Membership Rules

Becoming A Member.  Anyone may join Better Barrel Races by completing a membership application and paying an annual membership fee. Contestants must submit completed application and pay said membership fees before points or BBR World Finals (BBRWF) 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 BBR. Membership or application may be terminated or rejected by BBR for cause detrimental to the interest of the association, its programs, policies, objective, and harmonious relationship of its members as determined by the executive committee. Members agree to become familiar with all of the association's rules and regulations as well as any event specific ground rules where they may compete and agree to abide by and be bound by them.  Members also agree that Better Barrel Races may contact me via email, text and voice call at the contact information in their membership application.

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 in order to obtain points or Finals qualification credit.

Standard Membership.  Annual fee of $75 and qualify for the BBR Word Finals with eight (8) qualifying shows with inclusion in Regional Jackpot point standings.

Futurity Riders Guild.  Annual fee of $125, qualify for the BBR World Finals with eight (8) qualifying shows, plus inclusion in Futurity Riders point standing from Futurity competition, as well as inclusion in Regional Jackpot point standings from Jackpot competition. Each Futurity Riders Guild membership receives one complimentary horse nomination to the Futurity Riders Guild horse standings.

Premium/Gold Membership.  Members may opt for the Premium/Gold Card Membership for an annual fee of $250. BBR Gold Card Members can qualify for the BBR World Finals with only six (6) qualifying shows instead of the normal eight (8) shows, inclusion in Regional Jackpot point standings from Jackpot competition, plus inclusion in Futurity Riders point standing from Futurity competition (if applicable). Gold Card perks include the following at the BBR World Finals: Express Check-In up until two (2) hours prior to your first run; eligible to enter Gold Card Race with trophy saddles to champions in each D; a complimentary or discounted photo & video package; and two (2) VIP Cantina passes (if applicable). Additionally, a Gold Card Membership includes a twelve (12) month digital subscription to Cowboys & Indians Magazine at a special BBR non-deductible rate of $5 ($19.95 retail value).

Animal Abuse.  IMPORTANT NOTICE: The welfare of the horse and all other animals is paramount to BBR. Anyone who excessively whips or spurs, and/or strikes a horse's ears, eyes or face with anything other than the hand, either in the arena or on the facility grounds will be fined $100. Any rider caught using an electronic device on a horse during competition will be automatically disqualified and shall forfeit all winnings. Horses shall not be left unattended while bitted -up or tied-around on facility grounds at any BBR sanctioned or produced event. Inhumane treatment, or neglect, of any horse, dog, or other animal during a BBR event will not be tolerated. An individual who has been warned by a BBR Representative for such behavior and persists or refutes the warning shall be fined an additional $100. Individuals who fail to pay incurred fines will remain ineligible for competition at BBR, LLC events, until such time as all fines have been paid. First offenses will be punished by a fine being imposed. A second offense will be dealt with by the BBR management and may result in a fine of up to $5,000 (to be donated to a non-profit animal rescue center) and a suspension of membership.

Entering an Endorsed Show.  Members must provide their membership card and/or membership ID number when entering an endorsed show to receive Finals Qualification Credit or Awards Points for that show. Better Barrel Races' Endorsement applies only to specified Open Divisional or Sweepstakes, Futurity and Derby format classes of a show (see website for approved classes). 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 (six (6) for Gold Card Members) at Better Barrel Races endorsed shows by December 31 of the effective year of their membership will qualify to enter the BBR World Finals. Members must physically participate in the race in order to receive finals qualification credit or points. A scratch or turnout does not count as participation. 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 website calendar of events. Endorsed shows will have the Better Barrel Races logo included on their advertising and will have membership applications and information available at the show.

