2026 Championship Finale

September 6–13

schedule, draws & results.
PDF Schedule Qualified Teams
Finale Purse $1,000,000+
Race Days Sept 8–12
Arenas John Justin · Watt
Finale Start Sat · 1 PM
01 / John Justin Arena

Finale week.

John Justin Arena — Fort Worth, Texas

Move-in Sunday through move-out Sunday, in running order. Every draw and result posts on its race. The Thursday-night High Stakes Challenge and the Cowtown Showdown in Watt Arena have their own sections below.

06 Sept
Sunday · Day 1

Move-In Day

Office Opens Noon
All Day
Move In · Arena Prep No horses in arena
Noon
Office · Check-In Open
07 Sept
Monday · Day 2

Open Arena

Arena John Justin
Time 7:00–10:00 PM
All Day
Move In · Arena Prep No horses in arena before Open Arena
7:00–10:00 PM
Open Arena
08 Sept
Tuesday · Day 3

Last Chance Qualifier

Arena John Justin
Added $21,000
7:00–Noon
Expos · Last Chance Qualifier Ahead of the 1:00 PM qualifier
Enter ExhibitionsExpo Work Order
1:00 PM–End
$21,000-Added Last Chance Qualifier
  • Division Order: Derby & Am. Derby, Futurity, Open 4D
  • Fut./Derby/Am. Derby can roll to Open 4D/Youth/Senior
  • Youth/Senior can roll from Open 4D/Fut./Derby/Am. Derby
Drag Every 4 BC Horses Only
1:00 PM
Open/Am. Derby Runs first · BC horses only
DrawResults
Follows
Futurity Runs after the Derby · BC horses only
DrawResults
Follows
Open 4D Runs last · BC horses only
DrawResults
09 Sept
Wednesday · Day 4

Open 4D Finals

Arena John Justin
Finals Start 2:30 PM
8:00–Noon
Exhibitions · Open 4D
Runs240 Sec Ea60 Draw Order
Noon–2:00 PM
Open 4D Lunch Celebration Location: John Justin Concourse Open Arena · Finale Contestants Only
2:30 PM–End
✓Open 4D Finals presented by Double X Equine Open 4D Awards 30 min. following race conclusion
Drag Every 4 Big Drag 40
DrawResults
10 Sept
Thursday · Day 5

Semi-Finals · Round 1

Arena John Justin
Headline $10K High Stakes
8:00–Noon
Exhibitions · Derby & Futurity Semi-Finals 120 Derby · 120 Futurity
Runs240 Sec Ea60 Draw Order
Noon
Lunch Break
12:30–3:30 PM
✓Derby Semi-Finals Rd. 1 presented by Hart Trailers
Drag Every 4 Big Drag 40
DrawPayoutResults
3:30–6:30 PM
✓Futurity Semi-Finals Rd. 1 presented by Lindner Feed
Drag Every 4 Big Drag 40
DrawPayoutResults
7:00–8:00 PM
Exhibitions · High Stakes Challenge
Draw Order
8:00 PM–End
$10,000-Added High Stakes Challenge The headline race of the Finale · entry, draw & results ↓
11 Sept
Friday · Day 6

Semi-Finals · Round 2

Arena John Justin
Evening Finalist Draw Party
8:00–11:00 AM
✓Derby Semi-Finals Rd. 2 presented by Hart Trailers
Drag Every 4 Big Drag 40 Reverse Order
DrawPayoutResults
11:30 AM–2:30 PM
✓Futurity Semi-Finals Rd. 2 presented by Lindner Feed
Drag Every 4 Big Drag 40 Reverse Order
DrawPayoutResults
2:30–4:30 PM
Open Arena
Finale Only
6:30–8:45 PM
✓Finalist Draw Party presented by Royal Vista Ranch
  • MVP Horse with Most Heart Award
  • Rick Ford Scholarship Presentation
Location: Brown Lupton South Draw Party attendance required for all Finale finalists
Required
8:45–9:15 PM
✓Finale Team Calcutta & Entertainment Intermission
9:15 PM–End
✓William Clark Green presented by Mac Truck Brown Lupton South
12 Sept
Saturday · Day 7

Finale Day

Arena John Justin
Finale Start 1:00 PM
8:00–11:00 AM
Exhibitions · Youth, Senior, Am. Derby Only No Futurity & Derby Expos Order: Youth, Senior, Am. Derby
Sec Ea60 Draw Order
11:00 AM
Lunch Break
1:00 PM
✓Youth Finals presented by 3S Custom Equine / Mac Truck Finale start time
DrawResults
+30 Min
✓Senior Finals presented by 3S Custom Equine / Mac Truck 30 min. after Youth
DrawResults
+30 Min
✓Amateur Derby Finals presented by Hart Trailers 30 min. after Sr.
DrawResults
+30 Min
✓Open Derby Finals presented by Hart Trailers 30 min. after Am. Derby
DrawResults
+30 Min
✓Open Futurity Finals presented by Lindner Feed 30 min. after Derby
DrawResults
+30 Min
✓Results & Awards · All Divisions 30 min. following the conclusion of Saturday Finale Races Division Champions presented by Hart Trailers · Reserve Champions presented by Mac Truck Eligible contestants must be present to draw · Year-end awards for Leading Owner, Rider, Stallion, Nominator & Horse
13 Sept
Sunday · Day 8

Move-Out

Move-Out 8:00 AM–Noon
8:00–Noon
Move Out
02 / Presented by Good Things Comin

High Stakes challenge.

