Winnemucca Barrel Racing Association

(a non-profit organization)

PURPOSE

1. To promote the sport of barrel racing, along with education members
            in horsemanship and showmanship within the competitive sport of barrel racing.

2. To make known to all members, the information concerning dates of events
            such as the general races, the year end awards banquet, and other meetings or events pertaining to the association.

3. To establish a
            point system by which a yearly WBRA Championship Barrel Racer is named in each Division in the Open, Youth, Senior, Pee-Wee,
            and Pole Bending classes. 

4. To establish the dues which the Secretary or Treasurer will collect. These dues will be used for
            the operating costs of the association such as postage, mailings, and any other supplies needed to run the events of the club.

MEMBERSHIP / YEAR END AWARDS ELIGIBILITY

1. Annual membership dues are herby affixed at $35.00 per individual per year and $45.00 per family membership (3 individuals) per year. If more than 3 family members, then a cost of $10 each additional person will be incurred.

    2.   There will be a $20 per horse fee for each additional horse. One horse per member per membership. It is $20 for each additional horse to be added to the membership.

    3.   The fiscal year is considered to be October 1st, 2009 through September 31st, 2010.

    4.   Prior to the 3rd race, membership dues must be paid and all horses must be listed on the membership application in order for each horse and rider to be eligible for the year end awards.

    5.   To be eligible for year end awards, WBRA dues must be paid by May 7th, 2010 and each member must attend 6 of the 10 scheduled races. All points earned at the races with the exception of the AW4D Winnemucca Classic will count towards the year end awards totals.

    6.   Any membership is non transferable.

    7.   If competing on more than one horse, each horse must be declared and competed on at 6 of the 10 series races in order for both horse and rider to be eligible. Points cannot be combined from 2 different horses.

MEETINGS 

1. All WBRA general meetings will be held in a designated place. Advance notice of said meetings will be given to all members as well as the time and place of the meeting.

    2.   Rule changes will be made by the board before the start of each season. Any new proposals for the rules will be brought before the board and discussed at the next general meeting after the proposal arises.

    3.   All WBRA meetings will be conducted by the board in a civil and orderly fashion.

OFFICERS

1. All officers will be elected prior to a new barrel racing season. Offices will be held from October 1st through September 31st of each year. Positions are annual.

    2.   All candidates for office shall be 21 years or older as of October 1st.

    3.   The board of directors consists of the: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Arena Director. These elected officials are the governing body who make all the decisions for the association.

ENTERING AND PAYMENT OF ENTRY FEES

    1.   All fees must be paid prior to the beginning of each race. Once the official draw is posted, all other entries will be ordered and placed below the original draw.

    2.   No entries will be accepted once the race begins.

    3.   No refund of entry fees will be granted once the official draw is posted and the first runner of the first class has gone.

    4.    Checks and or cash will be accepted. There is a $25.00 fee for any check that is returned for insufficient funds. The person writing the bounced check will not be eligible to compete until that money (in cash form)  is received by the office. The person writing the bounced check will no longer be allowed to pay by check.

    5.   Pre-entries will be selected first in the draw. All late entries will be ordered and placed after the pre-entries. A late fee will be assessed to any entry not being postmarked by the specific date on the entry form(s). Late entries will also be taken the day of the race at the set time.

PAYOFF / POINTS

1. Points will be taken from all of the races in the regular
            race schedule. These points will be carried over into the year end race set in September.

2. In the case of
            a tie between two riders, the decision will be based on the rider who has the most over all money won in the event. 

3. Each member must
            attend 6 of the 10 regularly scheduled races to be eligible for the year end awards. A member cannot combine points from 2
            different horses. Each horse must compete in a total of 6 races to be eligible for the year end points. 

4. The points will
            be tallied by taking the higher placing even if the placing is in another division. A rider may only place once per horse
            per each class. A rider cannot place in 2 divisions on the same horse.

5. Points will be determined in each division in the Open, Youth, and Senior classes as follows:

          1st place- 20 points, then the number of riders bested based on the Charlie Horse Tiiming System which will be used to get an official computer tally.

    6.   Race results and year end results will be posted after each race.

    7.  No points will be given for knocked over barrel(s) or going off the set course. These occurences will result in a disqualification or no time.

CONTESTANTS / DRAW

1. Contestants must be at the gate and ready when
            called.

2. You cannot lead a horse into the arena, the horse may be led by foot to the arena gate. Exceptions
            may be made by race management during the regular season.

3. One minute will be allowed for the rider
            to get to the gate after being called.

4. The horse that is to compete must be under control when entering the
            gate, if the horse is not under control and the safety of the other contestants is compromised, the horse and rider will be
            asked to exit the gate area until the rider can get the horse under control.

5. Running positions in each race will
            be randomly drawn by the said computer program. If a contestant is riding more than one horse in a class, the secretary will
            ensure that there is ample time for the contestant to prepare between horses.

6. The draw will be posted and announced
            prior to each race.

7. All late entries will be ordered and placed below the pre-entry draw. A given time will be set in which entries will be taken and these times will be announced in order for the contestants to know when entries will be closed at each race.

CLOVER LEAF PATTERN RULES

1. Barrel racing is a timed event using 55 gallon
            steel barrels with closed ends. No plastic barrels will be used.

2. Only one contestant and one horse
            will be allowed in the arena at a time.

3. The starting gate will remain the same throughout the entirity of the
            race.

4. The pattern will be marked and staked and will remain the same for the entirity of the race.

5. The time only pattern
            will be positioned 10 feet or more in front of or behind the official event stakes to used in setting the pattern for the
            race. Contestants will not be allowed to work their horses on the official pattern. During time only runs, contestants must
            remain at least 10 feet from the official pattern that is to be used in the race.

