Challenge


Participants Selected for National Youth Racing Experience
The 2019 National Youth Racing Experience allows AQHYA members a first-hand glimpse into the American Quarter Horse racing industry.

Participants Selected for National Youth Racing Experience

AQHA RACING—OCTOBER 18, 2019—The American Quarter Horse Association is hosting five American Quarter Horse Youth Association members during the AQHYA National Racing Experience at The Downs at Albuquerque in New Mexico during the Bank of America Challenge Championships October 24-27.

This year, participants had to complete an application, then also compete in the Racing Skillathon contest to be eligible to attend the National Racing Experience. The Racing Skillathon is an online contest that tests participants’ knowledge of American Quarter Horse racing. This skillathon was not only open to the applicants for the National Racing Experience, but to anyone who wanted to challenge their American Quarter Horse racing knowledge.

Those selected for the national program receive an all-expense-paid trip to get first-hand experience in the racing industry. They will be matched with professional racehorse trainers to allow them to experience daily life in a racehorse barn. In the afternoons, the youth will attend informational sessions on various aspects of the racing industry, from jobs such as the stewards and announcer, to the starting gate, jockeys room, test barn, as well as attending the racing committee meeting.

The 2019 National Racing Experience participants are:

  • Lauren Weaber of Eaton, Colorado
  • Madison Matusiak of Roselle, Illinois
  • Sophie Adams of Norwalk, Iowa
  • Kelsey Hillman of Dayton, Idaho
  • Morgan Johnson of Boyd, Minnesota

These youth will gain not only priceless education, but also will compete for scholarships. The winners are determined by each participant's cumulative scores, which include their application, Racing Skillathon Contest results, scores from an interview round during their trip and overall performance throughout the educational experience. The scholarship winners will be announced during the Challenge Championships event.

Interested youth can visit aqha.com/youth to locate a regional racing experience. To be a part of next year’s AQHYA National Racing Experience, stay tuned to a href='https://www.aqha.com/youth-overview'>aqha.com/youth for the application and the Racing Skillathon contest.

For the latest in American Quarter Horse racing news, visit aqha.com/racing.

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHAnews on Twitter and visit aqha.com/news.