currently have a 4d sliding payout race with youth, adult and senior incentives.  Wanting to draw a bigger crowd so would appreciate ideas to add to the race.  Like maybe futurity/derby or a mock entry or even a novice incentive?    Even thinking about 5 barrel relay ?    Even thought about a scratch off ticket incentive race.  Just to make things fun and interesting.   Thanks so much everyone. 

How much is the entry fee? What is the percentage pay back?  If you can get together a little added money. I would survey people about the side pots. I don't enter them and my trainer doesn't either because they usually don't pay back much. 

Added money. Maybe like $100 for weeknight races and $500 for weekend races (or more if you can get sponsors)? People also like to come out for "causes". Cancer, suicide prevention, etc. Those types of races always seem to draw a big crowd. It's sometimes easier to get people to give you some money for sponsors also. Small awards series are also another idea. People like prizes. The sidepots don't really draw much and don't get that many entries anyway. 

The open 4d is $40 and $25 for youth adult and senior incentive classes.  80% payback and normally $300 added money and try to get more added with sponsorship and such.  Thanks so much for your input

Normally have $300 added and try to add more if get sponsors for the race.  I really like the idea on putting jackpot on for “a cause”.  That’s something to think about.   Appreciate the ideas.  Thanks so much 

If you get sponsors be sure to announce them often and times other than drags. You can hear over tractors. For instance "We would like to thank our sponsors Billy Bob's Feed and George's tack. Be sure and thank them when you go in."   There is a lady that owns a western store who donated all the buckles to a show. More than just 5D. They were nice Montana Silversmith buckles. They said thank her. The next show she was running and I thanked for the nice buckles. She was very surprised.  If sponsors know they will bring in business they willing be more willing to donate. The only other suggestions would be have the race at an arena that people like. Don't compete with other shows that have more added money than you have even if they are not so close. 

More great ideas.   They announce and thank the sponsors often during the race and banners are hung around the arena with the sponsors on them. Also the sponors are listed on the flyer and on the fb page.   Definitely try to have races when they don’t compete with other races.  Try to be considerate and respectful.  Thank so much 

I personally prefer it when the youth, open and senior all run together...but still place/pay out separately.

Are there any other fees?  "Arena fee" "Processing fee" etc?

1. MO MONEY

2. Run a good race

3. MO MONEY

4. Run a good race. 

Fees turn a lot of people away, especially places that charge jump out fees and office fees. Sometime's its $10 per horse and then $5 office per rider or I've seen that per horse. For some people to pay fees, they need good money in the pot. Fees deter a lot of those slower division people because even if they win 1st in the 4D they can't cover their entries even. I haul one I run and one I expo, and some places I'd have to pay $30 just in fees to be on the property. Some make you pay office fee for horses just there for expo. Then add the cost of expos, which is usally about $20 for me. Our entries are around $30-35 for open, so by the time I've made one run and done a couple expos on the other I'm already $80-85 in sometimes, and I have a 3D-4D horse and I'm never even going to come close to gettign that money back no matter where I place unless there's $$$ in the pot. I'm not going to haul to a $150 added race for that. So speaking from the back of the divisional pack, money is going to draw those people in the most. Around here the 3D-4D make up probably 70% of the entries, 1D probably only 5-10%. We've had to learn to cater towards those slower divisons as that's where most of the entries are & thats money in the pot. When we have the weekends with $1,000-1,500 added and the $35 entry fee we get people coming from surrounding states & get 150-200 head running on a saturday.

Expos draw people in more than side pots, at least around here. I have no idea what the norm is for where you are. Expos can be used for added money too. Even if you just plan for $50 of it going to the pot. We've done that before & do 1 for $5 or 3/$12. We usually have close to 100 expos. You could add a cause to the race and put together a silent auction, have the silent auction money go to the cause. Donate 10% of the expo money to the cause, etc. Nice facility and good ground will draw people, even though I know nobody ever agrees on ground lol. And the show to run smoothly and not drag on, that will bring people back if you do multiple shows. There's places we go that we don't like a whole lot as far as the pen/ground, but the facility is nice and the camping is great so we go because we like it there. A nice facility, doesn't have to be fancy, can bring in a lot. I'm talking safe place, adequate warm up area, easy parking, etc. Those types of things can help overcome shortcomings in other places. Just some ideas, idk if they're helpful for you or not 

Personally, I don't mind office fees and such, because I understand how much work it is to put on a race in the first place. For me, I really enjoy having a race that is WELL RUN. Where times are clearly posted (exhibitions, drag time, open arena, etc), and have the race start ON TIME, and have the draw posted at a reasonable time, have an announcer that calls ahead so you know you is coming up, when big drags are, etc etc. Added money is always a bonus, but well run races are at the top of my list.

This will open a can of worms, I however will not go to smaller sliding/progressive pay races. I have a colt and a 3D horse, its flat out not worth it to donate with my colt and make barley my entries back. I go to equal or large added like 1000+ only. 

I also wont take my little kids unless there is a 5 peewee, they still need help and I'm not paying more than 5 to run the pattern on foot ??. 

The equal pay I have seen have had large # of entries

Have a raffle or a silent auction with some good items those are always fun and might draw more riders. 

My biggest perks of a good barrel race:

- Run 45-50 an hour. A slow ran barrel race is the most miserable experience of all time for me. 

- Enter until the last 50, 25, or last horse runs. Having to enter by the first horse runs when there could be 150+ is a long drawn out day. 

- Accept pre-entries until at least a couple of days before.

- Post the pre-draw if you have one in numerical order or state what number you are full too.

- Payout that day and if they are not there to accept the money mail checks the next mailing day. 

Of course, added money is a perk, and people seem to like prizes, but I prefer cash. 

my biggest peeve    start on time always  have the running order out at least first 25. if rather large call  the # the the name  so they kinda know where you are run them in and out taking for ever is to run say 150 head in 6 hrs is nuts 150 depending dirt ground equipment 3 1/2 hrs would be good great

give up 5 then holding pen 10 

You can add maybe a Tween race 13-17....I like races that start on time. I've been to some races that give a prize at each drag for the fastest time in that drag. I've been seeing at a few races where you can buy back your tipped barrel and run again...

I look at added money, and payout.

Then I look at parking and ground...

Promoting is a big deal, make sure you don't just post on a personal page, tag people and put that flyer up everywhere you can think of.

Buckle series are always a deal that draw more entrys as well.  

Week nights I don't count on added money, but you will get me out for a buckle series :) 

And I love to pre enter!  lol  

Thanks so much for all the great ideas