UNITED PROFESSIONAL HORSEMEN'S ASSOCIATION

The UPHA Classics originated in 1974 to stimulate interest in young horses, and to provide owners and trainers an opportunity to receive substantial prize money. In 1977 the first UPHA Saddlebred Classic Grand Championships were held at the American Royal Horse Show in Kansas City, MO. Now, local qualifying classes, as well as Classic Grand Championships, are held for Saddlebreds, Morgans, and Hackney Ponies.

 

The UPHA Classics is a well-planned and proven program that contributes to the growth and prosperity of the show horse industry. It provides local competition and national championships with substantial prize money for young performance horses and ponies. Breeders, owners, and trainers all benefit from the UPHA Classics. Due to this program, young performance entries have greater earning power and therefore can demand higher sales prices.

 

The UPHA Classics are designed to be prestigious classes. The intent is to promote a high-caliber event and generate a greater prize money return for the young show horse. For that to occur, the UPHA Classics must be governed by strict rules and regulations. USEF rules apply in all divisions.

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Class Requirements:

 

The UPHA Classics qualifying classes may be offered for:

• American Saddlebred-Three-Year-Olds and Under (Five gaited, Three gaited, Fine Harness, Park and Park Pleasure)

• Morgan-Four-Year-Olds only (Park Harness, Pleasure Driving and Hunter Pleasure)

• Hackney Pony-Four-Year-Olds and Under (Harness Pony, Hackney Pony, Roadster Pony to Bike, and Hackney Park Pleasure Driving Pony)

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To compete in a UPHA Classic, all horses and ponies must:

• Be properly nominated for the UPHA Classics program

• Registered with their appropriate breed registry

• Be shown under their registered name

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Nominations: 

• A non-refundable Eligibility Fee of $100 paid to the UPHA Office postmarked on or before April 1st of each year.  After April 1st, the Eligibility Fee becomes $150 per horse. 

• Payment of the Eligibility Fee must be made payable to UPHA, Inc. in the name of the entered horse or pony and the animal will become eligible to compete in all UPHA Classics classes held that year. 

• Eligibility remains with the animal throughout the year should a transfer of ownership occur.

• All eligibility fees collected within a breed will be added to the prize money in the respective breed's championship classes.

 

UPHA Membership Requirements: 

• To nominate a horse/pony to the UPHA Classics program, the professional trainer and recorded owner of the horse/pony must be current members in good standing of the UPHA. 

• To compete in a UPHA Classics class, the professional trainer, recorded owner and rider/driver must be current members in good standing of the UPHA.

 

Rules for Entering a UPHA Classic Qualifying Class:

 

Entry Fee:

1. The entry fee for each qualifying class is $100 regardless of the amount of Added Money offered.

2. The entry fee is made in two payments. The first payment, the declaration fee, is $50 and must be made by the entry closing date of the particular horse show. The second payment, the starting fee, is also $50 and is due 24 hours prior to the class, whenever practical.

3. A horse/pony may be shown in one or more Classic qualifying class; however, the Declaration and Starting Fees must be paid for each Classic class in which it will be shown.

4. All entry fees, or partial entry fees, are added to the total purse of the class.

5. Fees are non-refundable in all situations. 

6. All USEF rules apply.

 

UPHA Classic Prize Money Distribution for Qualifying Classes:

 

​Prize Money:

1. Horse shows may choose to host a $250, $500 or $1,000 Added Money Classic.

2. Prize money should be distributed as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after the conclusion of the competition.

3. It is recommended that adequate time be allowed to be sure all entry checks have cleared before the prize money is disbursed.

4. Prize money in qualifying classes is paid by the horse show not the UPHA national office.

5. All entry fees collected in each Classic will be dispersed in that class as added money.

6. Prize money in a $500 or $1,000 Added Money Classic is divided as follows: $300 is deducted from the total, with $100 going to fourth, fifth and sixth places. Of the balance, 50% is paid to first place, 30% to second place, and 20% to third place. (see chart below)

7. Prize money in a $250 Added Money Classic is divided as follows: $150 is deducted from the total, with $50 going to fourth, fifth and sixth places.  Of the balance, 50% is paid to first place, 30% to second place, and 20% to third place. (see chart below)

8. If there were only 2 entries, the total prize money would be split 60% and 40%. If only 3 entries are shown, the total prize money the original percentages would apply, without the $300 deduction. In case of only one entry, that entry would receive 100% of the total.

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