Purpose
Bonus Challenge races are designed to provide even more racing opportunities for Challenge-enrolled horses at racetracks across the country.
Program Timeline
An application process will be used each year to choose the participating racetracks. Host track selections will be made final by the American Quarter Horse Association Racing Council.
Funding
AQHA will match up to $7,500 of added money to an existing or new stakes race at participating tracks.
Eligible Races
- Race conditions will be set by the individual tracks.
- Races with $15,000 or more in purses may be a recognized AQHA stakes race.
Enrollment in the AQHA Racing Challenge is required for entry to all Bonus Challenge races. All races must have a minimum of five entries to be run. If there is not a minimum of five horses, Bonus Challenge purse funds will be held by AQHA and redistributed in the next calendar year through the Bonus Challenge fund. The final decision and preference system for individual races will be made by the host track facility and the AQHA Racing Council representative of the AQHA Racing Challenge.
Rules and Regulations
Races will be run under rules set forth by each jurisdiction in which a Bonus Challenge race is run. Any rules infraction or disqualification arising out of an individual Bonus Challenge race will be handled by the jurisdiction in which the race is held in. Any questions or disputes arising over the eligibility of a Challenge-enrolled horse will be handled by the AQHA Racing Council’s representative of the AQHA Racing Challenge. You must be an AQHA member to enter a horse in a Bonus Challenge race.
View a complete list of Bonus Challenge races, including conditions and track contact information. NOTE: The list posted at this website may not have complete conditions for every Bonus Challenge race. It is your responsibility to contact the host track for complete conditions.
Nomination information for Bonus Challenge races may be obtained from each host track, not from AQHA.