The AQHA Racing Conference and AQHA Racing Challenge Championships are scheduled for October 15-18 at The Downs at Albuquerque.

© Coady Media

By StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 14, 2025–The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) will bring together some of the sport’s top industry minds and racing action during the AQHA Racing Conference and AQHA Racing Challenge Championships, scheduled for October 15-18 at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The multi-day event will feature educational workshops, committee meetings, and the highly anticipated AQHA Racing Challenge Championships on Saturday evening. This event will spotlight elite Quarter Horses competing for championship honors.

Conference Schedule Highlights

The conference begins Wednesday, October 15, with the AQHA Racing Challenge Championships Post-Position Draw, setting the field for Saturday’s racing program. On Thursday, October 16, attendees will participate in an AQHA Racing Workshop focusing on key developments and challenges in the racing industry.

Friday, October 17, will include the AQHA Racing Committee meeting, followed by a Welcome Reception hosted by The Downs at Albuquerque beginning at 6 p.m. All attendees are invited, with RSVPs requested. The event concludes on Saturday, October 18, with the Owners Recognition Brunch and Racing Council Meeting, leading into the AQHA Racing Challenge Championships with a first post time of 6 p.m.

Industry Experts and Key Topics

The conference will feature speakers from the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at UC Davis, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Texas Racing Commission, and several racetrack executives and industry leaders. Together, they’ll explore topics centered on advancing integrity and shaping the future of Quarter Horse racing.

Panel discussions during the Racing Committee meeting will tackle pressing issues such as:

• How Are Tracks, Affiliates, and Regulators Working to Stop
  Those Seeking An Unfair Advantage?  
• Unregulated Racing: The Risk It Presents to Us and What
  Is Being Done About It?
• Disease and Other Threats in Horse Racing: What Is Being
  Done, and How to Mitigate Risk?
• Using Micro-share Ownership of Racing Quarter Horses to
  bring new interest to the sport.

Racing and Industry Insight Combine

The AQHA Racing Conference and Challenge Championships at The Downs at Albuquerque offer a rare opportunity for industry professionals, owners, and enthusiasts to come together to discuss the sport’s direction while celebrating the excellence of Quarter Horse racing on the track.

For more information or to plan your trip, visit the AQHA’s official website.

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