CHAMPIONS SELECTION

RACING CATEGORIES

A horse is added to the ballot in its specific category if it meets one or more of the following requirements for the year:

• Earns a Grade 1 open stakes win
• Ranks among top year-end money earners as described below in each sex and age category:
  • Top 10 - two-year-old colt
  • Top 10 - two-year-old filly
  • Top 10 - two-year-old gelding
  • Top 6 - three-year-old stallion
  • Top 6 - three-year-old mare
  • Top 6 - three-year-old gelding
  • Top 5 - aged stallion
  • Top 5 - aged mare
  • Top 5 - aged gelding
  • Top 5 - distance horse
• Nominated by a member of the AQHA Racing Committee

BROODMARE CATEGORY

Outstanding mares being presented for the Broodmare of the Year award must meet the following criteria in either open or restricted graded stakes racing:

1. One (1) Grade 1 winner
2. Two (2) Graded Stakes winners
3. Three (3) Non-graded Stakes winners

WORLD CHAMPION, DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONS
 
After horses are selected to appear on the ballot, category champions; divisional champions and the world champion will be determined by written vote of a champions selection committee approved by the racing council. The selection committee consists of:

• Ten geographically diverse Racing Committee members elected by the Racing Committee with no more than two members residing in the same state or province.
• Nine at-large geographically diverse AQHA members (who may or may not be Racing Committee members) appointed by the Racing Council with no more than two members residing in the same state or province.
• Three geographically diverse media representatives appointed by the Racing Council annually. No more than one of these members may be from the same state or province.
• Three geographically diverse racing officials appointed by the Racing Council annually. No more than one of these members may be from the same state or province.
• After each age and sex category champion is determined, a divisional champion will be selected from the three champion horses in each age division. Finally, a world champion will be named from those horses winning their respective age division.

VOTING PROCEDURE

Voting procedure for divisional champions and world champion is as follows:

• Voters will be instructed to vote for only one horse in each category.
• The horse receiving the majority of votes cast will be named the winner of the category.
• If no horse wins a majority of votes, run-off elections will be held until one horse receives a majority of votes cast.
• In the case of a tie in any category, the racing council will be responsible for breaking the tie between the two final horses for a majority.

CHAMPIONS SELECTION COMMITTEE

The following people serve as members of the Champions Selection voting body:

Ten Racing Committee members elected by the Racing Committee
(Term lengths shown)

• Sharon Brandsness (2008 - 2010)
• Kelvin Childers (2008 - 2010)
• Duayne Didericksen (2008 - 2010)
• Walter Fletcher (2007 - 2009)
• Gary Muller (2006 - 2008)
• Paul C Jones (2006 - 2008)
• Leverne Perry (2008 - 2010)
• Jack Peters (2006 - 2008)
• Ryan Sherman (2007 - 2009)
• Jerry Windham (2007 - 2009)

Nine AQHA Members appointed by the Racing Council
(Term lengths shown)

• Enrique Carrion (2007 - 2009)
• Barry Cooper (2008 - 2010)
• Jimmy Eller (2006 - 2008)
John Hammes (2008 - 2010)
• Robert Nunnally (2008 - 2010)
• Darren Pollitt (2007 - 2009)
• Jude Robicheaux (2006 - 2008)
• Clayton Russell (2007 - 2009)
• Matt Witman (2006 - 2008)

Media Representatives appointed by the Racing Council for 2008
(One-year term length for all)

• Jim Bret Campbell
• Ben Hudson
• Chris Kotulak

Racing Officials appointed by the Racing Council for 2008
(One-year term length for all)

• Norm Amundson
• Ed Burgart
• Fred Hutton

For more information on American Quarter Horse Racing and to view a complete list of AQHA committees and their members, visit www.aqha.com or call (806) 376-4811.