Quarter Horse races are held all over the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Australia. Here are some of the most prominent races and tracks throughout the year.
Key Resource: This article discusses how Quarter Horse races work if you want learn more about the topic.
Quarter Horse Racing Tracks in the United States
While Quarterhorse racing is not as well-known as Thoroughbred horse racing, it still has a loyal following in the United States. There are hundreds of tracks across the country, from California to Pennsylvania. The tracks below host Grade 1 through Grade 3 Quarter Horse races:
| State | Racetrack | Events |
|---|---|---|
| AZ | Arizona Downs, Prescott Valley, Arizona | Wayne Brasher Memorial, Adequan Derby Challenge, John Deere Juvenile Challenge, Arizona Downs Quarter Horse Derby, Arizona Downs Quarter Horse Futurity, Q-Racing Video Distaff Challenge |
| AZ | Greenlee County Fairgrounds, Duncan, Arizona | |
| AZ | Graham County Fairgrounds, Safford, Arizona | |
| AZ | Rillito Park, Tucson, Arizona | Rillito Park Inaugural, The White Tie, Wayne Brasher Memorial Bonus Challenge, Rillito Derby, The Mark Villa Memorial, Rillito Park Championship, Budweiser Pima County Classic |
| AZ | Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Sonoita, Arizona | |
| AZ | Turf Paradise, Phoenix, Arizona | |
| CA | Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton, California | |
| CA | California State Fairgrounds, Sacramento, California | |
| CA | Fresno District Fairgrounds, Fresno, California | |
| CA | Los Alamitos Race Course, Cypress, California | Champion of Champions, Golden State Million Futurity, Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity, Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship, Los Alamitos Super Derby, Wild West Futurity |
| CA | San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, Stockton, California | |
| CA | San Mateo County Fairgrounds, San Mateo, California | |
| CA | Solano County Fairgrounds, Vallejo, California | |
| CA | Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa, California | |
| CO | Arapahoe Park, Auraora, Colorado | Mile High Futurity, Rocky Mountain Futurity |
| IA | Prairie Meadows, Altoona, Iowa | Hawkeye Futurity, Cyclone Derby, Prairie Meadows Gold Futurity, Prairie Meadows Gold Derby, Iowa Stallion Derby, PRM Championship Challenge, Iowa Stallion QH Futurity, Valley Junction Futurity, Altoona Derby, Jim Bader Futurity, Polk County Derby, Future of Iowa |
| ID | Cassia County Fairgrounds, Burley, Idaho | |
| ID | Eastern Idaho Fairgrounds, Blackfoot, Idaho | |
| ID | Gem County Fairgrounds, Emmett, Idaho | |
| ID | Jerome County Fairgrounds, Jerome, Idaho | |
| ID | Oneida County Fairgrounds, Malad City, Idaho | |
| ID | Pocatello Downs, Pocatello, Idaho | Adequan Derby Challenge, AQHA Bank Of America Challenge Championship, Bitterroot Futurity, Idaho Cup Futurity, Idaho Cup Derby, John Deere Juvenile Challenge, Merial Distaff Challenge |
| ID | Rupert Downs, Rupert, Idaho | |
| ID | Sandy Downs, Idaho Falls, Idaho | |
| IL | Fanduel Sportsbook and Racing, Collinsville, Illinois | |
| IN | Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Anderson, Indiana | |
| IN | Horseshoe Indiana, Shelbyville, Indiana | |
| LA | Delta Downs Racetrack, Vinton, Louisiana | |
| LA | Evangeline Downs Ractrack, Opelousas, Louisiana | EVD Derby, EVD Futurity, LQHBA Breeders Derby, LQHBA Louisiana Million, LQHBA Louisiana Million Invitational, Louisiana Quarter Horse Juvenile, Louisiana Quarter Horse Derby, Louisiana Quarter Horse Classic |
| LA | Louisiana Downs, Bossier City, Louisiana | Mardi Gras Futurity, Mardi Gras Derby, Louisiana Downs Futurity |
| LA | Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans, Louisiana | |
