The American Quarter Horse Association has made the decision to cancel the three Nutrena AQHA Level 1 Championships, which were scheduled for April and May, and will not reschedule the shows.
The shows are the Nutrena Central AQHA Level 1 Championships, April 8-11, at OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City; Nutrena West AQHA Level 1 Championships, April 15-19, at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center in Las Vegas; and Nutrena East AQHA Level 1 Championships, April 29 – May 3, at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio.
Exhibitors who were entered to compete at the shows will be refunded in full for their entries. Refunds will be issued to the original payment method.
AQHA leadership has been closely monitoring the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health districts’ reported information regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) for the three Nutrena AQHA Level 1 Championships scheduled this spring. The CDC is now urging a nationwide halt to gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks, citing the risk of coronavirus.
On March 15, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt held a COVID-19 press conference to declare a state of emergency for Oklahoma City and suspend events with 50 or more participants through April 12. Read the official announcement.
The Southern Nevada Health District has announced new confirmed positive cases of the coronavirus in Clark County. Las Vegas resorts have also announced that they are closing temporarily and entertainment companies are suspending operations for approximately two weeks, beginning on March 17.
On March 12, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that the Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, M.D., MPH, signed an order to prohibit mass gatherings of 100 or more in the state of Ohio. This order will remain in effect until the state of emergency declared by Gov. DeWine has been rescinded or modified. Gov. DeWine also announced that the Ohio Department of Health has issued a Director’s Order that is closing all Ohio bars and restaurants to in-house patrons effective March 15.
“For the protection of our members, spectators and AQHA staff, we fully support the decisions made by Mayor Holt, Gov. DeWine and the local authorities in Oklahoma and Ohio. We are also mindful of recent recommendations made by the CDC and local heath districts, in addition to the fact that several Las Vegas resorts are temporarily closing,” said Craig Huffhines, AQHA executive vice president. “We greatly appreciate the professionalism and courtesy the management of OKC Fairgrounds, the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center and World Equestrian Center have shown AQHA with open lines of communication as we evaluated the status of this worldwide pandemic and the effect on the Nutrena AQHA Level 1 Championships. After careful consideration and the extraordinary unprecedented circumstances this pandemic is causing worldwide, AQHA will not reschedule these events, due to the impact on AQHA-sanctioned events scheduled for later this year.”
Nutrena AQHA Level 1 Championships attendees are responsible for cancelling additional travel arrangements. The South Point Hotel & Casino will waive room cancellation fees for Nutrena West attendees. Please contact the South Point Hotel & Casino at 866-791-7626 to cancel your room reservations.
2021 Nutrena AQHA Level 1 Championships Eligibility
Eligibility to compete at the 2021 Nutrena AQHA Level 1 Championships will be based on 2020 Level 1 and Rookie eligibility requirements.
Upcoming AQHA Events
This is a rapidly changing situation, and AQHA is committed to providing timely information regarding upcoming events as it becomes available.
AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHA on Twitter and visit www.aqha.com/news.
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