GOLD RUSH INCENTIVE

TERMS & CONDITIONS

A Northern Alliance for Breeders, Trainers & Barrel Racing Enthusiasts. Official rules, eligibility requirements, and program guidelines.

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The Gold Rush Futurity & Maturity 2027
The Fine Print

Official Terms & Conditions

Everything on this page is a plain-language summary. The complete official rules, including event requirements, eligibility, releases, and payout procedures, are set out in the Gold Rush Incentive, LLC Terms and Conditions. Entry, nomination, payment, attendance, or participation constitutes acceptance of the Terms and Conditions. If anything on this page conflicts with that document, the Terms and Conditions control.

Download Terms & Conditions (PDF)
Updated October 1, 2026
$265,000
Minimum Added Main Event
+
8 × $25,000
Open 4D Sidepots
About

What Is The Gold Rush?

The Gold Rush is a northern alliance for breeders, trainers, stallion owners, and barrel racing enthusiasts bringing one of the largest paying futurities and maturities to South Dakota. In 2027 we run eight $25,000 added open 4D sidepots, five across the northern region plus stops in Texas, Georgia and Arizona, culminating in our Main Event with $265,000 minimum added across the 2D Futurity and 3D Maturity. The Gold Rush will continue to allocate a majority of sidepot money in the Northern Region while the remainder of sidepot money is allocated regionally based upon nominations. The main event will always be held in the North.

* All numbers based on all 75 slots being sold.

◆
Main Event · September 22-26, 2027

The Big Paydays

2D Futurity
Share of $265,000 Minimum Added · Full Second Split
  • Entry fee: $500
  • Full 2D format, 1 full second split between divisions
  • Eligibility: horse may not have competed for money before November 15 of the year preceding its futurity season
  • 1st go-round times carry to Saturday Open at West Fest
  • 2nd go-round times carry to Sunday Open at West Fest
  • Open to all eligible nominated horses
3D Maturity
Share of $265,000 Minimum Added · .75 Second Split
  • Entry fee: $400
  • .75 second splits between 3D divisions
  • Ages 5 through 7, or any age with lifetime maturity eligibility
  • Lifetime eligibility: run the futurity OR enter the maturity before age 8
  • Maturity buy-in for life: $1,500 if eligibility not otherwise met
West Fest Carryover
BONUS RUNS
Carry Your Times to Open Races
  • Futurity / Maturity contestants get the option to carry times to West Fest
  • 1st go-round → Saturday Open Race
  • 2nd go-round → Sunday Open Race
  • Open entry and all fees must be in before your horse runs for the time to count
  • Entered in both? Your horse runs in the Futurity or Maturity draw
Maturity Eligibility Note: The 2026 year-one grandfather rule has ended. For 2027 and beyond, maturity horses must be 5 through 7 years old unless the horse has acquired lifetime maturity eligibility by running the futurity, entering the maturity before age 8, or the $1,500 maturity buy-in for life.
2027 Season

$25,000 Added Sidepots

Eight stops: five across the northern region plus Texas, Georgia and Arizona. 4D format with ½ second splits. Both of your runs from the weekend event count. $100 entry per stop.

01
Texas
Lone Star Shootout
Waco, TX
January 13-17, 2027
$100 Entry
02
Georgia
Kinder Cup Barrel Racing Championship
Perry, GA
January 26-30, 2027
$100 Entry
03
Arizona
Royal Crown
Buckeye, AZ
February 8-14, 2027
$100 Entry
04
Minnesota
Minnesota Breeders Futurity
Winona, MN
May 31-June 6, 2027
$100 Entry
05
Colorado
Colorado Classic
Montrose, CO
June 3-12, 2027
$100 Entry
06
Montana
Glacier Chaser Classic
Billings, MT
July 7-11, 2027
$100 Entry
07
South Dakota
Dash N Dance Futurity
Spearfish, SD
July 22-25, 2027
$100 Entry
08
Wyoming
Fizz Bomb Futurity
Gillette, WY
September 7-12, 2027
$100 Entry
How Sidepot Payouts Work: 100% of added money paid out. Of entry fee totals, 20% goes to Gold Rush and 80% is added to the pot. Of the total payout pool, 20% goes to slot holders and 80% to the owner/rider. Enter via the Gold Rush Portal at goldrushincentive.com
Membership

Slot Ownership

Slot Investment
$6,000
PAYOUT PRIORITY ORDER
1 Breeder on registration papers (if active slot holder)
2 Stallion owner (if active slot holder)
3 Horse nominator
  • Anyone can purchase a slot, open to breeders, stallion owners, and enthusiasts
  • Makes your entire breeding program eligible: offspring by your stallions, plus any horse you own or bred (must be in your name or immediate family's name per AQHA)
  • Each slot owner receives $1,000 worth of complimentary nominations annually (must be used by October 1st each year)
  • Stay in for 3+ years and receive lifetime payout on your horses
  • Once purchased, your slot is yours. You can sell it down the road with Gold Rush's written approval (unapproved transfers are void)
  • Slot holders receive 20% of total sidepot payout pools
NON-SLOT HOLDERS CAN STILL NOMINATE

If you don't own a slot, horses you own that are sired by a slot holder's stallion, or bred by a slot holder, are eligible for nomination.

