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| I'm setting it as a goal this year to attend. Its been about 7 years since I've gone so its been a very long time. Before they added the new barns and arena. Those who have gone in the last few years, did you find it to be worth the money to attend? I looked up past payouts and it looked great. 15 places in each division and even 15th in the 4D on one run paid almost the entire entry fee. But I added it up with one horse to ride and it was $300, excluding the cost of a hookup for the weekend and the fuel to travel.
I'm trying to make an educated decision as to whether or not to pre enter in June. Obviously, if I feel like my horse isn't performing well I wont go, but she's in the best shape of her life this year coming back from a good break, and next year I'm planning to breed her. So there is a little pressure to put more earnings on her while I have her.
Anyone who attended, share your pros and cons of the event, please.
Edited by CallMeSkidmark 2015-04-15 6:57 AM
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| I have. I think it is a great payout if you can hit the placings, but even though they do pay so many holes, its hard to place as there were around 800 entries if I recall. Pros- great payout, really nice barns with good air flow, good shopping, just a fun show.
cons- HOT, concrete stalls, very expensive show compared to some others, especially since its only two open rounds and no average, so since it is an 8 hour drive for us its kind of irrational to go butt I still do (lol). And it can be hard to figure out the first barrel with the way the holding pen is set up if you haven't run there | |
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| alp341 - 2015-04-15 10:12 AM
I have. I think it is a great payout if you can hit the placings, but even though they do pay so many holes, its hard to place as there were around 800 entries if I recall. Pros- great payout, really nice barns with good air flow, good shopping, just a fun show.
cons- HOT, concrete stalls, very expensive show compared to some others, especially since its only two open rounds and no average, so since it is an 8 hour drive for us its kind of irrational to go butt I still do (lol). And it can be hard to figure out the first barrel with the way the holding pen is set up if you haven't run there
I know they changed the holding pens since the last time I ran there. They used to have the holding pens in the back, but they've pushed them forward into the arena more. So it seems like it would be a blind first barrel.
This year it looks like they added a saddle to the Average. (I think. Just glanced over the entry form)
Yes, its super expensive. I was thinking if my mare was clocking at the top of her division consistently, then I'd feel better about paying that much. I like the size of the pattern and my mare does pretty nice indoors.
8 hours is definitely a very long drive. Mine is about 3 1/2 hours, so still expensive in diesel, but doable.
Thank you! All great things to think about! | |
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| CallMeSkidmark - 2015-04-15 11:22 AM
alp341 - 2015-04-15 10:12 AM
I have. I think it is a great payout if you can hit the placings, but even though they do pay so many holes, its hard to place as there were around 800 entries if I recall. Pros- great payout, really nice barns with good air flow, good shopping, just a fun show.
cons- HOT, concrete stalls, very expensive show compared to some others, especially since its only two open rounds and no average, so since it is an 8 hour drive for us its kind of irrational to go butt I still do (lol). And it can be hard to figure out the first barrel with the way the holding pen is set up if you haven't run there
I know they changed the holding pens since the last time I ran there. They used to have the holding pens in the back, but they've pushed them forward into the arena more. So it seems like it would be a blind first barrel.
This year it looks like they added a saddle to the Average. (I think. Just glanced over the entry form )
Yes, its super expensive. I was thinking if my mare was clocking at the top of her division consistently, then I'd feel better about paying that much. I like the size of the pattern and my mare does pretty nice indoors.
8 hours is definitely a very long drive. Mine is about 3 1/2 hours, so still expensive in diesel, but doable.
Thank you! All great things to think about!
It's really not that expensive when you figure how much added money there is. We have $500 added shows here with a $35/$40+ entry. . . . | |
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| The payout is what makes it worth it, but its still an expensive weekend never the less. Its gambling. You can play the big winning machines and leave with a lot of loot, or nothing... or you can play the penny slots and win a little pocket change, or nothing.
That same weekend is a $2500 added race that usually has a huge turn out that is only 45 minutes away. But its in a pen Im not wild about. Bigger pattern. My mare seems to dig the small, difficult patterns. Now it may be possible to get her acclimated to the big patterns by then...
Gotta weigh it out. I just want to hear what others think about it and what their experiences were.
