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  That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
 
| What is the most you have ever paid for an entry fee in an open race? Would you be willing to pay a higher fee for a higher payout? |
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 Witty Enough
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Location: CTX | The most I've paid for 1 single open run was $250. Back in the WBR days when there were 6 trucks up for grabs. |
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 Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7616
Location: Dubach, LA | Booger’s races were 150 with two runs. I remember those trucks. I miss those races. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1515
Location: Illinois | Most I've paid was $275, but you got 3 runs for that. I think your answer about higher fees/higher payback will depend on the division people fall in. A 1/2D rider will probably happily pay higher, the 1D in my area tends at a regular weekend race tends to have 5-6 people, 2D will have double/triple that, and then the other 50 horses in the back fight for the last 2 divisions. We pay a $25-30 fee even if it's $100 added, most times 1st in the 4D doesn't even cover your entry/office fees for the day. You're basically going for the fun of it at that point. Last time I won the 4D at a $500 added race I still came out upside down on my day. If I had a better shot to win, like the 1/2D horses I'd probably pay more, but I think a lot of the back of the pack might be deterred by higher fees. We had a local place start charging $10 jumpout fee, plus $5 office fee for day riders per horses and boy the number of people that pull in for the day went drastically down. And that place is where we have some of the biggest payouts of the whole NBHA season. I live 20 miles away and just started stalling for the weekend because it was cheaper to stay |
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | Anymore it had better be something special with great added money and over the moon trinkets like trucks to get very many for a real high entry fee and then the excess fees had better be minimal. Alot of people are tired of being feed to death and I'm seeing a sharp decline in middle of the road races on entries. Your $5000 added races with 3 runs at $75 plus office/processing fee plus stall fees is a $1000 weekend in nothing flat and if someone is not on a top 1D horse and falling in the cracks they can't afford to many of those weekends and they start staying close to home and run for $50. |
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That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| What would you expect for a $1,500 entry fee? |
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 Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | I'm a total weekend warrior at this point in my life. I have a 3d horse so its p re try well my chance if I win money or not....needless to say, I'm quite happy with my 30 dollar fees to run locally. When my kids are older and I have more time to travel, if I ever had a 1d2d horse, that may change. As of now, I dont think I'd pay more than 60, and only in an arena I knew my horse ran well in. |
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 Expert
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| JLazyT_perf_horses - 2018-12-19 2:22 PM
Most I've paid was $275, but you got 3 runs for that. I think your answer about higher fees/higher payback will depend on the division people fall in. A 1/2D rider will probably happily pay higher, the 1D in my area tends at a regular weekend race tends to have 5-6 people, 2D will have double/triple that, and then the other 50 horses in the back fight for the last 2 divisions. We pay a $25-30 fee even if it's $100 added, most times 1st in the 4D doesn't even cover your entry/office fees for the day. You're basically going for the fun of it at that point. Last time I won the 4D at a $500 added race I still came out upside down on my day. If I had a better shot to win, like the 1/2D horses I'd probably pay more, but I think a lot of the back of the pack might be deterred by higher fees. We had a local place start charging $10 jumpout fee, plus $5 office fee for day riders per horses and boy the number of people that pull in for the day went drastically down. And that place is where we have some of the biggest payouts of the whole NBHA season. I live 20 miles away and just started stalling for the weekend because it was cheaper to stay
Thats crazy!! Last hole in 4D is supposed to get your fees back. |
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Expert
Posts: 5290
| Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 7:18 AM
What would you expect for a $1,500 entry fee?
Slot Race with 100,000 added and 100 percent pay back. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| I have paid $1000+for 2 runs that were not 4D format. There was a little added money like maybe $3000. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| I'm not willing to pay a high entry fee unless I get multiple runs and it's divisional. I don't have a 1D horse, so truly, there are very few races where you can make much money past the 2D payout. The 3,4,5 Ds just aren't worth the higher entries unless there's a pretty decent amount of added.
Heck, I'm looking at futurity entry fees right now and wondering if that's worth it! Does my filly have "it"? Maybe, probably! BUT...am I going to get it out of her?? Who knows...
If I'm paying a 1000+ Entry fee, I want a Sister or a Reddy to ride. Rodeo entry fees aren't even that high. I'd be willing to pay a little more with a 1D consistent horse, but still not 1000. |
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That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| I'm just curious about all this. I've never understood why barrel racers will drive 200 miles to win $500. That isn't even worth most peoples time. Pay a real entry fee and win some real money. |
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 11:15 AM
I'm just curious about all this. I've never understood why barrel racers will drive 200 miles to win $500. That isn't even worth most peoples time. Pay a real entry fee and win some real money.
Because we're not going to the race with the end result being winning money (most of us). We're going because we love barrel racing. The money is just an added perk. At least it is for me. I would not go to a $1500 entry fee race....I wouldn't even go to a $500 entry fee race even when I had a horse that could outrun anyone. It's just too much pressure on me and my horse for one run. I'd rather go to 5 smaller races and win more. Just my opinion. If entry fees get that high, only the rich will be able to run barrels. |
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| As a 2D-3D sometimes even 4D barrel racer. . .
