Better Barrel Races

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Rules & Guidelines

Membership Rules

Becoming A Member. Anyone may join Better Barrel Races by completing a membership application and paying the $45 annual membership fee. Contestants must submit completed application and pay said membership fees before points or Finals qualification credit can be earned. Membership in Better Barrel Races (BBR) is a privilege, not a right. Membership shall be made by application and is subject to the discretion of the executive committee. Membership or application may be terminated or rejected by the executive committee for cause detrimental to the interest of the association, it's programs, policies, objective, and harmonious relationship of it's members as determined by the executive committee.

Membership Cards. Members will receive a membership card with their membership number printed on it within 3-4 weeks after their application and fees are received in the main office. Your membership number must be listed on all entry forms in order to obtain points or Finals qualification credit. New or renewing members must submit their completed membership application and fees with their entry in order to obtain points or Finals qualification credit.

Conduct of Members. Abuse or inhumane treatment of animals will not be tolerated. Members shall conduct themselves in a manner representing good sportsmanship at all times. BBR has the right to refuse or terminate membership at any time for cause detrimental to the interest of BBR, it's policies, objective, and harmonious relationship of its members as determined by the BBR.

Entering an Endorse Show. Members must provide their membership card and/or membership ID number when entering an endorsed show in order to receive Finals Qualification Credit or Awards Points for that show. Better Barrel Races' Endorsement applies only to Open Divisional or Sweepstakes, Futurity and Derby format classes of a show. Races or classes limiting the rider based on age, sex, etc. or requiring other qualifications to enter are not considered as part of the endorsed show, and participants in those races will not be awarded finals qualification credit or points.

Finals Qualification. Members participating in at least eight (8) endorsed races at Better Barrel Races endorsed shows by December 31 will qualify to enter the Better Barrel Races World Finals. An endorsed race is defined as each separate race or go-round that is not restricted based on age, sex, etc. of the rider at a show that has received written confirmation of endorsement from Better Barrel Races and is listed in the Better Barrel Races calendar of events. Endorsed shows will have the Better Barrel Races logo included on their advertising, will have a Better Barrel Races Endorsed Show Certificate displayed in the show office, and will have membership applications and information available at the show.

Awards Points/Standings. Members participating in BBR endorsed show will earn points towards year-end standings and awards. Year-end awards will be given in each state that has a minimum of 100 members. Members participating in an endorsed race will receive 5 base points in their respective division for participation. In addition to the base points awarded, the highest placing member in each division will receive the maximum number of awards bonus points offered by the show, the second highest member in each division will receive the maximum bonus points minus 1, and so on until all possible bonus points are awarded. See Exhibit A for maximum Awards Bonus Points offered at a show. Members placing on more than one horse in the same division will only receive bonus points for their highest placing run but will still receive their base points for each run. (i.e. Someone placing 1st and 2nd in the same division at a race with $1000 added money will receive 5 base points and 25 bonus points for the 1st place horse and 5 base points for the 2nd place horse for a total of 35 points in that division.) Runs with penalties will not receive any points. Points will be awarded in 5 divisions based on 0.5 second splits regardless of the format of the show, and totals will be kept for each member in each division. The BBR Points Standings will only include points from BBR Qualifier shows and will not include results from the BBR World Finals. For the Finals Standings, a member keeps points only from the division in which they have the highest standing. Points from other divisions will be dropped allowing lower places to move up.

Arena Rules. Specific arena rules are left to the discretion of the producer. These rules must be included in advertising or made available to contestant upon their request. Rules should also be posted prominently at the arena office.

Guidelines for Show Endorsement

Better Barrel Races Endorsement. Show producers can get an endorsement from Better Barrel Races and can offer Finals Qualification Credit and points towards Better Barrel Races year-end awards to their contestants. Endorsed shows will also be included in the show schedule on the Better Barrel Racers website and will be listed in any Better Barrel Races official publication. Better Barrel Races will also provide the producer with a "protected area" determined by the amount of added money a show offers.