Sometimes I truly hate options. | |
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Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | I used to go several years ago. When it didn't cost as much. I know that there's a ton more added money now than there was then but still can't make my self pay what they are now. I used to run 3 horses for close to what it cost to run just one. I just can't make my self do it. I do love Perry though. I'm only 3.5-4 hours away. We go to the world show every year and it is a blind shot going into the first barrel but if you've run there before and know what your horse needs it's not that bad. | |
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| You are right the EF isn't that much alone, I should have clarified I meant by the time you pay for the stall, processing fee, grounds fee, late fee (when applicaple) and hook up, it cost over 400 to run one horse. I may be wrong CallMeSkidmark, but I think they just do the one saddle to the overall high money winner or average winner. :/ I may be wrong though | |
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| alp341 - 2015-04-15 1:35 PM
You are right the EF isn't that much alone, I should have clarified I meant by the time you pay for the stall, processing fee, grounds fee, late fee (when applicaple) and hook up, it cost over 400 to run one horse. I may be wrong CallMeSkidmark, but I think they just do the one saddle to the overall high money winner or average winner. :/ I may be wrong though
I just looked it up cause I got curious. Theyre doing "Saddle Awards to high money winners of each division to horse and rider combinations"... so thats kinda a cool incentive.
I added it up and its $300 for one horse, excluding hookup. Not sure what a hookup would cost for the weekend.
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| TessBelle - 2015-04-15 1:07 PM
I used to go several years ago. When it didn't cost as much. I know that there's a ton more added money now than there was then but still can't make my self pay what they are now. I used to run 3 horses for close to what it cost to run just one. I just can't make my self do it. I do love Perry though. I'm only 3.5-4 hours away. We go to the world show every year and it is a blind shot going into the first barrel but if you've run there before and know what your horse needs it's not that bad.
Thats where I get torn and why I've backed out of going the last few years. I got to thinking about the money. Granted, I have only one horse to run and usually only have one, but the cost is comparable to our state show with the cost of a hookup and fuel. | |
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Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | CallMeSkidmark - 2015-04-15 1:55 PM The payout is what makes it worth it, but its still an expensive weekend never the less. Its gambling. You can play the big winning machines and leave with a lot of loot, or nothing... or you can play the penny slots and win a little pocket change, or nothing. That same weekend is a $2500 added race that usually has a huge turn out that is only 45 minutes away. But its in a pen Im not wild about. Bigger pattern. My mare seems to dig the small, difficult patterns. Now it may be possible to get her acclimated to the big patterns by then... Gotta weigh it out. I just want to hear what others think about it and what their experiences were. Sometimes I truly hate options.
Are you referring to Unadilla by chance? If so...I would much rather run there then Perry.
Perry is great, it really is.....my only complaint is they pick about the hottest weekend of the year for the Triple Crown. I got lucky and the last year I ran with over 900 entries I ran at 330am so it was only about 95 degrees.
Whether it's worth it or not is entirely up to you. Big shows can be a lot of fun. But very hard to get a check unless you are running the fastest time. You could look at it as an adventure, worry less about whether it's worth it, and just do it for the experience. I've run a ton of big shows, most where I only donate money, but I don't regret going to a single one. | |
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Location: MD | The payout does make it worthwhile... if you are lucky enough to catch a check. I make the 14 hour haul down there every July. The last few years have been good to us. Others years, we have not been so lucky. You have to think of those sorts of shows as a vacation of sorts.
ETA: The holding pens are also in the back of the building. The first barrel is set far enough out that they can see it once you're about halfway up the alley
Edited by WrapSnap 2015-04-15 4:24 PM
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Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | alp341 - 2015-04-15 1:35 PM
You are right the EF isn't that much alone, I should have clarified I meant by the time you pay for the stall, processing fee, grounds fee, late fee (when applicaple) and hook up, it cost over 400 to run one horse. I may be wrong CallMeSkidmark, but I think they just do the one saddle to the overall high money winner or average winner. :/ I may be wrong though
I agree with this. It is just the EF. It's not that high but all the other charges. And I don't pre enter for anything because I have bad luck with pre entering. I haven't looked this year but last year after the EF and all the extra fees plus stalls and hook ups it was going to be a little less than $2,000 for me to haul my usual 3 horses. Plus I'm in the process of getting a new one so that would cause me to take 4. People say oh just take one but when you have 4 it's next to impossible to pick/take just one. | |
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| missroselee - 2015-04-15 3:21 PM
CallMeSkidmark - 2015-04-15 1:55 PM The payout is what makes it worth it, but its still an expensive weekend never the less. Its gambling. You can play the big winning machines and leave with a lot of loot, or nothing... or you can play the penny slots and win a little pocket change, or nothing. That same weekend is a $2500 added race that usually has a huge turn out that is only 45 minutes away. But its in a pen Im not wild about. Bigger pattern. My mare seems to dig the small, difficult patterns. Now it may be possible to get her acclimated to the big patterns by then... Gotta weigh it out. I just want to hear what others think about it and what their experiences were. Sometimes I truly hate options.