I do this for fun, I don't do it to make a living on it or expect for my winnings to make my expenses a wash. I completely understand the concept of paying a higher entry fee to win more money - completely get it. I cannot afford to run 2-3 horses for more than what I am already paying ($25-$75/run typically). If I had a 1D horse, I'd risk the $200-$500+ all day long. But I don't, so right now I am just having fun and working on making myself and my horses better than we were the last run we made.
I don't have the fancy therapies (BOT, PHT, Game Ready). I have a simple, "cheap" feeding program. So there really isn't other expenses for me to cut to put more money in my pocket for the higher entry fees.
At a NBHA we had offered a 3D slot race, $100 entry fee and 100% payback. We had to cancel it because only 2 people signed up. |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 11:15 AM I'm just curious about all this. I've never understood why barrel racers will drive 200 miles to win $500. That isn't even worth most peoples time. Pay a real entry fee and win some real money. Nice, this is mostly the reason I don't go to all the "big" races near me, even though I do this for "fun" there still needs to be the possibility of winning back at least entry fees or fuel or stall fees or food......My daughter started the summer with $700 cash in an envelope, she ran 2 horses in open and youth races that were mostly within 100 miles. She received any money that was won above the entry fee for that horse/run. She had $200 left in the envelope at the end of the summer. Yes I paid for fuel and stalls in the 2 places needed. Didn't think losing $500 was too bad for a summers worth of fun, also, she seemed to win a few prizes here and there along with year end awards in the open and youth divisions (5 total prizes which we haven't received yet) of our local NBHA. Most importantly her riding improved ten fold. I do have plans to take her to the Sherry Cervi youth race in MN this spring if we have horses in running shape. "big money" around here means the barrel bash other than that you're traveling 300 miles for the capability of winning $1000. I really don't like being away from home that much to run to the "big money" races for a couple of weekends a summer, they're usually more "downtrodden" than fun. (sounds like I'm rambling but I don't understand running all over the place for a couple hundred bucks won back, stay local and enjoy the ride, gain confidence)
Edited by LMS 2018-12-20 11:35 AM
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| understand i do not barrelrace anymore wheelchairbound but i was *****ing about all the fees in 2000 and 2001 when we stopped
i really had more fun at the federations hows made more money at them oles arena ladies and open
if i could ride today i would not go to a barrel race i would trailride or team pen i like to start on time and around here 3 hrs is rule of thumb
but again i am in a chair and no i am a quad not like ambery who is a para whom i admire greatly |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3310
Location: Jersey Girl | Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 12:15 PM I'm just curious about all this. I've never understood why barrel racers will drive 200 miles to win $500. That isn't even worth most peoples time. Pay a real entry fee and win some real money.
This year I did a monthly weekend series that was 3 hours from me. Since it was my first year back after 3 years and on a new horse, I only entered Masters. I was lucky and got a few checks. Did the winnings pay for the weekend? Nope, not even close. I'm a 4D rider. But its a fun weekend away with friends. Thats why I do it. And I just really love barrel racing. |
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Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
Location: CTX | CanCan - 2018-12-19 3:58 PM Booger’s races were 150 with two runs. I remember those trucks. I miss those races.
You are right, the $250 EF might have been one of the last ones he put on, it didn't have trucks but 1 check for 50K that one of the people placing won. I vividly remember cuz we ran on Friday evening, and was sitting perfectly (exaclty 2.5 secs behind the FT) for winning the 6D all weekend! (this was 1 race over 3 days) We even drove back to Waco on Sunday, only to find out someone ran a new FT in the last 25 or so runners, which knocked me out completely... Man, I was pretty bummed out for a little while, cuz I would have gotten a saddle, buckle and a check for $3500..... plus the chance of winning that extra check.
Booger sure put on some epic races!!
Nowadays I like to go to races that keep the EF lower, it does depend on the added money and payout. But in the end it is just a hobby for me. So I am a bit more selective as to where and when I am running.
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 Firecracker Dog Lover
Posts: 3175
| Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 7:18 AM What would you expect for a $1,500 entry fee?
I could never afford a $1500 entry fee period, especially for a crap shoot 4 or 5D race when I know I won't be in the 1D. |
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 Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
Location: Broxton, Ga | I don't think the average barrel racer .....can afford very many of these.......... |
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Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
Location: Broxton, Ga | dianeguinn - 2018-12-19 12:27 PM
Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 11:15 AM
I'm just curious about all this. I've never understood why barrel racers will drive 200 miles to win $500. That isn't even worth most peoples time. Pay a real entry fee and win some real money.
Because we're not going to the race with the end result being winning money (most of us ). We're going because we love barrel racing. The money is just an added perk. At least it is for me. I would not go to a $1500 entry fee race....I wouldn't even go to a $500 entry fee race even when I had a horse that could outrun anyone. It's just too much pressure on me and my horse for one run. I'd rather go to 5 smaller races and win more. Just my opinion. If entry fees get that high, only the rich will be able to run barrels.
