The Pink & Ruby Buckles will round out 2023 by paying barrel racers of all levels over $5.3 million in October 2023, bringing the yearly payout to a record $7,265,000.
October kicks off with the world’s richest barrel race–The Pink Buckle Barrel Race presented by Cinch Jeans—at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, Oct. 2-8.
“We as a team are so excited about the Pink Buckle payout passing the $4-million mark for a single event and the success of the Ruby Buckle program,” Pink Buckle’s Chad Beus said. “These are the types of payouts we hoped for when we started the program, we are so grateful to the stallion owners, breeders and contestants that support the programs and make them possible.”
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Pink Buckle
The Pink Buckle offers a $1.35-million Hay Chix Open 4D, which pays 25 holes in each division, with equal payout across each of the four D’s ($337,500 in each D). In addition to the money in the main race, there are two exciting sidepots added off the Open 4D this year: $150,000 Non-Pro 4D (for non professional racers) and $430,000 Premier Pink 4D (for contestants who have never before competed at the Pink Buckle). Another unique sidepot at the Pink Buckle Barrel Race is the Platinum Performance Owner/Rider Sidepot of the Open 4D which pays out $250,000 over two rounds.In the race’s history, the Owner/Rider has the highest participation level of the available sidepots.
- For horses aged 4 and 5, there is a $650,000 futurity with an additional $200,000 allocated to the 2D, based on a three-fourths of a second split.
- For amateur riders with 4 and 5-year-old horses, there is a $75,000 Unbeetable Feeds Amateur Futurity.
- For horses 5 to 8 years of age, there is a $400,000 Classic Equine Derby with an additional $150,000 allocated to the 2D, based on a three-fourths of a second split.
- For youth riders aged 16 and under, there is the $150,000 Great Plains Kubota Youth 4D with one-half of a second splits.
- For horses that are graduates of the Stallion Owners Select Sale there is a $200,000 4D Sale Graduate Incentive and a $100,000 Futurity Sale Graduate Incentive.
This year, the Stallion Owners Select Sale will be held on October 5. The preview begins at 8 a.m. CST, and the sale starts at 12:00 p.m. CST. Over 130 horses are consigned.
Fast Fact: Last year, horses in the Stallion Owners Select Sale was $52,976, with a sale gross of $4,450,000.
“When the Equine Network partnered with the Pink & Ruby Buckles earlier this year, maintaining the exceptional level of service the organization provides to competitors, stallion owners, breeders and sponsors was our absolute promise. The events coming in October absolutely underscore that point.”
Tom Winsor, CEO of Equine Network
Ruby Buckle
The Ruby Buckle runs October 24-28 at the Agricenter Showplace Arena in Memphis, Tennessee, with its $600,000 Open 4D, $200,000 Futurity, $80,000 2D Futurity, $85,000 Derby, $40,000 2D Derby and $15,000 16-&-Under Youth Race.
This will be the third and final Ruby Buckle event of 2023, with these regional races paying out some $3.16 million this year. The Lazy E Arena in Guthrie hosted the first Ruby Buckle of 2023 April 24-30, while South Jordan, Utah’s Bastian Agriculture Center was home to the June 20-24 Ruby Buckle.
Only horses by Ruby or Pink Buckle stallions are eligible to compete at these events, empowering barrel racers to buy offspring from and breed mares to the world-class studs in these incentives.