John Justin Arena — Thursday, September 10

Thursday night in John Justin Arena. Open to all — the horse does not have to be by a Breeders Challenge enrolled stallion. 80% payback. Last Chance, Semi-Finals and Finalists can roll from Tuesday through Saturday.

10 Sept
Thursday

High Stakes Challenge

Arena John Justin
First Call 8:00 PM
8:00 PM–End
$10,000-Added High Stakes Challenge presented by Good Things Comin 3D format · .5 sec. split · Drag every 4, big drag every 40
DrawResults

Books close at 7:00 PM. $600 entry · 80% payback · $100 late fee after September 6. Exhibitions 7:00–8:00 PM in draw order. Final results and awards follow the Saturday night Finale performances.

03 / Watt Arena · NFR Pattern

Cowtown showdown.

Watt Arena — Will Rogers Memorial Center

Thursday through Saturday in Watt Arena. Exhibitions run before each race — $5 a run, sold online only, first come first served.

10 Sept
Thursday

Open 4D Warm Up

Arena Watt
First Call 6:00 PM
9:00–5:00 PM
Exhibitions $5 each · online only, first come first served
Enter Exhibitions
6:00 PM–End
$1,000-Added Open 4D Warm Up Race Entries close at 6:00 PM
Entry$50
DrawResults
11 Sept
Friday

Showdown Race 1

Arena Watt
First Call 5:00 PM
Noon–4:00 PM
Exhibitions 240 total · $5 each · online only, first come first served
Enter Exhibitions
5:00 PM–End
$5,000-Added Cowtown Showdown Race 1 Entries close at noon Pending: BBR · APHA · AQHA · WPRA
Entry$100
DrawResults
12 Sept
Saturday

Race 2 & Sidepots

Arena Watt
First Call Noon
9:00–11:00 AM
Exhibitions 120 total · $5 each · online only, first come first served
Enter Exhibitions
Noon–End
$5,000-Added Cowtown Showdown Race 2 Entries close at noon Pending: APHA · AQHA · BBR · WPRA
Entry$100 Closes Noon
DrawResults
Sidepot
$500-Added Futurity Sidepot $30 entry · 2D format · 1 sec. split
DrawResults
Sidepot
$500-Added Derby Sidepot $30 entry · 2D format · 1 sec. split
DrawResults
Sidepot
$500-Added Youth Sidepot $30 entry · 2D format · 1 sec. split
DrawResults
Sidepot
$500-Added Senior Sidepot $30 entry · 2D format · 1 sec. split
DrawResults
Sidepot
$10K Royal Crown Approved for 2026 · results posted by Royal Crown
DrawResults
Sidepot
Extreme Million Approved for 2026 · results posted by Burns Events
DrawResults

Cowtown Showdown entry: enter the Cowtown Showdown  ·  Exhibitions: enter online — $5 each, on sale September 7 @ 8 AM, online only, first come first served.

Sanctions pending: APHA, AQHA, BBR and WPRA are pending approval for 2026. Royal Crown and Extreme Million are approved — their results are posted by each association.

Check-In · Hours

Office: Brown Lupton North

Will Rogers Memorial Center · Fort Worth, TX
Sunday
Noon — 5:00 PM
  • Office Open · Check-In
Mon — Sat
8:00 AM — 5:00 PM
  • Office Open
  • Finalist Check-In · Must check in 24 hrs prior to run
  • Horse Move-In
After-Hours
Text (580) 276-6723
Plan Your Trip

Need to know

Address Will Rogers Memorial Center
3401 West Lancaster Ave.
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Stalls & Shavings · Pre-Bed OpenStalls.com
www.OpenStalls.com
Stall Mats Performance Stall Mat Rentals
Host Hotel Holiday Inn Express
111 Lancaster Ave.
Fort Worth, TX
RV Reservations (817) 392-7469
First Come, First Served
Breeders Challenge is not the manager for RV reservations
Photo & Video Traci Davenport Photography
Video: EZ Horse Shows
Reels: Jared Searcy (Reel Cowboy)
30 Day Health Certificate & 6 Month Coggins Required
Breeders Challenge · 2026 Finale
www.BreedersChallenge.com