Spot on! |
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Good Ole Boys just Fine with Me
Posts: 2869
Location: SE Missouri | This has been an interesting topic on FB.. I would pay the higher entry fee for the chance at some crazy money. I do not like going to a local race with 75% payback $100 added and you can't even pay for your trip. That's not fun to me. I love barrel racing and I love competition and seeing friends and the whole atmosphere (99% of the time). I missed so many local races b/c my goal was to go to every Lucky Dog race in 2018. I don't regret my decision and I'm going back to them next year. I did win decent checks at some bigger added money local races but I've gotten pretty picky about where I spend my money.
Team Ropers do it ALL THE TIME. I've asked the question on FB and I think the guys were scared to answer. How much of the mentality difference between the "typical" team roper and barrel racer has to do with the hard wired differences in women and men? Not trying to get flamed but I know I have more of the roll the dice attitude compared to a lot of my girl friends. Not a bad thing just different. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| abrooks - 2018-12-20 2:03 PM
This has been an interesting topic on FB.. I would pay the higher entry fee for the chance at some crazy money. I do not like going to a local race with 75% payback $100 added and you can't even pay for your trip. That's not fun to me. I love barrel racing and I love competition and seeing friends and the whole atmosphere (99% of the time). I missed so many local races b/c my goal was to go to every Lucky Dog race in 2018. I don't regret my decision and I'm going back to them next year. I did win decent checks at some bigger added money local races but I've gotten pretty picky about where I spend my money.
Team Ropers do it ALL THE TIME. I've asked the question on FB and I think the guys were scared to answer. How much of the mentality difference between the "typical" team roper and barrel racer has to do with the hard wired differences in women and men? Not trying to get flamed but I know I have more of the roll the dice attitude compared to a lot of my girl friends. Not a bad thing just different.
I saw that post.
I think it has to do with the differences in the 2 sports.
Team roping you are able to number ropers based on their skill level. My husband is a #6 header and I am a #2 heeler, so we can go enter the #8 ropings and not worry about roping again open rodeo winning teams (most of the time, everyone gets lucky once or twice before their #’s get bumped up). He can turn around and pick up a different higher numbered heeler and go rope in the #10 or #11.
He actually quit going to most official numbered ropings because if he got bumped up much higher it WASNT going to be worth it to him to go and pay high fees anymore because he’d have to take such a lower numbered partner because most ropings around here are 10’s or 11’s. So we go to a lot of open jackpots/drawpots. We’d like to get back into it more since I’m starting to rope more - but justifying the hefty fees when I’m still inexperienced is what’s stopping us, and knowing it wouldn’t take long before he got bumped up in number again and I lose my partner until I feel like I can compete in the #10.
We have other older retired friends who go to Arizona every winter and have complained to USTRC about the same thing - they get their numbers bumped up and that limits the people they can rope with and ropings they can enter. Folks who go south and spend $15-$20k/winter in entry fee’s.
I can’t take a solid 3D horse and only go run him against solid 3D horses. Then I can’t get on my 2D horse and only go run against the 2d horses. And we’ve all seen a solid 3D horse make a run of a lifetime and place in the 1D, or a 1D horse have an off day and make a 4D run.
Many organizations try to do some different things such as youth, novice, amateur, non-pro, etc. it’s just hard in a sport where the right arena, right ground, and right day can make all the difference. Heck, most nights at the NFR could have been a 2D. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448
Location: lone star state | team ropers have ruined me! go look at the payout for world series...400k! wow! |
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That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| firewaterfuelsme - 2018-12-20 2:19 PM team ropers have ruined me! go look at the payout for world series...400k! wow!
There is a local kid here that brought home over $300k himself from vegas. He's only 22 yo. |
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Veteran
Posts: 289
Location: Northeast SD | I'd pay around 400-500 if you had two runs and then you are able to qualify back for a large chunk of change like team ropings.
I've paid $350 for a slot at the American... Not the best chance of return considering most of the time the ones placing 5-10 aren't even getting their money back and it's one hell of a race. Even if you do qualify you are traveling to TX for Semi's and you had better have a hell of a run down there to make any money. That race just isn't profitable besides for the select number that make it to AT&T stadium once you look at the process as a whole. This is why I've opted out since this time. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 11:15 AM
I'm just curious about all this. I've never understood why barrel racers will drive 200 miles to win $500. That isn't even worth most peoples time. Pay a real entry fee and win some real money.
That is just plain rude, I’m sorry.
Around here a typical large 3day jackpot on the high end of entries is 350 head - usually it has to be associated with a futurity/derby etc for the open to draw that. Anyway, under BBR that pays 10 slots on a 5d - so 50 people walk with money. That’s 14%.
