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September 23–27, 2026
THE MAIN EVENT
FUTURITY & MATURITY
The culmination of the Gold Rush season. $250,000 in added money across two premier competitions — the 2D Futurity and the 3D Maturity — held in conjunction with Today’s Horse West Fest in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Event Dates
Sept 23–27, 2026
Futurity & Maturity
Thurs & Fri · Sept 24–25
In Conjunction With
Today's Horse West Fest
Entries Are Open
Enter the Futurity & Maturity on the Gold Rush Portal
Mark Your Calendar
Key Dates & Deadlines
Entries, exhibitions, and deadlines all run on a tight calendar leading into Rapid City. Get these dates on the books now so nothing catches you off guard.
Aug
10
Entries Open
Gold Rush Futurity & Maturity entries open August 10th.
Sept
1
Exhibitions Go On Sale
On sale September 1st at 7:00 PM MST at thmproductions.com.
Sept
10
Pre-Entry Deadline
Pre-entries close September 10th at midnight MST. Don't wait until the last minute.
Entry Fees Are Non-Refundable
Gold Rush Futurity & Maturity entry fees are non-refundable. Double-check your entries before the pre-entry deadline.
Stalls, Hookups & West Fest Entries
Stalls, hookups, and entering of any non Gold Rush eligible horses are handled at thmproductions.com.
Main Event Competitions
The Big Paydays
Two separate competitions. Two massive purses. Both run Thursday and Friday, September 24–25, giving contestants the chance to carry their times into the West Fest Open races over the weekend.
2D Futurity · Presented by Platinum Trailers
$150,000
Added Money · Full Second Split
- Full 2D format — one full second split between divisions
- Open to all nominated horses with a paid Futurity entry
- 1st go-round Thursday carries to Saturday Open at West Fest
- 2nd go-round Friday carries to Sunday Open at West Fest
- Payout goes first to breeder, then stallion owner, then nominator
$500
Entry Fee
Enter the Futurity on the Portal →
3D Maturity
$100,000
Added Money · .75 Second Split
- .75 second splits between 3D divisions
- In 2026: all nominated horses grandfathered in regardless of age
- Future years: must have run Futurity OR entered Maturity before age 8
- 1st go-round Thursday carries to Saturday Open at West Fest
- 2nd go-round Friday carries to Sunday Open at West Fest
$400
Entry Fee
Enter the Maturity on the Portal →
2026 Maturity Grandfather Rule: In year one, all eligible horses are grandfathered into the Maturity regardless of age with a paid nomination and $400 Maturity entry fee. In consecutive years, horses must have been entered in the Futurity — or entered in the Maturity before age 8 — to remain eligible for life. If neither condition is met, the $1,500 Maturity buy-in for life applies.
Slotholder Exclusive
Slot Holder Only Sidepot
When you see the Slot Holder Only Sidepot on the schedule, here's what it means: $10,000 in added money reserved exclusively for horses owned by Gold Rush slotholders. It pays on the average, and you must be entered in the Futurity or Maturity to run for it.
Slot Holder Only Sidepot
$10,000
Added · Pays on the Average
$250
Entry Fee
Who Can Enter
- Must be entered in the Gold Rush Futurity or Maturity to enter the sidepot — the sidepot is a separate entry and does not enter you in the Main Event
- Only eligible if running a horse owned by a slotholder, as listed on the registration papers
- Pays on the average with 1.5-second splits between divisions
3D
50 Entries & Up
The sidepot pays as a full 3D with 1.5-second splits.
2D
Below 50 Entries
The sidepot pays as a 2D instead.
Bonus Opportunity
West Fest Carryover
Every Futurity and Maturity contestant has the option to carry their times into the West Fest Open races on Saturday and Sunday — giving you two extra shots at the open race purse on top of your Futurity and Maturity placings.
Thurs
24
1st Go-Round — Futurity & Maturity
Run your first go-round on Thursday, September 24th as part of the Gold Rush Futurity & Maturity competition.
↓ Time carries to Saturday
Sat
26
Saturday Open Race — West Fest
Your Thursday 1st go-round time automatically carries into the Saturday Open Race at West Fest, giving you a placing without an extra run.
Optional carryover
Fri
25
2nd Go-Round — Futurity & Maturity
Run your second go-round on Friday, September 25th to complete your Futurity & Maturity competition.
↓ Time carries to Sunday
Sun
27
Sunday Open Race — West Fest
Your Friday 2nd go-round time carries into the Sunday Open Race at West Fest. Four competitive placings from two runs.