| MN | Canterbury Park, Shakopee, Minnesota | MQHRA Stallion Auction Futurity, Canterbury Championship Challenge, Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity, Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby, Minnesota Futurity, Minnesota Derby |
| MT | Brown County Fairgrounds, Miles City, Montana | |
| MT | Montana State Fairgrounds, Great Falls, Montana | |
| ND | Chippewa Downs, Belcourt, North Dakota | |
| ND | North Dakota Horse Park, Fargo, North Dakota | |
| NE | Fair Play Park, Hastings, NE | |
| NM | Albuquerque Downs, Albuquerque, New Mexico | New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity, AQHA Bank of America Challenge Championship, Albuquerque Fall Championship, AQHA Albuquerque Distance Challenge |
| NM | Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico | All-American Futurity (Triple Crown), Ruidoso Futurity, Rainbow Futurity |
| NM | Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino, Sunland Park, New Mexico | Sunland Derby |
| NM | SunRay Park, Farmington, New Mexico | |
| NM | Zia Park, Hobbs, New Mexico | |
| NV | Elko County Fairgrounds, Elko, Nevada | |
| NV | White Pine Raceway, Ely, Nevada | |
| OH | Belterra Park, Cincinnati, Ohio | |
| OK | Fair Meadows, Tulsa, Oklahoma | Speedhorse Derby, Fair Meadows Expo |
| OK | Remington Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Oklahoma Futurity, Oklahoma Derby, Speedhorse Stakes, Mighty Deck Three, SLM Big Daddy, Oklahoma Juvenile, AQHA Bank of America Challenge Championship, Remington Park Futurity, Remington Park Derby, Remington Park Juvenile, Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes, Heritage Place Futurity, Heritage Place Derby, Heritage Place Juvenile |
| OK | Will Rogers Downs, Claremore, Oklahoma | Mystery Futurity and Derby, AQHA Bank of America Racing Challenge, Black Gold Futurity |
| OR | Crooked River Roundup, Prineville, Oregon | |
| OR | Eastern Oregon Livestock Show, Union, Oregon | |
| OR | Grants Pass Downs, Grants Pass, Oregon | Firecracker Futurity |
| OR | Harney County Fairgrounds, Burns, Oregon | |
| OR | Tillamook County Fairgrounds, Tillamook, Oregon | |
| PA | Penn National Race Course, Grantville, Pennsylvania | |
| SD | Brown County Fair, Aberdeen, South Dakota | |
| SD | Fort Pierre Racetrack, Fort Pierre, South Dakota | |
| TX | Gillespie County Fairgrounds, Fredericksburg, Texas | |
| TX | Lone Star Park, Grand Prairie, Texas | Dash for Cash Futurity, Dash for Cash Derby, Texas Classic Futurity, Texas Classic Derby, Texas Classic Juvenile Stakes, Refrigerator Invitational Championship, Texas Hero Futurity, StallionESearch.com Claimers Cup Middle Ground, StallionESearch.com Claimers Cup Dash, StallionESearch.com Claimers Cup Classic |
| TX | Retama Park, Selma, Texas | |
| TX | Sam Houston Race Park, Houston, Texas | Sam Houston Derby, Sam Houston Classic, Sam Houston Futurity, Sam Houston Texas Bred Championship |
| UT | Laurel Brown Racetrack, South Jordan, Utah | Beehive Futurity, South Valley Equine Futurity, Eye On Corona Open Derby, Legacy Coin Maturity |
| UT | Weber Downs, Ogden, Utah | Adequan Weber Downs Derby Challenge, ARC Weber Downs Distaff Challenge Stakes, Hadley-Giles Futurity, The Iron Horse Maturity |
| WA | Emerald Downs, Auburn, Washington | AQHA Bank of America Emerald Downs Challenge, John Deere Juvenile Challenge |
| WA | Sun Downs, Kennewick, Washington | |
| WY | Energy Downs, Gillette, Wyoming | Wyoming Bred QH Futurity, Wyoming Bred QH Derby, AQHA Distance Challenge |
| WY | Sweetwater Downs, Rock Springs, Wyoming | |
| WY | Wyoming Downs, Evanston, Wyoming |
Quarter Horse Racing Tracks in Canada
There are racecourses that host Quarter Horse events all over Canada. Some of the more popular tracks include:
| Province | Racetrack | Events |
|---|---|---|
| AB | Century Mile Racetrack and Casino, Edmonton, Alberta | Alberta Oaks, Alberta Stallion Stakes |
| AB | Evergreen Park, Grande Prairie, Alberta | |
| AB | Northlands Park, Edmonton, Alberta | |