Typical open 5d, 20% of entries are 1d/2d? That would be 70 head. 30% would be 105 head in the 1d/2d, that feels steep but maybe in Gods country of barrel racing Tx/Ok it’s true.
That leave 70-80% of your entries in the 3D-5D. Knowing that getting a check is a total and complete crap shoot if where the fastest horse runs. We’ve all won or lost by that .001 of a second. Maybe some of that 70-80% was a true 1d/2d horse who had a bad trip, but at least around here the majority are weekend warriors, moms, grandmas, kids learning to really hustle, ammy trainers on colts who are so so pround that their homebred home trained unicorn just ran in the 3D against professional American qualifiers. They are the folks working full time jobs, riding their 1 or 2 horses when life allows, who just want to go have fun, maybe see their kids and grandkids have fun instead of living life behind a screen or falling into other bad habits. They are people who love the sport, love the companionship, and love their horses. The $200-$300 in fees/stalls/sidepots they spend for 1 horse for the weekend feels like enough of an investment in a hobby. And when they do win a check - it’s very much “real money”.
They make up the BULK of the payback that lets the handful of check winners get what they do get. So to tell them to go pay “real entry fees to win real money” is effing rude, dude. |
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That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| OhMax - 2018-12-20 2:44 PM Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 11:15 AM I'm just curious about all this. I've never understood why barrel racers will drive 200 miles to win $500. That isn't even worth most peoples time. Pay a real entry fee and win some real money. That is just plain rude, I’m sorry. Around here a typical large 3day jackpot on the high end of entries is 350 head - usually it has to be associated with a futurity/derby etc for the open to draw that. Anyway, under BBR that pays 10 slots on a 5d - so 50 people walk with money. That’s 14%. Typical open 5d, 20% of entries are 1d/2d? That would be 70 head. 30% would be 105 head in the 1d/2d, that feels steep but maybe in Gods country of barrel racing Tx/Ok it’s true. That leave 70-80% of your entries in the 3D-5D. Knowing that getting a check is a total and complete crap shoot if where the fastest horse runs. We’ve all won or lost by that .001 of a second. Maybe some of that 70-80% was a true 1d/2d horse who had a bad trip, but at least around here the majority are weekend warriors, moms, grandmas, kids learning to really hustle, ammy trainers on colts who are so so pround that their homebred home trained unicorn just ran in the 3D against professional American qualifiers. They are the folks working full time jobs, riding their 1 or 2 horses when life allows, who just want to go have fun, maybe see their kids and grandkids have fun instead of living life behind a screen or falling into other bad habits. They are people who love the sport, love the companionship, and love their horses. The $200-$300 in fees/stalls/sidepots they spend for 1 horse for the weekend feels like enough of an investment in a hobby. And when they do win a check - it’s very much “real money”. They make up the BULK of the payback that lets the handful of check winners get what they do get. So to tell them to go pay “real entry fees to win real money” is effing rude, dude.
The word investment would imply you expected a return. But from the sounds of it you are just trying to minimize losses, and never acutally intended to win anything. I appoligize you felt I was being rude. That was not my intention. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 3:20 PM
OhMax - 2018-12-20 2:44 PM Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 11:15 AM I'm just curious about all this. I've never understood why barrel racers will drive 200 miles to win $500. That isn't even worth most peoples time. Pay a real entry fee and win some real money. That is just plain rude, I’m sorry. Around here a typical large 3day jackpot on the high end of entries is 350 head - usually it has to be associated with a futurity/derby etc for the open to draw that. Anyway, under BBR that pays 10 slots on a 5d - so 50 people walk with money. That’s 14%. Typical open 5d, 20% of entries are 1d/2d? That would be 70 head. 30% would be 105 head in the 1d/2d, that feels steep but maybe in Gods country of barrel racing Tx/Ok it’s true. That leave 70-80% of your entries in the 3D-5D. Knowing that getting a check is a total and complete crap shoot if where the fastest horse runs. We’ve all won or lost by that .001 of a second. Maybe some of that 70-80% was a true 1d/2d horse who had a bad trip, but at least around here the majority are weekend warriors, moms, grandmas, kids learning to really hustle, ammy trainers on colts who are so so pround that their homebred home trained unicorn just ran in the 3D against professional American qualifiers. They are the folks working full time jobs, riding their 1 or 2 horses when life allows, who just want to go have fun, maybe see their kids and grandkids have fun instead of living life behind a screen or falling into other bad habits. They are people who love the sport, love the companionship, and love their horses. The $200-$300 in fees/stalls/sidepots they spend for 1 horse for the weekend feels like enough of an investment in a hobby. And when they do win a check - it’s very much “real money”. They make up the BULK of the payback that lets the handful of check winners get what they do get. So to tell them to go pay “real entry fees to win real money” is effing rude, dude.
Investment returns don’t have to be monetary in nature.
Time spent with friends and family for example, may be all the return a lot of folks are looking for. Barrel racing and having a chance a winning back a little bit is icing on the cake for time spent with friends and family who might otherwise be hours apart - or maybe friends you consider family that you never would have met if not for the love of the sport.