Regional Awards Points/Standings.  BBR will maintain Regional Standings in various Regions. Members participating in BBR approved shows will earn points towards year-end Regional Standings and awards. These points will be awarded points in the region in which they reside regardless of the location of approved shows attended. Year-end awards will be given in each region based on points earned in open or non-futurity competition. Regional boundaries and the awards and prizes given in a region may vary based on membership numbers per region. Members participating in an approved race will receive 5 base points in their respective division. 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 20 bonus points for the 1st place horse and 5 base points for the 2nd place horse for a total of 30 points in that division.) Points will be awarded in 5 divisions based on 0.5 second intervals for the 1st – 4th division and a full 1 second interval for the 5th division. Runs with penalties, and/or runs more than 3 seconds slower than the winning time will not receive any points, regardless of the format of the show. Totals will be kept for each member in each division. The Regional Points Standings will include points from approved races at BBR approved shows and the BBR World Finals events. For the End of Season 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. All ties will be broken by the number of shows attended followed by money won and, ultimately, a coin flip. Points are accumulated per calendar year (Jan 1 – Dec 31). BBR will finalize year-end standings on Jan 15 each year. Members have until that date to notify the office of any corrections or missing results that affect their points or finals qualification status.

Futurity Riders Guild Awards Points/Standings.  In addition to the Regional Points/Awards Standings listed above, members with a Futurity Riders Guild or Premium level membership participating in BBR approved futurity competition will earn points towards year-end Futurity Riders Guild Standings and awards. Bonus points in BBR approved futurity competition will be awarded in only one (1) division with NO base points being awarded, thus riders of multiple horses will only receive points on their highest placing horse. BBR will also track points and money for horses nominated to the BBR Futurity Riders Guild and will maintain standings for nominated horses throughout their season of competition. A nominated horse may earn points regardless of the membership status of the rider, and an eligible member may earn points for the Futurity Riders Guild regardless of the nomination status of the horse ridden.

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. 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) (if available), an application and approval fees. NOTE: Show applications may be submitted by mail, fax, or email and must include payment for the full amount of the endorsement fees (check or credit card) before they will be considered for approval. Better Barrel Races must receive application for endorsement a minimum of 30 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 shows 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, location, and other factors (e.g. history of event, previous approvals, etc.). 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. Additional “race” may be separate go-rounds, approvable classes, etc. that have a separate payout, will be awarded a separate set of points and counted for separate participation credit. Weeknight (Monday thru Thursday) 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 $115 for a six-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 payoff per rider, total payoff for event 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(s). Shows with more added money will be given preference based on the lead time in which they may be approved for endorsement. See Exhibit B for the maximum endorsement lead time and protected area requirements.

Modification of Approved Shows.  Any changes, cancellations or rescheduling of an approved show, must be made in writing or email to the BBR office. Changes to date or location – including make-up dates – may effect approval status of the event. When applying for show approval, application should reflect the minimum amount of added money guaranteed at the event. BBR will update increased added money amounts up to seven (7) days prior to an event, however the change will not result in increased protection radius. Decreasing added money could result in event losing its protection radius and may affect current and/or future approvals.

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 will base approval decisions upon usual, reasonable and customary fees in a given area. Better Barrel Races defines "entry fee" as the sum total of all fees charged on a per entry basis (including any “office charge” or “association fees” deducted before figuring percentage to payout). 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.

Added Money.  Weekend races (Friday thru Sunday) must have a minimum of $100 added money per day and BBR recommends a weekend show have a minimum of $500 added money. Futurity classes (whether separate or run as a sidepot) must have a minimum of $500 added money to be approved. Slot races (high entry fee, limited entry events without added money) may be approved with a minimum payout percentage of 90%.

Payoff.  One hundred percent (100%) of all advertised added money must be paid as prize money, while a minimum of seventy (70%) of entry fees (percentage applies to all fees charged on a per entry basis - see definition of entry fees above) must be paid as prize money, 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. The number of places paid and the payoff percentages for each place are left to the discretion of the individual producer. For a general guideline of payoff percentages, see Exhibit C. 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 at regular intervals (at least every 5 runs).

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 BBR pattern should be set when possible with seventy-six (76) feet between 1st and 2nd barrel stakes; ninety five (95) feet from barrel 1st and 2nd stakes and the 3rd barrel stake; forty-five (45) feet from the line between the 1st and 2nd barrels and the time score line; and, if the arena allows, forty-five (45) feet from the score line to the gate. 1st and 2nd barrel stakes must be a minimum of fifteen (15) feet from the arena fence and the 3rd barrel stake must be a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet from the back fence. Barrels are to be set on the inside of the stake (opposite the arena fence along 1st/2nd barrel line and 3rd barrel/center alley line). In larger arenas a standard rodeo pattern may be set 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 score line, and, if the arena allows, forty-five (45) feet from score line 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, and barrels set centered atop the stakes.