Are you referring to Unadilla by chance? If so...I would much rather run there then Perry.
Perry is great, it really is.....my only complaint is they pick about the hottest weekend of the year for the Triple Crown. I got lucky and the last year I ran with over 900 entries I ran at 330am so it was only about 95 degrees.
Whether it's worth it or not is entirely up to you. Big shows can be a lot of fun. But very hard to get a check unless you are running the fastest time. You could look at it as an adventure, worry less about whether it's worth it, and just do it for the experience. I've run a ton of big shows, most where I only donate money, but I don't regret going to a single one.
No, I wasnt referring to Unadilla. I've never run in Unadilla because its such a far haul for me. I was talking about Calcutta in Chatsworth. I really dislike the pen and atmosphere. It just doesnt suit us. | |
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| WrapSnap - 2015-04-15 4:21 PM
The payout does make it worthwhile... if you are lucky enough to catch a check. I make the 14 hour haul down there every July. The last few years have been good to us. Others years, we have not been so lucky. You have to think of those sorts of shows as a vacation of sorts.
ETA: The holding pens are also in the back of the building. The first barrel is set far enough out that they can see it once you're about halfway up the alley
I'm not too concerned with the first barrel. I've got a mare I can send from the back 40 and she looks for it. I'm usually pretty good about "placing" her where she needs to be to get a decent first barrel.
Thats what I'd probably do. I have a baby that'll be 14 months old by the time that the SSTC rolls around and I havent had a break. While my husband travels for reining shows, there arent any for that month so he can stay home and play Mr Mom for the weekend. It would primarily be for a vacation for me. I've spent a lot more money and come away with nothing from a barrel race, but I dont think I've ever needed a vacation so badly! lol
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| TessBelle - 2015-04-15 5:44 PM
alp341 - 2015-04-15 1:35 PM
You are right the EF isn't that much alone, I should have clarified I meant by the time you pay for the stall, processing fee, grounds fee, late fee (when applicaple) and hook up, it cost over 400 to run one horse. I may be wrong CallMeSkidmark, but I think they just do the one saddle to the overall high money winner or average winner. :/ I may be wrong though
I agree with this. It is just the EF. It's not that high but all the other charges. And I don't pre enter for anything because I have bad luck with pre entering. I haven't looked this year but last year after the EF and all the extra fees plus stalls and hook ups it was going to be a little less than $2,000 for me to haul my usual 3 horses. Plus I'm in the process of getting a new one so that would cause me to take 4. People say oh just take one but when you have 4 it's next to impossible to pick/take just one.
It would absolutely be impossible to choose just one! I've always considered myself lucky that I only have one barrel horse to take. I'm horrible about making decisions. lol While I'm getting another one ready to run this year, He wont be a main mount until next year, while this mare is in foal.
I try to make my life simple... any stress and decision making I try to eliminate. lol
The other charges are rough. I'll be getting a hookup which will probably save a little $ rather than a hotel room and driving back and forth.
What has me itching to run there is, aside from it being a "bucket list" show that I've added in the last few years, I also qualified for last years world show. I wasnt able to go away with a young baby, so I had to pass up something I worked very very hard for. Now that my daughter is getting older, shes much easier to deal with at the barn and at home, so daddy can take the reins for a few days. Guess I'm looking at it like a situation where I dont want to have any regrets. I feel like we earned a couple runs in that pen and I'll be able to rest easier knowing that she got her chance to try. So even though I have a difficult time justifying the cost of the event, its worth it plus more to have a peace of mind and a little break from being a stay at home mom. | |
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