Don’t get me wrong - I like to win money. But until I have that wicked horse who’s got a better shot of an ROI - I can only justify a couple $100-$200 gambles a year. |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| brlraceaddict - 2018-12-20 11:53 AM
Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 7:18 AM What would you expect for a $1,500 entry fee?
I could never afford a $1500 entry fee period, especially for a crap shoot 4 or 5D race when I know I won't be in the 1D.
This is not uncommon at any world show. There may be a little added money but most likely not. All expenses stall, fees etc very often run in the range of about $1750 plus the cost of fuel getting there which for me is about 300 to 375 miles. We enter those for a completely different reason than the average barrel race though. |
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Good Ole Boys just Fine with Me
Posts: 2869
Location: SE Missouri | It's interesting you pointed out only wanting to gamble $100-$200 a couple times a year.. I can't even go to a local jackpot for less that $100 if you count fuel, food, and entry fees. I still end up with the same maintenance cost, feed cost, truck payment (when I had one but having an old truck and cheap trailer helps, lol), same breeding fees and time invested on my horses. I want to support my local jackpots (and do when they have awesome payback and added money or need to get a run in) but I don't feel like I can afford TO go to a local one with basically no chance of getting my money back.
On the team roping thing - they definitely have their share of issues and spend a ton more money to enter/practice. Guys not getting bumped that should and the association not lowering numbers when they should (my husband has had two shoulder surgeries and still can't get lowered).
I love them both and honestly I'll have to give up some barrel racing weekends soon to go with my hubby to some team ropings. He has an awesome horse and hasn't roped in over 2 years. He hasn't had time with all the construction stuff we've had going on. |
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 Hugs to You
Posts: 7550
Location: In The Land of Cotton | streakysox - 2018-12-20 4:37 PM brlraceaddict - 2018-12-20 11:53 AM Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 7:18 AM What would you expect for a $1,500 entry fee? I could never afford a $1500 entry fee period, especially for a crap shoot 4 or 5D race when I know I won't be in the 1D. This is not uncommon at any world show. There may be a little added money but most likely not. All expenses stall, fees etc very often run in the range of about $1750 plus the cost of fuel getting there which for me is about 300 to 375 miles. We enter those for a completely different reason than the average barrel race though.
My husband drops that much every weekend he goes to a cutting. :
Again, lots of people go for different reasons. To each his own. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
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| firewaterfuelsme - 2018-12-20 2:19 PM
team ropers have ruined me! go look at the payout for world series...400k! wow!
Against ropers of his own skill level.
I’m just not convinced the same concept carries well into barrel racing.
I think some folks are trying. Equal payout races try - but everyone has varied opinions about those too. But I’m just not sure very many 4d/5d folks are going to go out and drop $2000 on an entry fee alone to have their entire fate decided by how fast the fastest horse runs. Some will - but probably not the hundreds that you would need to make up a million dollar payout without any added money.
In team roping the ability to number based on rider’s roping skill means the “5d” equivalent of a roper can enter and only rope against other “5d” ropers.
Horse power matters more in the barrel racing. I’ve seen my husband make some ridiculous roping shots because he’s just darn handy on horses who didn’t give him anything to work with. A 1d rider does not make a 4d horse a 1d horse if that is the horses maxed out potential.
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Married to a Louie Lover
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| abrooks - 2018-12-20 3:41 PM
It's interesting you pointed out only wanting to gamble $100-$200 a couple times a year.. I can't even go to a local jackpot for less that $100 if you count fuel, food, and entry fees. I still end up with the same maintenance cost, feed cost, truck payment (when I had one but having an old truck and cheap trailer helps, lol), same breeding fees and time invested on my horses. I want to support my local jackpots (and do when they have awesome payback and added money or need to get a run in) but I don't feel like I can afford TO go to a local one with basically no chance of getting my money back.
On the team roping thing - they definitely have their share of issues and spend a ton more money to enter/practice. Guys not getting bumped that should and the association not lowering numbers when they should (my husband has had two shoulder surgeries and still can't get lowered).
I love them both and honestly I'll have to give up some barrel racing weekends soon to go with my hubby to some team ropings. He has an awesome horse and hasn't roped in over 2 years. He hasn't had time with all the construction stuff we've had going on.
I meant $100-$200 in entry fees on their own, not including all the other items. Generally those things - stalls, fees, miles etc, stay pretty consistent in my area race to race whether I’m paying a $45 fee or a $110 fee. I haven’t ventured say 8 hours to go run at Guthrie or OKC - so I’m very much talking midwestern barrel racing. 5 hrs is about the farthest I travel. $45-$60 is a typical entry fee per race for a Fri-Sun jackpot with $1000-$2500 added money. Then you have stalls, fees, fuel.
Idk, maybe the day that barrel racing gets to the big money entries is coming. Maybe I better start stuffing some money into the mattress so I can participate, because right now it’s not there.