◆
One-Time Lifetime Fee

Nomination Fees

Once nominated, your horse is eligible to run for all Gold Rush incentive money for life. Nominations are open now through October 1, 2027. Current rates are $250 for 2-year-olds & younger and $350 for 3-year-olds & older.

2-Year-Olds & Younger
$250
One-time lifetime nomination
3-Year-Olds & Older
$350
One-time lifetime nomination
Future Rate Schedule · Effective Date To Be Announced
2027Only
2027 Special Rate
For the 2027 season, nominations are $250 for 2-year-olds & younger and $350 for ALL other ages.
2-Year-Olds & Younger
$250
Must be paid by Oct 1 of their 2yo year
✓ Same in 2027
3-Year-Olds
$350
One-time lifetime nomination
✓ Same in 2027
4-Year-Olds
$500
One-time lifetime nomination
2027 · $350All Ages · 2027 Only
5-Year-Olds
$750
One-time lifetime nomination
2027 · $350All Ages · 2027 Only
Maturity Buy-In
$1,500
For life, if maturity eligibility not otherwise met

Must nominate first. Nominations must be paid before entering any side pots or the Main Event. Fill out the foal nomination form on the Gold Rush Portal at goldrushincentive.com

Transferring ownership? If you purchase an already-nominated horse, fill out the Owner/Transfer Gold Rush Portal to be eligible for owner/rider winnings.

Nomination money grows the future. Funds are used to grow The Gold Rush, expanding added money and sidepots in future years.

Nomination deadline: October 1, 2027. Nominations stay open until then. Nominate any time on the Gold Rush Portal.

Sidepot Money Flow

How Payouts Work

100%
Added Money
Paid Out
All $25,000 added money is paid out in full every sidepot
20%
Entry Fees →
Gold Rush
Operations & management. Remaining 80% of entry fees added to pot.
80% / 20%
Owner-Rider vs.
Slot Holders
Of the total prize pool: 80% to owner/rider, 20% to slot holders
Before you can be paid: A current IRS Form W-9 must be on file with Gold Rush before any check or payout is issued, and your mailing address must be current. Checks not claimed within 180 days may be voided or reissued per Gold Rush policy.
Official Rules

Rules & Guidelines

01
Once you purchase a slot, you own it. The spot is yours to sell down the road if you choose. All sales must be approved in writing and handled through The Gold Rush owners. Unapproved transfers are void.
02
Slot owners must stay in for three years to be paid for lifetime on your horses. If the 3-year requirement isn't met, that slot money goes to the next eligible recipient.
03
Main event 2D Futurity entry fee: $500. 2D format with full second splits. Futurity horses may not have competed for money before November 15 of the preceding year.
04
Main event 3D Maturity entry fee: $400. 3D format with .75 second splits. Maturity horses must be 5 through 7 years old unless lifetime maturity eligibility has been acquired.
05
The Gold Rush is focused on the breeder. Payout goes to the breeder on registration papers (if active slot holder), then stallion owner, then nominator.
06
If you own a slot, anything you own, progeny by your stallion, or anything you are the breeder of, is eligible for nomination.
07
All horse ownership/breeding must be in your name or immediate family's name per AQHA records. List all immediate family members on your signed contract.
08
The 2026 maturity grandfather rule has ended. From 2027 on, maturity horses must be 5 through 7 unless they have lifetime maturity eligibility or pay the $1,500 buy-in.
09
A slot holder's newly purchased horse that wasn't already Gold Rush eligible must stay in the nominating slot holder's ownership for 180 days after nomination.
10
Rider substitutions must be declared in writing before office check-in for that race entry. A $50 substitution fee applies unless waived in writing.
11
Paperwork at the gate: AQHA and APHA offspring must be registered to compete. Every horse needs a Coggins dated within 6 months and a health certificate within 30 days of arrival.
12
Gold Rush Management reserves the right to change or amend any rules at any time and to refuse entry to any individual, stallion, LLC, or party for any reason.
13
The Board has final say on all matters: Lee & Hallie Hanssen, Cally Kindred, and Maegan McPherson.