GNFA to host world title youth barrel racing

The Georgia National Fairgrounds and AgriCenter staff will host the 2014 National Barrel Horse Association Youth World Championships July 20-26. It will be the third time in Perry with the draw coming from both the U.S. and international entries.

Per a release from the fairgrounds, “it will be the largest ever held youth barrel racing competition anywhere in the world with roughly 4,600 individual runs around three barrels taking place during the week.”

Confirmed competitors are coming from as far as California and North Dakota as well as the utmost northern part of Canada, Panama in Central America, Australia, Brazil, Italy and France. There will be more than 2,000 horses on ground all week at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and AgriCenter.

Among the highlights for the general public – other than the races themselves – is Spirit Night on Wednesday, July 23, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Hundreds of the competing racers and some of their supporters will be dressed in colorful costumes and be riding on spectacularly decorated floats reflecting their individual states or countries. In 2012, the Florida contingent had a full-size airboat on a trailer in honor the Florida Everglades, and the Louisiana racers wore beautiful and elaborate costumes relating to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

General admission for non-NBHA patrons is $10 per person per day including for the daily races. For additional information, call 706-823-3728 or visit nbha.com.

The NBHA, headquartered in Augusta is the official umbrella organization for barrel racers and has more than 22,000 members in the United States and overseas with franchises in China, Central and South America, Australia and Europe.

NBHA executive director Sherry Fulmer notes, “We are just honored that our reputation is such that these contestants pay their own way to come from such great distances to compete in the Youth World Championships.

“They always have such a great time and usually make life-long friendships,” she added. Contestants compete in two categories: Teen (ages 13-18) and Youth (ages 12 and younger).

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