I feel like for us - solid middle class folks, work hard, buy young horses and train them ourselves - our equine overhead is really minimal with a lot sweat equity. Something like qualifying and going to the World Series of TR would be a bucket list item. We’d be able to swing at it once by purposefully saving for it and if we had a bad week in Vegas we’d want to puke thinking of what else we could have done with all that money.
But we also never go to the casino, it’s just not what gets our blood pumping. |
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | I've paid $250 for a slot race, but I'd won well over that prior to entering and my 'horse account' was fat at the time. That is usually not the case, lol
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Location: Not Where I Want to Be | streakysox - 2018-12-20 4:37 PM brlraceaddict - 2018-12-20 11:53 AM Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 7:18 AM What would you expect for a $1,500 entry fee? I could never afford a $1500 entry fee period, especially for a crap shoot 4 or 5D race when I know I won't be in the 1D. This is not uncommon at any world show. There may be a little added money but most likely not. All expenses stall, fees etc very often run in the range of about $1750 plus the cost of fuel getting there which for me is about 300 to 375 miles. We enter those for a completely different reason than the average barrel race though.
I heard that you won a World Championship.
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Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
Location: Broxton, Ga | 3canstorun - 2018-12-19 4:54 PM
streakysox - 2018-12-20 4:37 PM brlraceaddict - 2018-12-20 11:53 AM Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 7:18 AM What would you expect for a $1,500 entry fee? I could never afford a $1500 entry fee period, especially for a crap shoot 4 or 5D race when I know I won't be in the 1D. This is not uncommon at any world show. There may be a little added money but most likely not. All expenses stall, fees etc very often run in the range of about $1750 plus the cost of fuel getting there which for me is about 300 to 375 miles. We enter those for a completely different reason than the average barrel race though. Again, lots of people go for different reasons. To each his own.
No cutting events for me then.............lol well and I don't have a cutter either........ |
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Hugs to You
Posts: 7550
Location: In The Land of Cotton | CJE - 2018-12-20 6:28 PM
3canstorun - 2018-12-19 4:54 PM
streakysox - 2018-12-20 4:37 PM brlraceaddict - 2018-12-20 11:53 AM Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 7:18 AM What would you expect for a $1,500 entry fee? I could never afford a $1500 entry fee period, especially for a crap shoot 4 or 5D race when I know I won't be in the 1D. This is not uncommon at any world show. There may be a little added money but most likely not. All expenses stall, fees etc very often run in the range of about $1750 plus the cost of fuel getting there which for me is about 300 to 375 miles. We enter those for a completely different reason than the average barrel race though. Again, lots of people go for different reasons. To each his own.
No cutting events for me then.............lol well and I don't have a cutter either........
Now if he would win it back. Lol. But like people who Barrel race, it’s his therapy. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 885
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I haven't competed in 3 years. I have a wonderful slick by design colt that I really want to compete on. I have missed the sport. Hope I can afford to go. |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| 1DSoon - 2018-12-20 4:22 PM
streakysox - 2018-12-20 4:37 PM brlraceaddict - 2018-12-20 11:53 AM Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 7:18 AM What would you expect for a $1,500 entry fee? I could never afford a $1500 entry fee period, especially for a crap shoot 4 or 5D race when I know I won't be in the 1D. This is not uncommon at any world show. There may be a little added money but most likely not. All expenses stall, fees etc very often run in the range of about $1750 plus the cost of fuel getting there which for me is about 300 to 375 miles. We enter those for a completely different reason than the average barrel race though.
The paint in my avatar is res world champion in poles and top ten in barrels 2013. APHA obviously. My buckskin mare won three world champions, one was AQHA and a bronze AQHA world champion in 2017. All I can say is that is probably cheaper than drugs. Does give you a rush especially when you raised them. As much as I hate to admit it, it was worth every penny invested. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 456
Location: SW MO | WrapN3MN - 2018-12-20 11:30 AM
As a 2D-3D sometimes even 4D barrel racer. . .
I do this for fun, I don't do it to make a living on it or expect for my winnings to make my expenses a wash. I completely understand the concept of paying a higher entry fee to win more money - completely get it. I cannot afford to run 2-3 horses for more than what I am already paying ($25-$75/run typically). If I had a 1D horse, I'd risk the $200-$500+ all day long. But I don't, so right now I am just having fun and working on making myself and my horses better than we were the last run we made.
I don't have the fancy therapies (BOT, PHT, Game Ready). I have a simple, "cheap" feeding program. So there really isn't other expenses for me to cut to put more money in my pocket for the higher entry fees.
At a NBHA we had offered a 3D slot race, $100 entry fee and 100% payback. We had to cancel it because only 2 people signed up.
We just had something like this in my area. There was going to be a slot race in conjunction with a weekend race that usually pulls 300+ entries per day. They canceled the slot race because they couldn't get the entries.
