The year is 2000, PBHA is organized by a group of dedicated barrel racers who believed they could do better than the “way things were”. They believed that decisions should be made locally by barrel racers, not out of state or across the country.

Likewise, they believed that expenses should be kept to a bare minimum and the most money possible should be returned to the riders.

The group believed that quality races ran efficiently, with great ground could be produced by Directors and members, thus making the new association possible.

Pacific Barrel Racing Association – CATCH THE WAVE! Wow, how many of you remember that original slogan? We were 3D back then and I believe we awarded 3 saddles. Many of our original members are still with us.

Fast Forward 10 years, 2010 is PBHA’s anniversary, we average over 150 members a year and we awarded over $25,000 in year end awards in 2009. This is wholesale cost and is what we accurately spent, not an inflated retail figure. We awarded 6 saddles last year.

This being our tenth year, our final race is 10/10/10 and we are going to have a bonus round for our members who enter open. The open time is rolled into the bonus round.

The bonus round will have $100 for each of PBHA’s 10 years for $1,000 total.

Mitzi and I are sponsoring $500 of the total.

There is no entry fee for the bonus round. Again, this is for members only, riders must be members by August 1^st of this year and have ridden in 6 PBHA races this year.

Our next racing weekend is May 1-2, 2010. I need to talk about stalls. Elma does not supply shavings and they charge $20/ stall for cleaning. We have to pass the costs on to the rider. 1 Stall with 1 bag of shavings is $25 for one night and an additional $15 for the second night. If you strip your stall you will receive a $5 refund. PBHA is not making a dime off this. PBHA is supplying shavings and will arrange for cleaning for those not stripped. PBHA will NEVER pad stall fees, we only charge actual costs.

I believe PBHA is an association apart, it has the best members and is the one I enjoy the most. I just want to thank the members and the riders for keeping it fun for me.

Mitzi and I will see you in Elma.

George