The Kentucky State Fair Board, owner and operator of the World’s Championship Horse Show, announced today the addition of two new classes and changes to 16 classes for the 2024 show.

These changes enable exhibitors to continue to show at the event following recent decisions by the American Saddlebred Horse & Breeders Association to relocate their sweepstakes and futurity classes.

“The World's Championship Horse Show is stepping into a new era that enhances the show and adds to the prestige of this iconic event,” said David S. Beck, President & CEO of Kentucky Venues. “With the recent announcement of ASHBA relocating its futurity and sweepstakes classes, the Kentucky State Fair Board announced a significant increase in prize money and class additions to the show. Our team is confident this year’s show will be an outstanding experience for the entire Saddlebred community.”

The full list of changes is available below, which includes class name changes, new classes, and class removals. The prize list for the 2024 World’s Championship Horse Show will be released in May.

The following class names and prize money will be updated to the following:

Class 1  

From: ASHBA National Futurity – Weanlings

To: WCHS Futurity – Weanlings

Prize Money: $40,500.00

Class 5  

From: ASHBA National Futurity – Yearlings

To: WCHS Futurity – Yearlings

Prize Money: $40,500.00

Class 29  

From: Bill Wise ASHBA Sweepstakes Four-Year-Old Fine Harness

To: Bill Wise WCHS Sweepstakes Four-Year-Old Fine Harness

Prize Money: $12,000.00

Class 33  

From: Bill Wise ASHBA Sweepstakes Four-Year-Old Three-Gaited Park Pleasure

To: Bill Wise WCHS Sweepstakes Four-Year-Old Three-Gaited Park Pleasure

Prize Money: $12,000.00

Class 38  

From: Bill Wise ASHBA Sweepstakes Four-Year-Old Three-Gaited

To: Bill Wise WCHS Sweepstakes Four-Year-Old Three-Gaited

Prize Money: $12,000.00

Class 43 

From: Bill Wise ASHBA Sweepstakes Four-Year-Old Five-Gaited

To: Bill Wise WCHS Sweepstakes Four-Year-Old Five-Gaited

Prize Money: $12,000.00

Class 63 

From: ASHBA National Futurity - Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited Park Pleasure

To: WCHS Futurity - Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited Park Pleasure

Prize Money: $17,000.00

Class 111 

From: ASHBA National Futurity - Two-Year-Old Fine Harness

To: WCHS Futurity - Two-Year-Old Fine Harness

Prize Money: $40,500.00

Class 115 

From: ASHBA National Three-Year-Old Futurity – Five Gaited

To: WCHS Futurity - Three-Year-Old – Five Gaited

Prize Money: $17,000.00

Class 118 

From: ASHBA National Three-Year-Old Futurity - Fine Harness

To: WCHS Futurity - Three-Year-Old - Fine Harness

Prize Money: $17,000.00

Class 121 

From: ASHBA National Three-Year-Old Futurity – Three Gaited

To: WCHS Futurity - Three-Year-Old– Three Gaited

Prize Money: $17,000.00

Class 124 

From: ASHBA National Futurity – Two-Year-Old Three-Gaited

To: WCHS Futurity - Two-Year-Old Three-Gaited

Prize Money: $40,500.00

Class 131 

From: ASHBA National Three-Year-Old Futurity – Three Gaited Park

To: WCHS Futurity - Three-Year-Old - Three Gaited Park

Prize Money: $17,000.00

Class 192 

From: ASHBA National Futurity - Two-Year-Old Fine Harness Finals - Class 111

(if necessary)

To: WCHS Futurity - Two-Year-Old Fine Harness Finals – Class 111 (if necessary)

Class 202 From: ASHBA National Three-Year-Old Futurity - Fine Harness Finals - Class 118

(if necessary)

To: WCHS Futurity Three-Year-Old - Fine Harness Finals - Class 118 (if necessary)

Class 208 From: ASHBA National Three-Year-Old Futurity – Five-Gaited Finals – Class 115

(if necessary)

To: WCHS Futurity Three-Year-Old – Five-Gaited Finals – Class 115 (if necessary)

The following classes will be added to the 2024 World’s Championship Horse Show

ASB Walk-Trot, Rider 12 Years Old & Under Show Pleasure

Entry Fee: $120.00

Prize Money: $1,500.00

ASB Walk-Trot, Rider 12 Years Old & Under Show Pleasure Championship

Entry Fee: $40.00 nom

Prize Money: $2,500.00

The following classes will not be held at the 2024 World’s Championship Horse Show

