Celebrate Autumn with our Horsey Fall-Fun Bucket List!
With the leaves changing colors and temperatures cooling down, fall is a lovely time to get outside and immerse yourself in equine activities and horse programs for youth. Here's a comprehensive list of must-attend events and activities for horse lovers!
Date: September 27 - October 27
Location: Santa Anita Park – Arcadia, California
Description: Santa Anita’s Autumn meet will host the inaugural California Crown festival-type race day, which was inspired by the Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park.
All-American Quarter Horse Congress
Date: Sep 29th - Oct 27th, 2024
Location: Ohio Expo Center – Columbus, Ohio
Description: The world's largest single-breed horse show, attracting over 650,000 visitors.
Date: Tuesday, Oct 1, 2024
Location: Maryland State Fairgrounds – Timonium, Maryland
Description: Have you ever been to a Thoroughbred sale? This one is a great opportunity to learn more about the Thoroughbred industry in Maryland – referred to as a “regional market” because there are specific stallions that stand there and a state breeding and racing program for Maryland-bred horses.
Keeneland Fall Meet
Date: October 4-26, 2024
Location: Keeneland Race Course – Lexington, Kentucky
Description: Come see Amplify at the Keeneland Kids Club Day on Sunday, October 13, and College Scholarship Day on Friday, October 18! Keeneland in the fall is one of the most beautiful racetracks. You won’t want to miss it!
Date: October 9-12, 2024
Location: Kentucky Horse Park – Lexington, Kentucky
Description: Put on by the Retired Racehorse Project, the Thoroughbred Makeover is the largest Thoroughbred retraining competition in the world for recently-retired ex-racehorses
Pennsylvania National Horse Show
Date: October 10-20, 2024
Location: Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Description: A prestigious hunter-jumper competition featuring equestrians of various riding levels. You can even watch side saddle classes!
Breeders Crown Championships
Date: Friday, October 18, 2024 6:20 p.m. ET
Saturday, October 26, 2024 6:00 p.m. ET
Location: Meadowlands Park – East Rutherford, New Jersey
Description: The Standardbred equivalent of the Breeders’ Cup, this is the pinnacle of harness racing, covering twelve traditional categories of age, gait, and gender.
EquiConnect Community Equine Day
Date: October 19, 2024 1:00-5:00 p.m. ET
Location: Spy Coast Farm – Lexington, Kentucky
Description: Spy Coast Farm, located in Lexington, Kentucky, is hosting a community equine day! This free event is open to the public. Don’t miss out on a day filled with hands-on activities, live horse demos, and a free community meal. Stop by the Amplify booth to get on our racehorse simulator and ride in a "real" race with virtual reality JockeyCam goggles. See you there!
Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale
Date: October 21-24, 2024
Location: Fasig-Tipton Co. Inc. – Lexington, Kentucky
Description: The final North American yearling Thoroughbred sale of the year.
Washington International Horse Show
Date: October 21-27, 2024
Location: Prince George's Equestrian Center – Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Description: The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) is one of the most prestigious, competitive, and exciting equestrian sporting events in North America. WIHS is an FEI World Cup Qualifier and carries the top CSI5* rating.
Date: October 23-27, 2024
Location: World Equestrian Center – Wilmington, Ohio
Description: USEF Premier/Level 4 Jumper event showcasing top show jumping talent.
Indiana Champions Day
Date: October 26, 2024
Location: Horseshoe Indianapolis – Shelbyville, Indiana
Description: Horseshoe Indianapolis is the only racetrack in Indiana that offers Thoroughbred AND Quarter Horse racing! Quarter Horses are renowned for sprinting short distances of around one-quarter of a mile. Indiana Champions Day showcases Indiana’s finest Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horse racing!
Nutrena AQHA and Adequan Select World Championship Shows
Date: November 1-20, 2024
Location: OKC Fairgrounds – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Description: The pinnacle of competition for American Quarter Horse enthusiasts.
Equine Festival at Shaker Village
Date: November 4, 2024 10 AM - 4 p.m ET
Location: Shaker Village – Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Description: A celebration of Kentucky's rich equestrian heritage in a historic setting. The festival will have shopping, trail rides, demonstrations, draft horse meet-and-greets, and food trucks.
US Dressage Finals
Date: November 7-10, 2024
Location: Kentucky Horse Park – Lexington, Kentucky
Description: The US Dressage Finals is a Level Five Competition, the highest level of competition under the United States Equestrian Federation rules.
National Reining Horse Association Futurity
Date: November 25 - December 7, 2024
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Description: The world's largest reining event, showcasing the sport's rising stars.
Remember to check the official websites for the most up-to-date information on dates and locations, as these can change from year to year. And be sure to visit Amplify’s calendar of events so you don’t miss a second of Thoroughbred industry learning and excitement!