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July 06, 2008 Members Login |
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSArabian Breeders Sweepstakes ProgramQ. WHAT IS NEW WITH THE 2008 SWEEPSTAKES PROGRAM? WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES FOR THE SWEEPSTAKES PROGRAM? WHAT CLASSES ARE UNDER COSIDERATION FOR THE FUTURE? WHAT IS THE BREEDER / NOMINATOR? WHAT ARE THE INCENTIVES FOR BREEDERS? WHAT ARE THE INCENTIVES FOR THE EXHIBITOR? WILL THERE BE A DEADLINE FOR THE POINTS PAYBACK ENROLLMENT, OR CAN I ENROLL AT ANY TIME? HOW WILL POINTS BE PAID OUT, DO ALL PLACINGS GET PAYOUT OR IS THERE A SPECIFIC PLACING THAT GETS AWARDED? WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE EVENT OF A SPLIT AAO CLASS? WHAT WILL BE THE POLICY FOR PAYOUT WHEN A HORSE HAS CHANGED OWNERS DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR? WILL NOTIFICATIONS OR REMINDERS SIMILAR TO WHAT IS DONE WITH HALTER FUTURITIES BE SENT EACH YEAR TO SWEEPSTAKES PARTICIPANTS? IS THE BREEDERS INCENTIVE FOR ALL SWEEPSTAKES FOALS, OR ONLY THOSE ENROLLED AFTER THESES CHANGES WERE IMPLEMENTED? MAY A SHOW HOLD MORE THAN ONE CLASS OF THE SAME TITLE FOR SWEEPSTAKES PAYOUT? WHAT WILL THE MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS BE FOR PAYOUT UNDER THIS NEW PROGRAM AND THE CURRENT MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE? HOW SHOULD SHOWS INCORPORATE THE SWEEPSTAKES CLASSES INTO THEIR SCHEDULES/PRIZE LISTS? CAN A SWEEPSTAKES EVER BE A TBA CLASS? CAN I ENROLL IN THE POINTS PAYBACK PROGRAM AT AN EVENT? WHO CAN SHOW IN SWEEPSTAKES CLASSES? HOW CAN I TELL IF A CLASS IS A SWEEPSTAKES CLASS? HOW WILL POINTS BE CALCULATED IN THE COMPETITIVE TRAIL AND ENDURANCE DIVISIONS? I HAVE AN ANGLO-ARABIAN MARE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO BREED HER TO A THOROUGHBRED STALLION, WHAT CAN I DO SO THAT THIS FOAL CAN BE ENROLLED AS A BREEDING ENTRY? I AM INTERESTED IN NOMINATING MY ARABIAN MARE SO THAT HER HALF-ARABIAN FOALS ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE ENROLLED AS BREEDING ENTRIES. WHAT IS THE COST FOR THIS? WHY DID THE SWEEPSTAKES COMMISSION RAISE THE ORIGINAL ENTRY FEE TO $15,000? WHAT IF I NOTICE THAT MY POINTS ARE INCORRECT OR THAT A PLACING HAS BEEN RECORDED INCORRECTLY IN A SWEEPSTAKES CLASS? WHERE CAN I FIND ENROLLMENT FORMS? WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION? WHAT ARE THE CURRENT FEES TO NOMINATE MY PUREBRED ARABIAN STALLION? WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE POINT PAYOUTS TO BE? WHEN CAN I EXPECT TO RECEIVE MY SWEEPSTAKES CHECKS? CAN I EXPECT THAT A SWEEPSTAKES-QUALIFIED HORSE MAY BE VIEWED AS MORE VALUABLE THAN A NON-SWEEPSTAKES HORSE? I PLACED IN THE TOP FIVE AT A REGIONAL SHOW, BUT WHY DON'T I RECEIVE POINTS PAYBACK OR ALLOCATED PRIZE MONEY? I HAVE A DEAD FOAL CREDIT THAT I WILL NEVER USE. CAN I GET A REFUND FOR MY ENTRY? WHY DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A W-9 FORM? I PROVIDED A W-9 IN THE PAST FOR MY SWEEPSTAKES PRIZE MONEY. WHY AM I BEING ASKED TO COMPLETE ANOTHER ONE? I EARNED THE PRIZE MONEY LAST YEAR BUT I AM GETTING THE CHECK IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. WILL THIS AFFECT MY TAX RETURN FOR LAST YEAR?