There is a 5D series about 2 hours from me with 2500 added per weekend and they have been struggling to get 100 entries. 80% pay back. $35 EF and $15 processing fee per weekend.
Edited by Mzbradford 2018-12-21 8:39 AM
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| I basically look at it like gambling. I don't bet what I can't afford to loose... and I can't afford to loose much. So we go where I can have fun and win a few dollars back.
We had a series the past couple of years in our area where they did 1 weekend a month with some pretty good added money. We generally go to our NBHA district shows and a few local rodeos but last year we skipped many of those and focused more on the series shows. What a mistake that was! It cost us a butt load of money because of the higher fees and we didn't win a dime.
What we noticed was it was the SAME barrel race every time. The same 1D horses ran the same times which made the same 2, 3, 4 & 5 D horses place every weekend. Over the course of the summer their numbers dropped because a lot people realized after the first few shows, its the same so why keep going if your horses doesn't hit in the money. |
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Expert
Posts: 1515
Location: Illinois | FLITASTIC - 2018-12-20 9:37 AM
JLazyT_perf_horses - 2018-12-19 2:22 PM
Most I've paid was $275, but you got 3 runs for that. I think your answer about higher fees/higher payback will depend on the division people fall in. A 1/2D rider will probably happily pay higher, the 1D in my area tends at a regular weekend race tends to have 5-6 people, 2D will have double/triple that, and then the other 50 horses in the back fight for the last 2 divisions. We pay a $25-30 fee even if it's $100 added, most times 1st in the 4D doesn't even cover your entry/office fees for the day. You're basically going for the fun of it at that point. Last time I won the 4D at a $500 added race I still came out upside down on my day. If I had a better shot to win, like the 1/2D horses I'd probably pay more, but I think a lot of the back of the pack might be deterred by higher fees. We had a local place start charging $10 jumpout fee, plus $5 office fee for day riders per horses and boy the number of people that pull in for the day went drastically down. And that place is where we have some of the biggest payouts of the whole NBHA season. I live 20 miles away and just started stalling for the weekend because it was cheaper to stay
Thats crazy!! Last hole in 4D is supposed to get your fees back.
When I said 1st in the 4D doesn't get your entry/fees back for the day I meant all my entries for the day, not just for the one class. I usually run 2 classes, after I pay the $15 fee just to step my horse off the trailer I'm already $70-80 into it and it's generally $100-150 added at most races. They pay 5-6 in each division, doesn't leave a lot of room for payout. And not all are NBHA, so when it's not NBHA they can divide it up however they want to and its usually 40%,30%20%10% respectfully to the divisions. I used to go to some awesome ones from a producer that went under, but they were $10,000 added and $65 entry, plus $10 office. I drove up to 5 hours to go to those. Friday & Sunday were always $2,500 added for $45 entry. Stalls were like $60 for the weekend. I thought people would flock to those and have 250+ entries, but the last one I went to was only just over 100 entries & the producer just couldn't keep it up with those numbers. It was sad to see it flop like that. I got 5th in the 4D on the $2,500 added sunday and still got over $200 check. Almost paid for my weekend. I don't remember what the bigger day paid out, but it was sweet.
For $1500 entry fee I wouldn't even be able to afford to go, no matter the payout. If I had a 1D horse that was wining everywhere I went maybe, but otherwise count me out |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | OhMax - 2018-12-20 2:18 PM abrooks - 2018-12-20 2:03 PM This has been an interesting topic on FB.. I would pay the higher entry fee for the chance at some crazy money. I do not like going to a local race with 75% payback $100 added and you can't even pay for your trip. That's not fun to me. I love barrel racing and I love competition and seeing friends and the whole atmosphere (99% of the time). I missed so many local races b/c my goal was to go to every Lucky Dog race in 2018. I don't regret my decision and I'm going back to them next year. I did win decent checks at some bigger added money local races but I've gotten pretty picky about where I spend my money. Team Ropers do it ALL THE TIME. I've asked the question on FB and I think the guys were scared to answer. How much of the mentality difference between the "typical" team roper and barrel racer has to do with the hard wired differences in women and men? Not trying to get flamed but I know I have more of the roll the dice attitude compared to a lot of my girl friends. Not a bad thing just different. I saw that post. I think it has to do with the differences in the 2 sports. Team roping you are able to number ropers based on their skill level. My husband is a #6 header and I am a #2 heeler, so we can go enter the #8 ropings and not worry about roping again open rodeo winning teams (most of the time, everyone gets lucky once or twice before their #’s get bumped up ). He can turn around and pick up a different higher numbered heeler and go rope in the #10 or #11. He actually quit going to most official numbered ropings because if he got bumped up much higher it WASNT going to be worth it to him to go and pay high fees anymore because he’d have to take such a lower numbered partner because most ropings around here are 10’s or 11’s. So we go to a lot of open jackpots/drawpots. We’d like to get back into it more since I’m starting to rope more - but justifying the hefty fees when I’m still inexperienced is what’s stopping us, and knowing it wouldn’t take long before he got bumped up in number again and I lose my partner until I feel like I can compete in the #10. We have other older retired friends who go to Arizona every winter and have complained to USTRC about the same thing - they get their numbers bumped up and that limits the people they can rope with and ropings they can enter. Folks who go south and spend $15-$20k/winter in entry fee’s. I can’t take a solid 3D horse and only go run him against solid 3D horses. Then I can’t get on my 2D horse and only go run against the 2d horses. And we’ve all seen a solid 3D horse make a run of a lifetime and place in the 1D, or a 1D horse have an off day and make a 4D run. Many organizations try to do some different things such as youth, novice, amateur, non-pro, etc. it’s just hard in a sport where the right arena, right ground, and right day can make all the difference. Heck, most nights at the NFR could have been a 2D.
