects of the racing industry, from jobs such as the stewards and announcer to the starting gate, jockeys room, test barn, as well as attended the AQHA Racing Committee meeting.

To learn more about the program and to sign up for a notification when the 2025 application becomes available, visit www.aqha.com/youth-racing-experience.

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