Appaloosa Horse Club - Appaloosa Racing

Appaloosa Racing

The Nez Perce raced their Appaloosa horses at distances from a few hundred yards to 12 miles. Continuing the tradition, the ApHC offered races at the National Show in 1948 and for the first few years of the World Show. Appaloosas are now mid-distance runners, competing at 220 yards to 8 furlongs. The Missouri Appaloosa Association, an early regional club, hosted the breed's first-ever futurity at the Missouri State Fair in 1960, and in December of that year, the ApHC Board of Directors passed a resolution creating the Racing Committee of the ApHC. In 1961 the first ApHC state racing association was formed: the Kansas Appaloosa Racing Association. By 1976 the ApHC recognized 24 state and regional racing associations.

The first pari-mutual race for Appaloosas was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1962; that same year the Texas Appaloosa Horse Club and Gillespie County Fair Association held its first race meet for Appaloosas in Texas at Fredericksburg. In 1963 the first World Wide Derby was run at Albuquerque; the World Wide Futurity holds the record for the highest Appaloosa purse at $160,593, offered in 1980. The ApHC began its race medallion award system in 1973, awarding 27 medallions to Appaloosa racehorses.

Appaloosa races are now held in 10 states, with Oklahoma, California and Idaho topping the list. In 1994 the National Color Breed Racing Council formed to promote Appaloosa and Paint racing as a joint venture.

Appaloosa racehorses can earn various awards from the ApHC, including a Racing Register of Merit, year-end awards, medallions and regional awards. The ApHC also records world and track records for Appaloosa racehorses. The Appaloosa Race Hall of Fame was formed in 1988, inducting eight racehorses and eight influential horsemen. Nominations are submitted by ApHC members and voted on by the Executive Race Committee. Horses must be deceased prior to eligibility for induction.