One of the most anticipated barrel races of the year in Alberta where every rider has a chance to win, the Alberta Barrel Racing Association (ABRA) Finals, is returning to Ponoka later this month.
From Aug. 19 to 25, over 1,400 contestants will descend on the Calnash Ag Event Centre, competing for their piece of over $200,000 in cash and prizes.
"It is our biggest year yet," said Tamera Campanelli, ABRA public relations.
This year there is $170,000 in added money and around $30,000 in prizes between the open, youth and peewees - around $20,000 more in total than last year, said Campanelli.
The winners of each go round will win buckles and the youth and open high point and short go winners will win saddles.
There's also more sidepots than ever before.
Besides the standard sidepot, there's the Royal Crown Canada, the Western Fortunes, 4All, Futurity Derby and the Canadian Barrel Horse Incentive, plus a seniors incentive sidepot for riders over 50.
"It's a very, very big year."
For all the sidepots, even if the rider comes in a second lower than the start of the 5D, there's still a chance to win.
"Our motto is 'Where winning is for everyone,'" said Campanelli.
"We try to open it up so no one is excluded from our winners' circle," she said.
"We want to make sure everyone has a chance to come and be in the barrel racing community ... and just have fun with their horses."
For the draw this year, there are 1,001 in the open, 319 in the youth, and 99 in the peewee.
There are two rounds for the open and the youth. If they make it to the short go, there's a third round, Campanelli explained.
The first day, Monday, Aug. 19, is move in and set up day.
The first half of the contestants, Group A, will get started on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
The first section of the open and youth contestants will run on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday will be the 'switchover day," when Group A will move out and head home and Group B comes in, Campanelli explained.
The peewees will start at noon on Thursday, Aug. 22, and the youth short go will begin sometime after 4 p.m.
The ABRA AGM will be held at the Calnash following the youth short go prizes. Start time is estimated at 6:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, the Group B open will be underway, and Sunday, Aug. 25, will be the short go.
Cowgirls and cowboys alike won't want to miss the western trade show during the finals, either.
About 50 vendors will be set up throughout the facility and some outdoors, offering everything from clothing to tack, artwork, equine body workers and equine supplements.
There will also be one or two vets set up onsite during the event to provide assistance to contestants if needed.