Requirements for Show Endorsement. Producers wishing to get their show(s) endorsed must submit a complete Application for Endorsement along with their show schedule, a copy of their show flier(s), and an application and approval fees. NOTE: All show applications must be submitted by mail and must include a check for the full amount of the endorsement fees before they will be considered for approval. Requests submitted via fax, phone, or email will not be considered until a completed application and fees have been received. Better Barrel Races must receive application for endorsement a minimum of 45 days prior to the show and a maximum of one year prior to the show. See Exhibit B for scheduling submittal of endorse show application. A producer must renew their each year. Better Barrel Races will consider shows for endorsement based on compliance with the format guidelines included in the document, the producer's experience and reputation, amount of added money, and location. Better Barrel Races' Endorsement applies only to Open Divisional or Sweepstakes, Futurity and Derby format classes of a show. Races or classes limiting the rider based on age, sex, etc. or requiring other qualifications to enter are not considered as part of the endorsed show, and participants in those classes will not be awarded finals participation credits or points. Shows co-approved with other associations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Under special circumstances, Better Barrel Races reserves the right to waive any of these requirements for show endorsement if it deems it is in their best interest to do so.

Endorsement Fees. A producer wishing to have their show(s) endorsed by Better Barrel Races must submit a completed producer application and applicable endorsement fees. Fees for show endorsement are $40 for each show with an additional $15 for each race after the one. Weeknight awards series may be endorsed under a special rate of $40 for the first show and $15 each for up to five additional shows (total of $100 for a five week series). Application and all fees must be received by the BBR office before BBR will endorse the show and include it in their show schedule.

Submittal of Show Results. A producer must submit a complete list of contestants' names, running times and BBR membership numbers, along with any memberships and membership fees accepted at the show, to the BBR office within 10 days of the show. Producers should make copies of all information (including memberships and checks) sent to the BBR office for records and maintain them on file until the end of the year.

Scheduling Show Dates/Protected Areas. Better Barrel Races will offer endorsed shows a "protected area" based on the amount of money added. This "protected area" is a radius from a given show location (based on driving distance) in which no other Better Barrel Races endorsed shows can be held on that date. Shows with more added money will be given preference based on the lead time in which they may be approved for endorsement. Weekend races must have added money and BBR recomends a weekend show have a (1) minimum of $500 added money or (2) an anticipated total payout greater than $3000. See Exhibit B for the maximum endorsement lead time and protected area requirements.

Show Format. Better Barrel Races will consider for endorsement only shows offering a Futurity/Derby/Sweepstakes format or an Open divisional format. The times splits between the divisions for a 4D format show may be either 0.5 - 0.5 - 0.5 second splits or 0.5 - 0.5 - 1 second splits, and splits for a 5D format must be 0.5 second between all divisions. The number of divisions and the splits used are left to the discretion of the producer, but must be included in the show advertising.

Show Fees. Entry fees are at the discretion of the individual producer and should be proportional to the amount of money added. Better Barrel Races defines "entry fees" as the sum total of all fees charged on a per entry basis. Any other fees (i.e. Processing Fees, Grounds Fees or Tie-Out Fees, Late Fees, Stall Fees, etc.) must be advertised as being separate from the entry fee and should be held to a reasonable level considering the facility expense and length of show. For general guidelines as to the appropriate fee structure for an event, see Exhibit C.

Payoff. A minimum of 75% of entry fees must be paid as prize money and 100% of all advertised added money must be paid as prize money. Money from entry fees shall be distributed between the divisions based on a graduated scale with the highest percentage going to the 1D. Added money can be distributed in the same manner or may be split equally between the divisions. Equal payout in each division is prohibited. The number of places paid and the payoff percentages for each place are left to the discretion of the individual producer. The number of places paid and the payoff percentages should be such that the payoff is not "top loaded" and/or spread too thin. For a general guideline of payoff percentages, see Exhibit D. The payoff, and all percentages used in calculating the payoff, must be posted at the event or included in the event rules. Checks must be made available at the conclusion of the event.

Timing. All runs must be timed utilizing electronic eyes. Missed times must be offered a re-run.

Ground. Every effort should be made to provide safe and even ground for all contestants. The ground should be worked a regular intervals (every 5-7 runs depending on conditions).

>Barrel Pattern. The location of each barrel and the timer must be staked or otherwise marked to ensure the proper placement of the barrels. The exact dimensions of the barrel pattern will depend on the dimensions of the facility, but a standard pattern should be set when possible with Ninety (90) feet between barrels 1 and 2; One hundred five (105) feet between barrels 2 and 3 and barrels 1 and 3; Sixty (60) feet from barrels 1 and 2 to scoreline, and, if the arena allows, forty-five (45) feet from scoreline to the gate. Barrels 1 and 2 must be a minimum of fifteen (15) feet from the fence and barrel 3 must be at least twenty-five (25) feet from the back fence.

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