Optional carryover
◆
September 22–27
Full Event Schedule
The Gold Rush Main Event runs inside the 13th Annual Today's Horse West Fest in Rapid City. Six days of barrel racing, with the 2D Futurity and 3D Maturity anchoring Thursday and Friday and the Open 5D carrying times into the weekend West Fest races.
Download the printable schedule (PDF)
Tuesday
September 22
8:00 AM–6:00 PM
Vendor Set-Up
Noon–6:00 PM
Futurity / Maturity Check-In #1
Rider only
Noon–6:00 PM
25-Minute Time Slots with Barrels
$25 per rider · max 10 riders per slot
Wednesday
September 23
8:00 AM–8:00 PM
Vendor Set-Up
8:00 AM–8:00 PM
Futurity / Maturity Check-In #2
Rider only
8:00–10:00 AM
Pre-Sold Exhibitions
$5 each
10:30 AM
Two Free Futurity Exhibitions
Draw order · $25 fine if you exceed 60 seconds
After exhibitions
Pay-at-the-Gate Exhibitions
$5 each · sign up at the gate, time permitting
4:00–8:00 PM
25-Minute Time Slots with Barrels
$25 per rider · max 10 riders per slot
Thursday
September 24
7:30–8:30 AM
Pay-at-the-Gate $10 Exhibitions
Sign up at the gate at 7:15 AM · 50 max sold
9:00 AM
Gold Rush 3D Maturity — 1st Go
.75-second splits
$100,000 Added
Follows Maturity
Gold Rush 2D Futurity presented by Platinum Trailers — 1st Go
One-second split · begins about 30 minutes after the Maturity
$150,000 Added
Follows Futurity
Open 5D — Section 1, Go 1
Begins about 30 minutes after the Futurity
$10,000 Added
Friday
September 25
7:30–8:30 AM
Pay-at-the-Gate $10 Exhibitions
Sign up at the gate at 7:15 AM · 50 max sold
9:00 AM
Gold Rush 3D Maturity — 2nd Go
Reverse order
Follows Maturity
Gold Rush 2D Futurity presented by Platinum Trailers — 2nd Go
Reverse order · begins about 30 minutes after the Maturity
Follows Futurity
Open 5D — Section 1, Go 2
Begins about 30 minutes after the Futurity
$10,000 Added
Saturday
September 26
7:00–11:00 AM
Pre-Sold Exhibitions
$5 each
11:30 AM
Cruising 4 A Cure 5D Peewee Slot Race
10 & under · one-second splits · limited to 100 entries
$2,000 Added
1:30 PM
West Fest 4D Peewee Race
8 & under · two-second splits
Follows Peewee
Open 5D — Section 2 Go
Thursday Futurity and Maturity times carry in · begins about 30 minutes after the West Fest Peewee Race
$10,000 Added
Sunday
September 27
7:30–8:30 AM
Cowboy Church
9:00 AM
Remi the Rockstar 5D Youth Race
16 & under · full-second splits
$5,000 Added
Follows Remi Race
Open 5D — Section 2, Go 2
Friday Futurity and Maturity times carry in · begins about 30 minutes after the Remi Race
$10,000 Added
All times are approximate. The schedule is subject to change based on entry numbers.
Before You Enter
Entry Requirements
Make sure your horse is set up before the Main Event. Every entry requirement below must be satisfied before competing in the Futurity or Maturity.
Paid Nomination
Your horse must have a paid, active nomination on file through the Gold Rush Portal before you can enter the Main Event. The $250 intro rate is available for any age through October 1, 2026.
Futurity Entry Fee
The 2D Futurity entry fee is $500. Full second splits between divisions. Open to all nominated horses that meet eligibility requirements.
Maturity Entry Fee
The 3D Maturity entry fee is $400. .75 second splits. In 2026, all nominated horses are grandfathered in. Future year eligibility requires prior Futurity entry or Maturity entry before age 8.
Eligibility & Ownership
The horse must be sired by a slot holder stallion, or bred by a slot holder. Transferred horses must complete the Owner Transfer form on the Gold Rush Portal.
Ready for the Main Event?
Nominate your horse and enter the Futurity or Maturity on the Gold Rush Portal — sidepot entries are separate and don't put you in the Main Event. The $250 intro rate is available for any age through October 1, 2026.
Enter on the Gold Rush Portal