A. The Breeder/Nominator is the individual who enrolls the foal in the Sweepstakes program as a Breeding Entry. This person will receive the Breeders payback for the lifetime of the horse. The Breeder/Nominator can be different from the Breeder listed on the Certificate of Registration for the horse. Q. WHAT ARE THE INCENTIVES FOR BREEDERS? A. Sweepstakes now rewards the nominator of the Breeding Entry (the person writing the check for $400.00) with 10% of the value of the points earned in the Points Payback part of the Sweepstakes program for the lifetime of these Breeding Entries. Sweepstakes will also pay 5% of the value of the points earned in the Points Payback part of the Sweepstakes program, as well as 5% of the allocated money won in designated Sweepstakes classes at the Regional and National levels, to the Nominated Arabian Sire owner. The Breeder/Nominator and the Arabian Nominated Sire owner will be paid regardless of whether the enrolled offspring's current owner pays the annual $100 Points Payback enrollment. Q. WHAT ARE THE INCENTIVES FOR THE EXHIBITOR? A. The exhibitor will continue to receive allocated money at the Regional and National level in designated Sweepstakes classes. In addition, Sweepstakes offers a new incentive for exhibitors who choose to join the Points Payback program. Upon paying an annual enrollment of $100 per horse, an exhibitor has the opportunity to win back prize money based on a point incentive plan. Points accumulated annually at all levels of AHA-recognized shows and events (except Arabian Community Shows) will be assigned dollar values with a payout before March 31st of the year following the competition year. Each exhibitor decides annually whether or not to participate in the Points Payback part of the program. Q. WILL THERE BE A DEADLINE FOR THE POINTS PAYBACK ENROLLMENT, OR CAN I ENROLL AT ANY TIME? A. The Points Payback Enrollment fee may be paid any time during the competition year, prior to the first day of the event (show or ride) in which the horse will compete for Point Prize money. No retroactive points will be paid, meaning that points earned any time during the year prior to the enrollment fee being paid will not be eligible for payout. The enrollment form is available online or enrollment can be made by calling the AHA office. Enrollments will not be accepted by any event management. Q. HOW WILL POINTS BE PAID OUT, DO ALL PLACINGS GET PAYOUT OR IS THERE A SPECIFIC PLACING THAT GETS AWARDED? A. Points will be earned by the Top 6 placings at the AHA local level shows/events. Although some shows such as Scottsdale place Top 10, or the Buckeye place Top 8, only the Top 6 places will count for the Points Payout. You will earn one point for yourself and one point for every horse you place above. At Regionals, the Top 5 (based on the 50% rule) horses in the class will earn points, and at the Nationals the Top 10 (based on the 50% rule) horses in the class will earn points. Receipt of a Sweepstakes ribbon does not guarantee payout. Q. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE EVENT OF A SPLIT AAO CLASS? A. The AAO classes (with the exception of the Arabian Gelding In Hand AAO class) may be split at the discretion of the show management. Allocated prize money will be split in accordance with the class splits, full point values will be paid in each split. Q. WHAT WILL BE THE POLICY FOR PAYOUT WHEN A HORSE HAS CHANGED OWNERS DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR? A. The member listed as the recorded owner of the horse on December 31 of the year in which the prize money was earned will receive the payout. AHA encourages individuals selling or buying Sweepstakes horses to consider this policy when completing a sale. Q. WILL NOTIFICATIONS OR REMINDERS SIMILAR TO WHAT IS DONE WITH HALTER FUTURITIES BE SENT EACH YEAR TO SWEEPSTAKES PARTICIPANTS? A. AHA will send out renewal notices to previous year's participants in the Points Payback Program. It will remain the owner's responsibility to remember to enroll the horse prior to the horse's first competition. These will be a courtesy reminder only. Just as in the past, all other Sweepstakes categories (Breeding Entries, Nominated Sires, Nominated Dams and Original Entries) do not require re-nomination. Q. IS THE BREEDERS INCENTIVE FOR ALL SWEEPSTAKES FOALS, OR ONLY THOSE ENROLLED AFTER THESES CHANGES WERE IMPLEMENTED? A. All Sweepstakes Breeding Entries will be eligible for the Breeder Incentive Payback to the Arabian Nominated Sire owner and the Breeder/Nominator. There is no exclusionary period, and as long as you are a current AHA member, payouts will be automatic. Q. MAY A SHOW HOLD MORE THAN ONE CLASS OF THE SAME TITLE FOR SWEEPSTAKES PAYOUT? A. No, a show may not payout more than one class of the same title. The show may hold several classes of the same title, however, only one will be eligible for payout. The show must indicate which class is Sweepstakes in the prize list. The awarding of how Sweepstakes Prize money will be issued for concurrent shows will be reviewed by the Sweepstakes Commission. Information regarding this decision will be posted on the AHA website when available. Q. WHAT WILL THE MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS BE FOR PAYOUT UNDER THIS NEW PROGRAM AND THE CURRENT MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE? A. Members must have a current base level membership to receive payout and hold a competition card if they are competing. For those horses owned by a business, a Business membership