6. Once the racer's name is called and
            he/she enters the arena and crosses the eye/timer, their time will begin. In the case that another person, or horse enters
            the arena after the time starts a re-run option will be decided by the arena management. 

7. A knocked down
            barrel, or broken pattern will result in a no-time.

8. A knocked down barrel is considered to be when
            the barrel is in a vertical position.

9. The rider may either go to the right or left barrel first. The rider
            must make one right hand turn, and two left hand turns or one left hand turn and two right hand turns.

10. A running start
             is allowed, but the rider may circle once at the start of their run. However, no more than one circled is allowed. Failure
             to comply to this will result in a disqualification.

11. The ground will be worked at a consistent interval
             throughout the entirity of the race. The entire arena will be worked at the set beg drags as well as between each class. The
             arena director will determine the set intervals of raking to be used.

12.  If a youth or senior contestant is riding in the open, they must designate a carryover from the open to the youth or senior class(s). A contestant may not carry from the youth or senior class to the open. If the contestant chooses not to carryover their run, then the open run must be completed first.

OPEN CLASS

1. Must compete at
            6 of the 10 races in order to be eligible for the year end awards.

2. Contestants riding more than one
            horse must qualify and declare each horse at 6 of the scheduled races in order to be eligible for awards on each horse.

3. Carry overs must
            be declared prior to the race starting time. If a contestant chooses not to carry over a run, the rider will have to make
            their open run first. No changes will be made once the race has started.

4. If a barrel is knocked over on a
            run that is to be carried over, a no-time will be carried over into the other class. No Exceptions to this rule will be allowed.

5. If a contestant
            chooses to not carry over their time from the open to the youth or senior and the second run is not completed, then the entry
            fee is forfeited and the contestant draws him or herself out of the race.

6. A knocked down barrel and/or broken pattern results in a NO TIME. An attempt must be made to continue a forward motion during the run. Intentionally slowing down or pulling up your horse will result in a no time.

YOUTH CLASS

1. The contestant
            must be 15 years of age or younger by January 1st of the current race year in order to be able to compete in the youth classes.

2. All other rules
            stated above in the Open class will apply to the Youth class except for the above age limit rule.

3. The WBRA may require
            a contestant to show proof of age.

 SENIOR CLASS

1.  A Senior rider must be 50 years of age or older
            by January 1st of the current race year in order to be able to compete in the Senior class.

2. There must be at
            least 3 contestants in the Senior class or there will be no Senior class.

3. All other rules stated above in the
            Open class will apply to the Senior class with the exception of the above rules.

 PEE-WEES

1. Proof of age may
            be required.

2. The rider must be 8 years old or younger as of January 1st of the race year.

3. If a rider is entered
            in the Pee-Wee class, they may not enter any other class.

 POLE BENDING

1. There will be a
            one second split between the 1st and 2nd Divisions.

2. All other rules stated above will apply to the
            pole classes.

 RE-RUNS

1. In the case of a default in the race due to equipment or human error
            a re-run shall be granted a per the race management's decision.

2. A re-run shall be granted and the rider
            will be given a reasonable amount of time (no less than 10 minutes) to prepare for the re-run. The option may be given of
            running the re-run at the end of the class in which the default occurred. Any other decisions will be made at the discretion
            of the race management.

3. In a re-run situation, any penalty that was incurred will be carried forward.

 GROUND
         PREPARATION

1. The arena ground will be fully worked prior to the start of each race.

2. The arena ground
            will be worked between each class.

3. The arena ground will be raked a regular intervals that will be determined
            by the arena director.

4. Time only runs will be set 10 feet or more in front or behind the official race stakes.

5. There will be no
            drag during the Pee-Wee class. There will be a big drag after the Pee-Wees and before the Open race begins. The ground for
            Pole Bending will be raked at the arena director's discretion.

 BARREL PATTERN

1. If the arena ground
            permits, the standard course will be set as follows:

          60 feet score line from the timer to
         the first barrel.

          90 feet between the 1st and 2nd barrels.

        105 feet from the (1st and
         2nd) barrels to the 3rd barrel.

    2.   In smaller arenas, the pattern will be reduced proportionately.

    3.   Stopping
         room must be no less than 45 feet and in a standard course should be 65 feet.

    4.   Barrels must be set no less
         than 15 feet off of the fence or bucking chutes on the 1st and 2nd barrels and no less than 30 feet for the 3rd barrel.

    5.   Barrels
         must be staked and overseen by the arena director.

 VET OUTS / DR RELEASE

1. A vet out or Drs.
            release must be provided prior to the race in order for a contestant to receive their etry fees back. The entry fees will
            be returned to the contestant with the exceptioin of the office fee. If entering more than one class, and a vet out or Drs.
            release is declared after the first run, no refund of entry fees will be given unless the contestant produces a vet out or
            Drs. release prior to the end of the race.

2. No refund will be given for entry fees, unless a vet out or Drs. release
            is provided. The office fee will be retained in the case of a refund of entry fees.

 CONTESTANT
         CONDUCT

1. WBRA's Board of Directos, has the right to decline or revoke any person(s) membership due to any
            unsportsman like conduct, or abuse to animals.

2. Unsportsman like conduct is considered inappropriate language,
            or out of control behavior on the part of the contestant.

3. Abuse to animals is considered excessive
            hitting or force.

4. Misconduct of any fashion will not be tolerated and the WBRA Board of Directors has the final say
            on any and all charges.