Class 107 Breeder’s Challenge Stake

Class 127 ASHBA National Amateur Futurity – Weanlings

Class 135 ASHBA National Amateur Futurity – Yearlings

Class 142 ASHBA National Amateur Three-Year-Old Futurity – Three-Gaited Park Pleasure

Class 144 ASHBA National Amateur Futurity – Two-Year-Old In-Hand

Class 198 Breeder’s Challenge Stake Class 107 (if necessary)

The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) announced April 23 it will move its young horse prize programs – the National Futurity, National Amateur Futurity, Four-Year-Old Sweepstakes, and Breeders Challenge – to Indianapolis for 2024 in conjunction with the All American Horse Classic (AAHC) the second week of September.

In addition, the prize programs will award the most money ever in 2024. There will be $250,000 in added money distributed across the classes. Winners of these classes will be listed as World Champions in the official ASHBA Registry.

“We will honor the legacy and be thankful for the Kentucky State Fair hosting these programs in the past, which encourage the breeding of American Saddlebred horses. But we must also look boldly to the future in our mission to promote and protect this amazing breed,” said Allen Bosworth, ASHBA president.

 “The 2024 ASHBA Prize Programs payouts will be the largest ever, nearing a million dollars in total prize money,” said Smith Lilly, chairman of ASHBA’s Prize Programs Committee. “World Champions will be crowned in those classes. We’re excited for this new future.”

In making the move, the association preserves the integrity of prize program rules and traditions. The decision comes in response to the Kentucky State Fair Board's (KSFB) recent decision to depart from the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) as the governing body for the World's Championship Horse Show (WCHS). This move ensures a level playing field for exhibitors and their young American Saddlebreds, while opening up opportunities for competitors to vie for enhanced payouts.

The decision of the Kentucky State Fair to disaffiliate from the USEF made it impossible to continue with these programs at the Kentucky State Fair show. ASHBA presented a compromise to the KSFB in early April that would have kept the classes at Louisville. However, the KSFB rejected the compromise, making a move necessary.

“The prize program rules are specific and consistent: they must be held under USEF rules and judging specifications at a USEF licensed competition utilizing USEF drug testing,” said David Mount, ASHBA executive director. “We really had no choice. But we are going to look at this as an opportunity to start something new and bigger and better than ever.”

The AAHC currently is scheduled for Sept. 10-14 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, but will be expanded at least one day to accommodate the larger class schedule. Show details will be shared soon.

“We are grateful to the AAHC and their outstanding management team for their willingness to work with us, and look forward to helping them provide all of our exhibitors a fantastic experience in Indianapolis,” Smith Lilly said.

The World’s Championship Horse Show (WCHS) announced today that the Equine Sports Council (ESC) has been selected as the governing body ahead of the 2024 event. In February, the Kentucky State Fair Board unanimously approved the change, recognizing the importance of operating with Saddlebred-competition-tailored rules and standards emphasizing integrity, sportsmanship and safety for the non-Olympic horse industry. Qualifying requirements for WCHS remain unchanged.

Numerous additional levels of protection come with ESC governance, including:

• Drug testing will adhere to international guidelines and penalty standards, offering ISO-certified drug labs. All blood samples will be collected by a licensed veterinarian. Performance enhancement drugs are strictly prohibited, and ESC ensures the correct administration of therapeutic medications. ESC and WCHS will ensure state and regulatory compliance and maintain a high level of integrity throughout.
• Judges will be offered a $6 million officials liability insurance policy, good for 12 months.

ESC offers clear rules and standards. Class standards and judging criteria used inside the ring remain the same.

“As we embark on this new path with the Equine Sports Council as the governing body for the World's Championship Horse Show, our shared focus and effort is on elevating the integrity and prestige of this unmatched event. This partnership enables show management to operate with more specific guidance tailored to the needs of our Saddlebred industry, ensuring the continued safety, growth, and excellence of our sport,” said David S. Beck, President & CEO of Kentucky Venues.

