This weekend at the Battle for the Bluegraaa, Central Ky Ag Center, Liberty, Ky.

There's a $15,000 barrel race too and a$1000 added pole futurity and a $3000 added open poles. The pole futurity has $2500 side pot and the open has a $1000 side pot. I'm not sure what that means but it's on the showbill. 

But barrel racers and pole benders run for that kind of money all the time. I've never known of a $5000 added flag race. We'll be there to watch and cheer them on and support them. Maybe participate in the  calcutta? I wish I had a horse good enough to compete but I will just have to watch instead. 

Starts on Thursday night with some warm up barrels and poles. Show concludes on Sunday. 

Good on the people putting on this terrific show and thanks to all thesponsors. 

Years ago there was a big barrel, pole and flag race held in one of the states east of the Mississippi, but I can't remember(back in the mid 70's) with a whole bunch of added money like that.  We were thinking about going but it just didn't work out.  We were told that the flag race was different then our flag race with two barrels, you ran down turned barrel and grabbed flag, ran back and threw flag in the other barrel.  Was told that there were 4 barrels off the corners of the arena and that you would run around, pick up one, place it in a can on the next and repeat.  They were saying that guys would be on race horses barely broke but could fly.  Don't know if this one is like that or not but would be neat to see.

Never seen one like that. The World Championship Flag Race was held in Mt Vernon, Il from 1961, ( I think that was year one), until 2002. It's been held in Milan, Tn for the last 20 years. They celebrated their 20th year just last month. James Denton is this year's champion. I believe it to be his 4th championship.

The most added money flag race I ever got to compete in was $2,000 added. Just this year there's been a $2,000 added, 2 $3,000 added and now this $5,000 added. Eddie Webb and Gary Layton brought back the NFRA, National Flag Race Association, a few years ago and it's changed the sport. They revived the HoF and started inducting new people and horses, keeping a points ledger for the year end show held in Edinburgh, In on Labor Day weekend. There's been a real revival in interest that was alsmost killed by division barrel racing. Much like the revival of pole bending when they started a national organization. 

At many of the pole bendng shows now, if you don't run a 19 you aren't placing in the 1 D. 

The competition is fierce. At the world championship flag race this year the difference in 1st and 2nd place was .003 of a second over 2 runs.  

We've only been to Liberty once. Very nice facility. Only problem with it is it's tough to get to from any direction. And only one little hotel in the town. Most chain hotels are up to 20 miles away. Seems most participants these days have living quarers trailers. But for spetators, like us, you gotta reserve at that little hotel way early. Or drive a lot.