When it comes time to select a stallion to breed your mare to, a prospect or even an open horse, it’s important to understand what types of nomination fees are coming up and what incentives your horse is eligible in.

We’ve compiled a list of incentives across the USA, and even international events, to help you narrow down which incentives your horse might be eligible for, why you may want to play in each incentive and which horses are eligible.

Blue Collar Breeders

Nomination Fee: No nomination fees

Why Blue Collar? The Blue Collar Breeders incentive is governed by stallion owners, with the payout going back to breeders and owners as a thank-you of sorts. The limited incentive is made up of 40 stallions and offers sidepots at the Fizz Bomb Classic and in 2023, $150,000 at the Ardmore Barrel Futurity. Entry forms can be filled out on Blue Collar’s website.

For a list of eligible stallions, click here.

Breeders Challenge

Nomination Fee: A one-time nomination fee of $250 A is due by December 1 of the weanling year and inreases as the horse ages.

Why BC? The Breeders Challenge has qualifiers at six major races during the year. Horses in open, futurity, derby and amateur derby contestants can qualify to the annual Breeders Challenge Finale in Fort Worth, which boasts a payout of over $1 million to horse owners, stallion owners and nominators.

For a list of eligible stallions, click here.

Colorado Classic

Nomination fee: None

Why CC? The Colorado Classic caters to those who not only have horses in their incentive, but gives riders the opportunity with non-incentive horses to cash in, as well. They host one race each year in June in the state of Colorado—in 2023, it was in Montrose— with a high-paying futurity and derby for Colorado Classic eligible offspring, and they give riders the option to enter non-Colorado Classic horses too and compete in the Open futurity.

For a list of eligible stallions, click here.

Diamond Classic

Nomination Fee: One-time fee of $250

Why DC? Diamond Classic is a brand new incentive and unique in nature. It gives both stallion stations and farms an opportunity to purchase a slot in the incentive, making all of their horses eligible. This means that a horse doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to a specific sire to compete in their races, which are estimated to pay over $2 million in 2024.

For a list of eligible stallions, stations and farms, click here.

Looking to do a full deep dive on incentives? Check out this episode from The Money Barrel podcast that offers an in-depth analysis of each one.

Future Fortunes

Nomination Fee: Future Fortunes has a one-time foal enrollment fee of $175 if paid during the weanling year, then it increased yearly.

For a list of eligible Future Fortunes stallions, click here.

Why FF? Future Fortunes is one of the oldest stallion incentives in the industry and has consistently paid out money to barrel racers over the past two decades. They feature sidepots at races across the country, covering nearly every region to give owners access to payouts, plus they now offer a bonus to the highest-earning Future Fortune horses each year. There’s no additional entry fees at approved races or extra runs needed to earn Future Fortunes money.

KISS Stallions

Nomination Fee: One-time fee of $150 due the foal’s weanling year. Fee increases with foal’s age.

Why KISS? Kiss caters to Kentucky, Indiana and the Surrounding states and offers sidepots in barrels and poles at races in that region.

For a list of eligible stallions, click here.

Legends of the South

Nomination Fee: One-time enrollment of $250 the foal’s weanling year

Why LOTS? This incentive has a $200,000 2D slot race held annually that’s exclusively for foals in the program. It also cosanctions with races throughout the Southeast, and some farther West.

For a list of eligible stallions, click here.

Minnesota Breeders

Nomination Fee: No nomination fees

Why MN? This incentive paid out $225,000 in 2023 and features a barrel race with $30,000 added to the futurity and derby sections. With 0 enrollment fees, it’s a great event to hit for barrel racers close to Minnesota.

For a list of eligible stallions, click here.

Pro Elite Stallion Incentive (PESI)

Nomination Fee: One-time payment of $150 for horses of any age by a currently enrolled stallion, or $250 if the stallion was previously enrolled in PESI

Why PESI? Operated by the WPRA, PESI is aimed at rewarding horses who excel in the rodeo sphere and at WPRA-sanctioned events across the country. It’s been around for many years and has consistently paid out at places like the National Finals Rodeo and WPRA World Finals.

For a list of eligible stallions, click here.

Pink Buckle

Nomination fee: $200 annual payment (if paid in weanling year) if paid by August 1, $300 if paid by Dec 1.

Why PB? Pink Buckle hosts a massive race year year in the fall with millions in payout. This year, they’re paying over $4 million out to owners, stallions and breeders at the October event in Guthrie, Oklahoma. They offer youth, senior, non-pro and other options to help riders cash in as much as they can at their events and an equal payout across divisions.

For a list of eligible stallions, click here.

Royal Crown

Nomination fee: None

Why RC? The Royal Crown is a diverse incentive, featuring large payouts at three races annually in the barrel racing, breakaway roping, tie-down roping and team roping. It’s a great option for those looking to focus on all-around horses. In 2022, their races were held in Buckeye, Arizona, Oklahoma City and Rock Springs, Wyoming. They paid out over $5 million at races in 2023.

For a list of eligible stallions, click here.

Ruby Buckle

Nomination fee: $200 annual payment (if paid in weanling year) if paid by August 1, $300 if paid by Dec 1.

Why RB? Ruby Buckle, the sister association to Pink Buckle, features all 50 stallions in Pink Buckle, plus 100 other stallions. They offer three races each year, with an East, Central and Western event, meaning that more regions have easy access to a race in their portion of the country. The next race in Memphis this October is boasting a payout of over $1.2 million and features a variety of classes and sidepots to help include all types of barrel racers. Ruby Buckle also features a $120,000 payout in the breakaway roping at their Central race yearly, plus bonuses for all-around horses that have success on both ends of the arena.

For a list of eligible stallions, click here.

Tomorrow’s Legends

Nomination Fee: A one-time nomination fee of $250 is due by March 15 of the foal’s yearling year. Nominations increase as the horse ages.

Why TL? This international incentive offers Open 4D payouts and futurity 2D payouts at events across the United States, Europe, Canada and Brazil. To enter, use the entry form on the incentive’s website at least one week prior to the event to be eligible to cash in on bonus checks. Tomorrow’s Legends pays 40% to the owner, 40% to the breeder or nominator and 20% to the stallion slot owner.

For a list of eligible stallions, click here.

Valley Girls Barrel Racing Association Stallion Incentive

Nomination Fee: No nomination fees

Why VGBRA? This incentive is one of the first in the game and operated by the VGBRA. They hold races in the Northwestern United States and offer payouts at VGBRA races.

For a list of eligible stallions, click here.

Western Fortunes

Nomination Fee: One-time fee of $200 the foal’s weanling year. Enrollments increase with age.

Why WF? This incentive caters to Canadian barrel racers and those in the USA close to the border. They had $150,000 up for grabs at 33 sanctioned races throughout the year in 2023.

For a list of eligible stallions, click here.

5-State Breeders

Nomination Fee: No nomination fees

Why 5-States? This exclusive incentive caters to stallions in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska. It’s respected, exclusive and offers prizes each year in futurity, derby, youth, senior and pole bending categories.

For a list of eligible stallions, click here.

This list is brought to you by Gold Buckle Horse Sales.