About Equine Sports Council (ESC): Equine Sports Council partners with and governs Non-Olympic horse competitions from the Academy level to National Championship shows. ESC, a non-member, not-for-profit organization, has provided governance to over 13,000 exhibitors, and our network fees have allowed us to donate over $30,000 to the Saddlebred, Morgan, and Hackney show horse industries.  The shows in the ESC Network this year will earn an estimated $20,000 in marketing grants and industry re-investments. Learn more at: https://equinesportscouncil.org/

Midwest Charity Horse Show is thrilled to announce its 83rd  annual show, June 11-15, 2024, in the Coliseum of Champions. Daily performances will be 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., with a distinguished panel of judges: Cary Bartz, Stillwater, Minn.; Joshua Greer, East Bernstadt, Ky.; Alicia Owens, Lenhartsville, Penn.; and Mary “Misty” McGinnis, Rose Hill, Kan.

The prize list and forms will be available and entries will be accepted electronically through www.horseshowsonline.com. The schedule and list of hotels will be on Facebook as well. Printed prize lists can be mailed upon request.   

Midwest's longtime, generous supporters enabled the show to donate $15,000 to the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine’s Pediatric Fund from proceeds of its 2023 multi-breed show. Since its inception, the Midwest Charity Horse Show, an all-volunteer, nonsubsidized organization, has donated its annual proceeds to a Springfield area charity and has selected SIU School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics as its beneficiary. Since 1987, Midwest Charity Horse Show Association (MCHSA) in partnership with SIU School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics has been an integral part of helping children with chronic illnesses live happy, healthier lives. Proceeds from this year’s horse show help provide medication, overnight lodging, food and/or transportation for families whose child is receiving treatment. The MCHSA endowment has given more than $292,000 to SIU School of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics since 1987.

For more information about the Midwest Charity Horse Show call Show Manager/President, Carole Kennedy at (217) 414-1900. Those who are online can log on to Facebook at www.facebook.com/midwestcharity to check for updates regarding the 2024 show. 

In January, the U.S. Trotting Association announced the creation of a new series of Roadster events. Details of that series, including the nomination form, are now available:

Info Sheet & Nomination Form

Frequently Asked Questions

The series will use a points system, fashioned after how many sire stakes points are tallied. The more a nominated horse shows and places, the more points they earn to qualify for the Championship Class at The Smoky Mountain Equine Fest the first week in October. Some key details about the series are:

Eligibility: Horses must have had electronic eligibilities ordered before Jan. 1, 2024 or must have been sold at a commercial yearling sale.

Nomination: Horses must be nominated by April 1 for $50 or may be supplemented by June 1 for $100.

Membership/Ownership: Owners of the nominated horse must be members of the USTA and the American Road Horse & Pony Association. USTA records must reflect current owner at time of nomination. Nominated horses must have an ARHPA Horse ID within 10 days of the nomination deadline.

Rules: All classes that make up the series will be judged in accordance with USEF Chapter RD Roadster Division rules.

Points for Championship: The region that a horse earns points in is based on the state the horse’s trainer is located. Horses can show at any show in the series, in any region, but earned points will be allocated to the trainer’s region. The top three horses from each region’s point standings will be invited to show in the Championship Class.

Series Schedule: Below is the series schedule, broken down chronologically by region:

Southeast

Asheville Saddlebred Classic — May 8-11 — Asheville, N.C.

Blowing Rock — June 6-9 — Blowing Rock, N.C.

NC State Championships — Sept. 11-14 — Raleigh, N.C.

ASHAV — Sept. 25-28 — Lexington, Va.

Northeast

Greater Boston Charity — May 15-18 — Saugerties, N.Y.

Syracuse International — June 26-29 — Syracuse, N.Y.

National Standardbred Show — Sept. 20-22 — Allentown, N.J.

Midwest

ARHPA Road Horse & Pony Show — May 17-18 — Harrodsburg, Ky.

Bourbon County — June 15 — Paris, Ky.

Brown County Charity — June 6-8 — Georgetown, Ohio

Indy Charity — June 25-28 — Indianapolis, Ind.

All American — Sept. 10-14 — Indianapolis, Ind.

The series is sponsored by, and nominations due to, the USTA. More information about Standardbred Roadster classes sponsored by the USTA is available here.

For more information about Roadsters, rules and regulations, visit the American Road Horse & Pony Association website.

Since 1996, the Standardbred Equine Program has worked with owners of off-the-track Standardbreds to educate the general public about the many disciplines Standardbreds excel at once they are retired from racing. For more information about the SEP at the USTA, visit LifeAfterRacing.ustrotting.com.