The judges have been hired. The trophies are polished. The arena has been dragged. Now it’s time for the Palomino Horse Breeders of America (PHBA) to welcome exhibitors and spectators to the association’s 40th Annual World Championship Show.

The PHBA World Show gets underway today in the Coliseum at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The youth welcomed everyone with a kickoff bash last night and competition started bright and early today with Youth Ranch Rail Pleasure competition.

The PHBA Youth Association has been hard at work preparing for this year’s show. Theme Days include: Neon on Thursday, July 6; Camo on Friday, July 7; Jersey on Friday, July 8; and Cartoon on Sunday, July 9. Fundraisers planned this year include a Duck Toss and Pie-in-the-Face.

Thanks to the dedication of Youth Board members, exhibitors can now show Novice individually by class (see rule 6021 on PHBA website for further details). Along with the Cowboy Bronze trophies, first place will also get a belt buckle again and third place a stall bag.

At the conclusion of competition on Sunday, July 9, Youth Team Tournament, Youth Golden Horse Awards and the Youth Palomino High Point Awards for this year’s show will be presented and the Max Eisenberg Sportsmanship Award will be presented.

Later that day Trail classes – including Junior Trail, Senior Trail, Palomino Bred Open Trail, Amateur Trail, Amateur Walk Trot Trail Unassisted Challenged Horseman Walk Trot Trail, Unassisted Challenged Horseman Trail and Palomino Bred Amateur Trail – will take center stage. Returning by popular demand for the second straight year will be the Trail Shoot Out, also being presented on Sunday, July 9. The Trail Shoot Out is open to all horses and exhibitors. The entry fee is $75 with $50 of that added to the class’s jackpot.

New this year is a Western Costume Showmanship Class, open to all horses and exhibitors (Open, Youth and Amateur). Presented by the Amateur Board, the class, like the Trail Shoot Out, has a $75 entry fee with $50 of that going to the payout of the pattern portion of the class and will also be presented on Sunday, July 9. Costumes are based on a western television or movie character and competitors can even share a horse if needed. Prizes will be awarded for the costume portion of the class.

“We are looking forward to seeing everyone’s creativity and individuality come to life,” said Amateur President Helen Fleming-Bryson.

The Trail Shoot Out and the Costume class have been added with the exhibitor in mind.

“Both are fun classes and both are open to all horses –Palomino, Palomino Bred and AQHA entries,” said PHBA General Manager Terri Green.

The rest of the week will be filled with Open and Amateur classes from Halter to Ranch and speed events.

A big highlight of the World Show is the $100,000 BAG Money, courtesy of sponsors Terry and Tammy Bradshaw, of Terry Bradshaw Quarter Horses.

Competitors can enter any Amateur Palomino Halter, Amateur Palomino Bred Halter or Amateur Performance Halter class for a chance to win a bag of Bradshaw Added Gold. Payout totals are over $3,900 per Amateur Halter class and are awarded up to six places.

This year Amateur Premier Halter winners will be presented with a buckle award.

There is nothing special needed to enter – your entry form in the designated class makes you eligible and no Bradshaw owned horses are eligible.

Ranch competitors will be happy to see AQHA Special Event Ranch Riding classes for Open, Amateur and Youth competitors. The entry fee is $30 per class with a $10 AQHA fee.

The Palomino Horse Breeders of America takes pride in its reputation of a family friendly organization with plenty of emphasis on fun and entertainment. Visitors are treated to a Street Party, which includes both food and musical entertainment.

Judges for this year’s show include: Margo Ball, Sandy Curl, Delena Doyle, Dan Grunewald, Eric Hubbard, Tom McBeath, Terry Thompson and Scott Tyrell.

For additional information on the 2023 Palomino World Show and Youth World Show visit the association’s website at www.palominohba.com.

• Show Schedule: https://www.palominohba.com/2023-world-show-schedule/

• Pattern Book: https://www.palominohba.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Pattern-Book-1.pdf

• Here is a look at opening ceremonies: https://fb.watch/lCvocK97Ml/

• World Show Premium Book: https://www.palominohba.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-World-Show-Premium.pdf

•For a livestream of the World Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwnS8q1zKN4