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 Veteran
Posts: 284
 
| My husband and I are thinking of moving from western Kansas to the Topeka area. Are there many races held? Also, does anyone know how difficult it may be to find a place to rent that allows pets or a place to board horses that is safe, with a huge bonus indoor arena? Thanks |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
 
Location: Kansas | Rockin V Equine Center south of town I believe offers boarding and they have a smallish indoor pen (about the size of Mattox Arena at Derby or the indoor in Meade). Their website is http://www.rockingvequinecenter.com/
There are quite a few barrel races around Topeka - NBHA KS09 has most of theirs at the Expocentre (site of State NBHA championships), and there is also a Kansas Barrel Racing Association (KBRA) and JEND Productions that have shows around Topeka. Their websites are: http://www.jendproductions.com/ & http://ksbra.webs.com/
Also Topeka is only a long 30 minutes from the indoor arena at Lawrence, site of just about all the KS01 NBHA shows, and the Lyndon Saddle Club (20 miles south of Topeka) usually has a handful of barrel races in the summers. They have a nice sandy arena and are super nice folks. The other races around there I think are usually held near Circleville (north about 35 miles and then back west 5 or 6 miles) in a huge outdoor pen and put on by an individual I believe. I think they have been Bonus Race Finals qualifiers in the past.
As far as renting anywhere with pets, your best bet will probably be somewhere outside of Topeka. When I worked in the state capitol, I rented an apartment in Silver Lake but I don't think they allow pets, or at least they didn't 6 years ago when I lived there. It is pretty tough to find a safe and affordable place to rent IN Topeka or at least it was on my budget back then. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I know this isn't an answer to your question, but there are WAY, WAY more races in the Wichita area - and you're only 2.0 hours from Oklahoma City and the surrounding area - you can almost find a jackpot any night of the week around here. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | yes there are lots of races here in topeka. Several at the expo, several in Lawrence and surrounding areas. You can PM me and I'll get you a list to give you an idea. |
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Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | also, I can give you a list of board facilities around here, hard to come by a big arena at a facility without having to ride with 4 other people in it LOL. But I boarded at a nice facility and I basically had the run of the property and arena since nobody came out to ride lol |
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Veteran
Posts: 284
| Thank you very much! This is helpful! I've been to NBHA State Finals a few times long ago. This is a huge long shot, but I wanted some info. |
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Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Griz - 2014-01-21 5:10 AM I know this isn't an answer to your question, but there are WAY, WAY more races in the Wichita area - and you're only 2.0 hours from Oklahoma City and the surrounding area - you can almost find a jackpot any night of the week around here.
I will agree with that. I have lived at Pratt and just outside Topeka, and the local races near Wichita tend to be a lot tougher than the smaller ones around Topeka. I think that is probably because of the entry fees being higher around Wichita. At Topeka, you can find several barrel races with $10-15 entry fees, but I never found anything that cheap around Wichita. Topeka area is better if you're running young horses IMO but the payouts don't tend to be as high unless there is added money. Races seem to be a little smaller - a weeknight race at Derby would draw 50+ regularly and most weeknight races around Topeka I've been to had 25-40 entries. You can't really run every night of the week around Topeka but there is hardly ever a weekend that you can't run somewhere within 30 minutes.
One other thing I just remembered - The North Topeka Saddle Club also has some barrel races in the summer. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| rodeowithjoker - 2014-01-21 10:37 PM Griz - 2014-01-21 5:10 AM I know this isn't an answer to your question, but there are WAY, WAY more races in the Wichita area - and you're only 2.0 hours from Oklahoma City and the surrounding area - you can almost find a jackpot any night of the week around here. I will agree with that. I have lived at Pratt and just outside Topeka, and the local races near Wichita tend to be a lot tougher than the smaller ones around Topeka. I think that is probably because of the entry fees being higher around Wichita. At Topeka, you can find several barrel races with $10-15 entry fees, but I never found anything that cheap around Wichita. Topeka area is better if you're running young horses IMO but the payouts don't tend to be as high unless there is added money. Races seem to be a little smaller - a weeknight race at Derby would draw 50+ regularly and most weeknight races around Topeka I've been to had 25-40 entries. You can't really run every night of the week around Topeka but there is hardly ever a weekend that you can't run somewhere within 30 minutes.
One other thing I just remembered - The North Topeka Saddle Club also has some barrel races in the summer.
Yeah, the weekly "small" jackpots around here will have 50-60 entries and they do pay pretty well. For a $25 entry, a winning 3D check will be $60-$65 or so. The larger monthly races - like the Central 4Ds will get 100 or so entries and they pay back really well - you will be running against people who place in the 1D at the very large races - like BBR finals and the OKC Shootout. |
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Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Griz - 2014-01-22 5:32 AM rodeowithjoker - 2014-01-21 10:37 PM Griz - 2014-01-21 5:10 AM I know this isn't an answer to your question, but there are WAY, WAY more races in the Wichita area - and you're only 2.0 hours from Oklahoma City and the surrounding area - you can almost find a jackpot any night of the week around here. I will agree with that. I have lived at Pratt and just outside Topeka, and the local races near Wichita tend to be a lot tougher than the smaller ones around Topeka. I think that is probably because of the entry fees being higher around Wichita. At Topeka, you can find several barrel races with $10-15 entry fees, but I never found anything that cheap around Wichita. Topeka area is better if you're running young horses IMO but the payouts don't tend to be as high unless there is added money. Races seem to be a little smaller - a weeknight race at Derby would draw 50+ regularly and most weeknight races around Topeka I've been to had 25-40 entries. You can't really run every night of the week around Topeka but there is hardly ever a weekend that you can't run somewhere within 30 minutes.
One other thing I just remembered - The North Topeka Saddle Club also has some barrel races in the summer.
Yep, exactly. The Topeka area has some tough big races and the NBHAs around there are usually pretty tough with a number of 1D anywhere horses. The smaller shows (JEND, KBRA, etc) don't draw those same horses because the fees are lower and that lowers the payouts.
Topeka does offer more opportunities to run poles, tie goats or run the flag race if you are into that or have kids who are. The JEND and KBRA shows offer 3 events each with some age group classes and I believe they give pretty nice year end awards. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| The NTSC has nice dirt for an outdoor. Domer arena at the Expo Center is super nice as well. Justin needs a guaranteed minimum of 20 people and he will bring back the open arenas that were held there last winter.
There are PLENTY of NBHA and local jackpot races to run in this area as was stated previously. If you are willing to haul, Wichita is an easy 2 hours on the interstate and they have more as well. Oklahoma City is roughly 4 hours from Topeka, but it is also all interstate easy driving.
Look outside of Topeka for decent prices for living with pets too.
Good luck! |
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