Deadline Extended for Futurity & Sweepstakes

To better serve all participants in these prestigious prize programs at the 2026 World’s Championship Horse Show, the entry and nomination deadline for all WCHS Futurity and Bill Wise Sweepstakes classes will be the close of WCHS entries on July 2, 2026.  Additionally, the WCHS is offering a “buy-in” opportunity for horses not originally nominated to these prize money programs. 

2026 WCHS Futurities

Eligible horses nominated in prior years can make the regular nomination payment for 2026 on or before July 2, 2026. A non-eligible horse can be supplemented to the 2026 WCHS Futurity classes by paying a supplemental buy-in on or before July 2, 2026.

• Yearling—$500 Buy-in
• Two-Year-Old—$2,500 Buy-in
• Three-Year-Old—$5,000 Buy-in

2026 Bill Wise American Saddlebred Sweepstakes

As this marks the inaugural year of the Two- and Three-Year-Old Sweepstakes joining the Four-Year Old Sweepstakes at the Kentucky State Fair, we are looking to simplify the process and create additional opportunities for exhibitors to enter their horses in the Sweepstakes program. 

Horses not already nominated can pay a supplemental buy-in to WCHS on or before July 2, 2026, to be eligible for Sweepstakes classes at the 2026 World’s Championship Horse Show:

• Two-Year-Old Sweepstakes—$3,000 Buy-in
• Three-Year-Old Sweepstakes—$4,000 Buy-in
• Four-Year-Old Sweepstakes—$5,000.00 Buy-in

For horses who have been nominated in prior years but the 2026 nomination payment has not yet been made, those nominations can be paid to WCHS anytime on or before July 2, 2026.

2027 and Beyond

Looking ahead, we are actively working to further simplify and streamline nominations and payments across all prize programs at the World’s Championship Horse Show.  Among the improvements we are looking to implement include the development of an interactive platform for 2027 and to have a single uniform nomination deadline for both the Futurity and Sweepstakes programs.  Additional information will be forthcoming over the next few months. 

We appreciate your participation and continued support of these outstanding programs.