To view the 2008 AQHA World Championship show schedule complete with working orders click here.
For 16 days in November, Oklahoma City’s horse population swells with the top competition from around the world converging on the city to compete at the American Quarter Horse Association’s Bank of America Amateur and FedEx Open World Championship Show. The competition gets underway November 7 at State Fair Park.
The 2008 World Show entries have increased compared to 2007. This year, AQHA received 3,494 entries for the World Show, an increase of 191 over 2007 figures. Entries were received from 48 states, eight Canadian provinces, Brazil, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. With 2,154 horses slated to compete, the Oklahoma City economy will see a boost of more than $31.7 million from exhibitors and spectators.
Through the generosity of Bank of America, FedEx and other AQHA corporate partners, $600,000 of added money is up for grabs. The horses will compete for world champion titles and a share of more than $2.7 million in cash and awards. With the increase in entries, the 2008 World Show will utilize the Performance Arena for preliminaries in some classes. All finals will be contested in Jim Norick State Fair Arena.
Back by popular demand, the Team Wrangler Showdown returns to Jim Norick Arena for a second season of good fun while showing off the diverse talents of Team Wrangler and AQHA Professional Horsemen and Horsewomen. Team Wrangler members compete in events outside their specialty such as putting halter trainers and English riders in barrel racing; ropers and cutters in hunter hack; and all-around competitors in reining. You won’t want to miss the excitement and laughs during the Team Wrangler Showdown, November 20-22 in the evening finals performances.
Another memorable performance will be a freestyle reining and dressage demonstration on November 18. Known as Pas de Deux, both events will be demonstrated side by side. This performance is presented in part by the United States Dressage Federation.
There will be some new stars at this year’s American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show as AQHA debuts Most Valuable Horse Awards. The MVH Awards recognize the highest point-earning horses in six open divisions: Western (western pleasure, western riding and trail classes); Roping (heading, heeling and tie-down); English (hunter under saddle, hunter hack, working hunter, pleasure driving and jumping); Pattern/Cow (cutting, reining and working cow horse); Speed (barrel racing and pole bending) and Timed (ranch sorting and team penning). MVH winners will each receive $5,000 cash and special recognition at the show.
The Featherlite All-Around Amateur and Superhorse awards remain the most prestigious honors and will be presented to the horse earning the most points in a minimum of three events in two categories. The winners receive a $25,000 certificate toward the purchase of a Featherlite trailer and other prizes.
AQHA is concerned about the health and well-being of its membership and is teaming with the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center to provide free health screenings on November 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Travel & Transportation Building of the trade show. For the second year, AQHA and OUHSC are also hosting Saddle Up For Life, an event to recognize cancer survivors and raise money for cancer care. This year, Saddle Up For Life will be held Friday, November 14. Special hat pins ($5) and trailer bumper stickers ($3) will be available, as well as an opportunity to add a name to the wall of honor ($1). Proceeds benefit the Shirley Bowman Nutrition Clinic at the University of Oklahoma Cancer Institute.
From horsewares to housewares, this year’s AQHA Trade Show is sure to fulfill all your holiday shopping needs. The trade show brings more than 130 manufacturers and is too big for just one building. Visit the Travel & Transportation Building and the Cox Pavilion at State Fair Park for the free trade show 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. November 7-11 and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. November 12-22.
The American Quarter Horse Journal will again be providing extensive online coverage of the World Show at www.aqha.com. Along with exclusive feature stories about world champions and unique competitors, The Journal will stream live video from Jim Norick Arena and provide up-to-the-minute show results. The Journal also will provide an Internet café at Conference Room C in the Super Barn where show attendees can check their e-mail and view the latest show coverage from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The free service is provided by The American Quarter Horse Journal, the ultimate source for American Quarter Horse information.
For the fourth year, the excitement of the World Show will be shared nationwide on NBC Sports on Sunday, January 4 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern/10:30 a.m. Pacific. The working cow horse competition along with other great events will be featured in a special one-hour show on NBC Television.
Tickets are on sale now. General admittance tickets are available for $7 and reserved seating for $10. For more information about purchasing tickets through State Fair Park, call OK Tickets at (405) 948-6827. Limited individual box seat tickets are available. For individual box seat sales, contact (405) 948-6807.
The Bank of America Amateur and FedEx Open World Championship Show is the largest single-breed world championship horse show in the world. The exciting competition begins November 7 and continues through November 22 at State Fair Park. For the latest information including schedules and details of special events, visit www.aqha.com/showing/shows/worldshow/schedule.html.