| AB | Millarville Race Society, Millarville, Alberta | |
| AB | Rocky Mountain Turf Club, Lethbridge, Alberta | |
| BC | Desert Park Exhibition, Osoyoos, British Columbia | |
| BC | Hastings Racecourse, Vancouver, British Columbia | |
| MB | Assiniboia Downs, Winnipeg, Manitoba | Manitoba Derby |
| ON | Ajax Downs, Ajax, Ontario | |
| ON | Fort Erie Racetrack, Fort Erie, Ontario | Fort Erie Challenge |
| ON | Mohawk Racetrack, Cambellville, Ontario | |
| SK | Marquis Downs, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | |
| SK | Melville District Agripark, Melville, Saskatchewan |
Quarter Horse Racetracks in Australia
Australia is home to a number of world-class horse racing tracks, and Quarter Horse racing is no exception. Compared to the U.S., most Quarter Horses race on turf tracks Down Under. There are also a number of different types of quarterhorse races, which include sprints, middle-distance races, and long-distance races. Some of the most popular quarterhorse racing tracks in Australia include:
| State | Racetrack | Events |
|---|---|---|
| VIC | Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria | Melbourne Cup, Victoria Derby |
| VIC | Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria | William Reid Stakes |
| NSW | Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, New South Wales | Doncaster Mile, Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
Quarter Horse Racing Purses
Quarter Horse purses and payouts are determined by the pari-mutuel system.
Quarter Horse Purses in the United States
In Quarter Horse racing, purses are the total amount of money that is distributed to the owners of the horses that finish in the top three positions. The purse for a Quarter Horse race is usually determined by a percentage of the total amount bet on the race, ranging from a few hundred dollars to over $1 million dollars.
The largest purses are usually offered at Graded Stakes races, where the top horses in the country compete.
The largest Quarter Horse racing purse in history was $6 million at the All American Futurity in 2016. This race is held annually at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico and features some of the best two-year-old Quarter Horses in the country.
Quarter Horse Purses in Canada
Quarter Horse races are held throughout the year in Canada, with the majority of events taking place in the spring and summer. The purses for these races can vary significantly, depending on the level of competition and the size of the track.
Quarter Horse racing purses in Canada typically range from $10,000 to $100,000.
The largest Quarter Horse racing purse in Canada is the Canadian Derby, which takes place at Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta. The Canadian Derby features a purse of $250,000 and attracts some of the best Quarter Horses from across North America.
Other notable Quarter Horse races in Canada include the Manitoba Derby, which has a purse of $100,000, and the Alberta Oaks, which has a purse of $50,000.
Quarter Horse Racing Purses in Australia
Quarter Horse racing is a popular sport in Australia. The average purse size for a Quarter Horse race in Australia is around $10,000.
Quarter Horse Races Q&A
How fast can a Quarter Horse run?
The American Quarter Horse can achieve a top speed of 55 mph in a full-out sprint. This is the fastest top speed recorded for any horse in the world.
Who was the fastest Quarter Horse ever?
The fastest Quarter Horse in the quarter mile was 4-year-old First Moonflash who ran 20.274 in 2009 at Sunland Park, NM.
The previous record was held by Long Goodbye, who ran the quarter mile in 20.686 seconds, also at Sunland Park, NM in 2005.
Where can I find a list of all the Quarter Horse races?
The AQHA website lists all the Quarter Horse race venues in the U.S and Canada.
How often do Quarter Horses race?
This video gives a good idea of how Quarter Horses train and race: