Gold Buckle Futurities is gearing up for an action-packed weekend at the 2025 Gold Buckle Futurities Spring Showdown, scheduled for May 8-11 at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, Oklahoma. This premier event serves as an official qualifier for the 2025 Gold Buckle Futurities World Finals, granting waived general entry fees at the World Finals to every competitor that places either first or second in their class.
$535,000 ADDED, but where?
$7,500 added to each Open Class in all events
$20,000 added Elite Stallions Side Pot in Open Divisions
$12,500 added Elite Breeders Side Pot in Open Divisions
$5,000 added to each Intermediate Class (structured within the Open Classes)
$15,000 added Elite Stallions Side Pot in Intermediate Divisions
$2,500 added to each Limited Class
$10,000 added Elite Stallions Side Pot in Limited Divisions
$2,500 added to each Non Pro Division in the Heading and Heeling (structured within the Limited Classes)
With $7,500 added to each Open class across Tie Down, Breakaway, Heading, and Heeling events, competitors will have significant opportunities to earn coveted titles and impressive earnings. The Intermediate divisions, which are structured within the Open classes, boast an additional $5,000 in added money per event.
When is the entry deadline?
Entry deadline through April 27th via NexGen Rodeo
Mail In Entry Deadline: Postmarked by April 25th
Late Entries accepted April 28th – May 4th with $100 late fee per horse
What time does it start each day?
8:00 AM Start Time – Show Office will open at 7:00 AM Daily
What is the Elite Stallions Incentive?
Your horses DO NOT have to be sired by an Enrolled Elite Stallion to compete at the Spring Showdown. However, horses sired by stallions enrolled in the Elite Stallion Incentive Program have the exclusive opportunity to compete for additional sidepot money in each class.
To check the eligibility of your horse, visit the Elite Stallions page on our website, and either scroll to find your horse’s sire or use the search button. The foal crops eligible for the incentive will be listed on each stallion’s card. No separate foal nomination is necessary.
This will be split 50/50 between the competing horse’s rider and the enrolled stallion’s slot owner. Added money will depend on which classes you enter.
What is the Elite Breeders Incentive?
All foals bred by an enrolled Elite Breeder are automatically eligible for the payouts. These horses also DO NOT have to be sired by a GBF Elite Stallion.
Horses from breeding programs enrolled in the Elite Breeders Program are eligible for additional sidepots as well. You are not required to nominate your horse, eligibility will be determined by AQHA papers pulled at the time of entry.
There is no fee to enter the Elite Breeders Incentive side pot. There will be a 50/50 split of the added money between the competing horse’s owner and the enrolled breeder.
What horses are eligible to compete at the Spring Showdown?
Horses sired by ANY stallion are eligible to compete, as long as they are within the age restrictions for each class. Horses sired by an enrolled Elite Stallion are eligible for the Stallion Incentive Sidepots.
Futurity Class: Any horses 3-4 years of age as of January 1 of the current year
Maturity Class: Any horse 3-6 years of age as of January 1 of the current year
Limited: No age restriction
Non Pro: No age restriction
What is the event schedule?
View the complete event schedule by clicking here!
What is the projected payout?*
Rounds 1-4
| First | $1,500 |
| Second | $1,000 |
Open
| First | $10,000 |
| Second | $8,000 |
| Third | $6,500 |
| Fourth | $5,000 |
| Fifth | $4,000 |
| Sixth | $3,000 |
| Seventh | $2,000 |
Intermediate
| First | $6,000 |
| Second | $4,500 |
| Third | $3,500 |
| Fourth | $2,500 |
| Fifth | $1,500 |
| Sixth | $1,000 |
based off of 75 entries, 40 intermediate*
What are the differences between Open, Intermediate, Limited and Non Pro Classes at GBF?
Intermediate Classes
- Intermediate Breakaway (Within Open Breakaway Class)
- Intermediate Tie Down (Within Open Tie Down Class)
- Intermediate Heading (Within Open Heading Class)
- Intermediate Heeling (Within Open Heeling Class)
Limited Classes
- Limited Breakaway
- Limited Tie Down
- Limited Heading
- Limited Heeling
Non Pro Classes (Team Roping Only)
- Non Pro Heading (Within Limited Heading Class)
- Non Pro Heeling (Within Limited Heeling Class)
Rider eligibility classification is determined in all events will be determined by your 2024 earnings by event, pulled through Equistat Reports, from ARHFA, GBF, Royal Crown, Texas Best and Platinum Medal Futurities.
To check your 2024 earnings, click here.
Earnings are not the only determining factor in eligibility for these classes. You must also meet the qualifications outlined here.
How does GBF Scoring work?
The Spring Showdown will be both a timed and judged event. Each maneuver will be scored from a 3 (excellent) to a -3 (extremely poor) in one-point increments. Credits and penalties can be found on each event’s scorecard:
Breakaway Scorecard
Tie Down Scorecard
Team Roping Scorecard
Judges
- Breakaway and Tiedown: Gary Wells, Roger Branch, Doug Clark and CR Bradley
- Team Roping: Mark Wray, Shannon Frascht, James Davison and Doug Clark
How can you watch the 2025 GBF Spring Showdown?
The 2025 Gold Buckle Futurities Spring Showdown will be live streamed on X-Factor Roping and available on The Cowboy Channel+ App!
Contact the GBF Team
Tie Down & Breakaway Shane Hanchey (337) 764-3506
Heading and Heeling Kaleb Driggers (254) 977-3263, Cole Davison (210) 861-9020
Media Credentials Chad Laxton (417) 772-6023
Breeders Incentive Billy Myers (605) 645-2762
Stallions Incentive Jeremy Barwick (254) 485-2542
Sponsorships Cole Davison (210) 861-9020
NexGen Entry Support Office (903) 287-7852
RV & Stall Reservations Hardy Murphy Coliseum (580) 223-2541