Edited by MS2011 2018-12-21 1:51 PM
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 pressure dripper
Posts: 8696
Location: the end of the rainbow | Percentage of payback and added money determine how much I'm willing to gamble on any given weekend. And I have to admit the number can be very arbitrary depending on how far it is from home, who the producer is and whether or not I like the arena.
I'm also a fair weather barrel racer these days so I don't care much for pre entries since how dedicated I am to getting my horses ridden depends on the weather, my work schedule and how lazy I'm feeling.
Goodness I am spoiled.
Edited by willrodeo4food 2018-12-31 8:28 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | The most I’ve ever paid was $250 and that was for NBHA world. Even our 3 day shows around usually are $175-$200. Most open shows are $35 but no higher than $50. I realize this is cheap but unless it was for a benefit or something of that nature I won’t pay more than that. There’s been a push here lately for $100 entry fees for one run. I can’t and won’t pay that for just one run. I know that makes the payout much better but I’m not willing to risk that much on one run. I can understand those with 1D and 2D horses paying it but I’m not one of those. I can’t afford to make that big of a gamble. It’s not because I’m scared of hitting a barrel cause I’ve hit 2 on my horse in 4 years of owning him. He’s super consistent but not lucky. Usually falls in the cracks.
ETA: there’s a local, right down the road from my house run once a month. I refuse to go. It’s literally maybe 4 miles away but the entry fee is $35 with zero added and 75% pay back and very few(less than 25) entries. I won 2nd in 4D and got like $18. I’m not going knowing I can’t even win my entry fee back. That’s just throwing my money away in my opinion. I’m not against a once a month fun run type but not for a $35 entry fee. MAYBE $20 especially when the arena is free to use.
Edited by TessBelle 2018-12-22 9:51 PM
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 9:18 AM
What would you expect for a $1,500 entry fee?
Are you referring to the Xtreme 5D Barrel Race? $1500 entry fee at the qualifying level? I can tell you I would not pay that unless I was a 1D rider/1D consistent horse no matter where I took him. Too much for this middle class barrel racer, even with a million payout. I can run an entire season on a little more than $1500 for entry fees alone. Too much of a “single” gamble for me. |
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Gettin Jiggy Wit It
Posts: 2734
| Whiteboy - 2018-12-20 11:15 AM
I'm just curious about all this. I've never understood why barrel racers will drive 200 miles to win $500. That isn't even worth most peoples time. Pay a real entry fee and win some real money.
because most barrel races even small are 200 miles away.... |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12704
| My closest races are 3+ hours one way. I knew this when I chose to get back into barrel racing in 2001. That's what lead to my BHW name! There are some barrel racers in Northern VA DC area - but they are few and far between.
I did the futurity thing in 2009 with high entry fees. The mare even won almost her entry fees back, minus Ft. Smith. But man was that some cold cold shows and long long drives!
Unless I move I will face those longer drives. In 2019 and moving forward I am shifting to larger shows since I'd rather drive 5-6 hours and hit some decent checks than run my horses in all these small shows with questionable ground. Then again, I may put a lot more into entries and stalls and come away with fewer $$'s than attending the district shows. |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | willrodeo4food - 2018-12-21 7:35 PM
Percentage of payback and added money determine how much I'm willing to gamble on any given weekend. And I have to admit the number can be very arbitrary depending on how far it is from home, who the producer is and whether or not I like the arena.
I'm also a fair weather barrel racer these days so I do t care much for pre entries since how dedicated I am to getting my horses ridden depends on the weather, my work schedule and how lazy I'm feeling.
Goodness I am spoiled.
I'm with you on pre-entries. Mostly because it seems when I plan ahead, something always comes up with my kids or husband. So I tend to fly by the seat of my pants and just go when I can. I haven't even joined any of the local associations in years bc I don't want to be irked at myself at the end of the year for wasting money on a membership fee if I didn't make enough shows to make finals. |
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Regular
Posts: 97
| I can't afford a $1500 entry fee no matter the pay out since I'm not a 1D rider. I don't have to travel more than an hour from home and most are within 30-45 minutes of me year round. Entry fees are cheap and I can go to as many races as my horse and I can handle in a week. |
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