Bill Wise American Saddlebred Sweepstakes
The Bill Wise WCHS Sweepstakes Program promotes the breeding, training, and showing of American Saddlebred horses. For nearly 50 years, it has been instrumental in attracting new participants to the industry and has awarded over $6.5 million in prize money.
Nomination Forms
Deadlines
Each of the classes will be conducted under the governing rules set by each of the three respective horse shows. If you have questions, please email us at horse.show@kyvenues.com.
Forms available above.
Yearling Payment:
$200 due March 15 of horse’s yearling year
Two-Year-Old Sweepstake Payment:
$200 due March 15 of horse’s yearling year
$200 due March 15 of horse’s two-year-old year
OR
$3,000 Buy-in option due May 1 of the horse's two-year-old year only for 2026.
Three-Year-Old Sweepstake Payment:
$500 due March 15 of horse’s yearling year
OR
$200 due March 15 of horse’s yearling year
$200 due March 15 of horse’s two-year-old year
$200 due March 15 of horse’s three-year-old year
OR
$4,000 Buy-In option due May 1 of the horse’s three-year-old year only for 2026.
Four-Year-Old Sweepstake Payment:
$500 due March 15 of horse’s three-year-old year
OR
$200 due March 15 of horse's yearling year
$200 due March 15 of horse's two-year-old year
$250 due March 15 of horse's three-year-old year
$250 due March 15 of horse's four-year-old year
OR
$5,000.00 Buy-In option due May 1 of the horse’s four-year-old year.
About This Program
The Bill Wise American Saddlebred Sweepstakes Program was designed with specific objectives to advance the Saddlebred breed.
- Promote Breeding Excellence - By providing financial incentives, the program encourages breeders to focus on producing high-quality Saddlebreds with superior conformation, gait, and temperament.
- Support Training and Development - The program emphasizes the importance of training young horses to reach their full potential, ensuring that they were well-prepared for competition.
- Expand Industry Participation - By offering substantial prize money and creating a prestigious platform, the program aims to attract new participants to the Saddlebred community, including breeders, trainers, and owners.
The structure of the program was carefully crafted to achieve these objectives. It features multiple classes for young horses, including Three-Gaited, Five-Gaited, Fine Harness, and Three-Gaited Park Pleasure for three- and four-year-olds, as well as Three-Gaited Park and Fine Harness for two-year-olds. These classes provide a comprehensive showcase for the versatility and talent of young Saddlebreds.