will be sufficient. Q. HOW SHOULD SHOWS INCORPORATE THE SWEEPSTAKES CLASSES INTO THEIR SCHEDULES/PRIZE LISTS? A. Shows will be allowed to add the designated Sweepstakes classes into their prize lists/schedules without penalty from AHA for the 2008 competition year. Class codes and titles can be found in the Sweepstakes chapter of the current AHA handbook, available online at www.arabianhorses.org or by request. Additionally, AHA will be happy to assist show management in any way possible to make this transition smooth and successful for everyone. Q. CAN A SWEEPSTAKES EVER BE A TBA CLASS? A. No. Sweepstakes classes must be in the schedule as regular classes for every show that intends to hold these classes. Additionally, shows must notify AHA of which classes they intend to hold as Sweepstakes classes prior to the show. Q. CAN I ENROLL IN THE POINTS PAYBACK PROGRAM AT AN EVENT? A. No. Point enrollments must be made prior to the first day of the event in which the horse will compete for prize money. All Point enrollments must be made directly to the AHA office. Event secretaries may not accept these enrollments. Q. WHO CAN SHOW IN SWEEPSTAKES CLASSES? A. At the local level any horse may show in the Sweepstakes classes, however, only Sweepstakes Point Payback enrolled horses will earn payback. This applies for all horses you beat, regardless of whether they are enrolled in the Sweepstakes program or not. This is the same for the Regional and National level with the exception of the Yearling Sweepstakes classes (these classes are for Breeding Entries only). Q. HOW CAN I TELL IF A CLASS IS A SWEEPSTAKES CLASS? A. Sweepstakes classes will have a denotation at the front of the title. Additionally, for a complete list of Sweepstakes classes and events please refer to Sweepstakes chapter of the current AHA handbook. Denotation of a Sweepstakes Class does not guarantee that it is eligible for Sweepstakes payback. Event management is notified of Sweepstakes eligible classes and changes to the prize list which need to be made in order for the class to be recognized as a Sweepstakes Class. Changes must be posted in the show office. Q. HOW WILL POINTS BE CALCULATED IN THE COMPETITIVE TRAIL AND ENDURANCE DIVISIONS? A. For local recognized rides, Sweepstakes horses will earn one point for each horse they beat in the ride (regardless of breed) and one point for themselves up to 6th place. If a horse competes in ride that is held in conjunction with a Regional or National Ride, the horse will earn points only for the Regional ride. CT Rides must be 25 miles in length or longer, Endurance rides must be 50 miles or longer. For Regional and National rides, the 50% rule is applied (i.e. if 7 horses in a National Ride, the top 4 horses will receive points. Payout at the Regional and National Rides are based on the combined results of the Arabians and Half-Arabians/Anglo-Arabians. In 2009, the Sweepstakes Commission is revamping the point payout for Competitive Trail and Endurance Rides. All points for local rides will be based on the number of registered Arabian and Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian horses on the ride and will no longer be based on the total of horses on the ride, regardless of the breed. Q. I HAVE AN ANGLO-ARABIAN MARE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO BREED HER TO A THOROUGHBRED STALLION, WHAT CAN I DO SO THAT THIS FOAL CAN BE ENROLLED AS A BREEDING ENTRY? A. AHA is proud to offer the Anglo-Arabian Nominated Dam category, applicable to this very situation. Refer to the AHA handbook or website for additional information on this category. Q. I AM INTERESTED IN NOMINATING MY ARABIAN MARE SO THAT HER HALF-ARABIAN FOALS ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE ENROLLED AS BREEDING ENTRIES. WHAT IS THE COST FOR THIS? A. To benefit our members the cost for both the Anglo-Arabian Nominated Dam and the Arabian Nominated Dam category has been reduced to only $1,000. Q. WHY DID THE SWEEPSTAKES COMMISSION RAISE THE ORIGINAL ENTRY FEE TO $15,000? A. When the Sweepstakes program was started the Original Entry category was meant to be temporary to allow horses to enroll into the program that were already born at the start of the program. For whatever reason, this category continued to be utilized. Over time, as this category was not only continued, but was often discounted, it became apparent that people were taking a wait-and-see approach. This category was also used to "cherry pick" and nominate horses that were already proven show horses who would have a high probability of taking out much more money than their nomination fee. This also marginalized the value of in-utero nominated foals. Breeders who supported the Sweepstakes program by nominating their foals were not as likely to reap the added value to their foals that their nomination should have provided them. In order to maintain an "Original Entry" category, it needs to be priced so that those who nominate in-utero will realize the added value to their foals and those who do wait to nominate must pay a substantial premium for not taking the risks associated with nominating an in-utero foal (Breeding Entry). Q. WHAT IF I NOTICE THAT MY POINTS ARE INCORRECT OR THAT A PLACING HAS BEEN RECORDED INCORRECTLY IN A SWEEPSTAKES CLASS? A. If your show or ride results are incorrect, please notify the Event Secretary from that show/ride immediately. If corrections are not made prior to December 31 of the competition year, then prize money will not be adjusted if payout is incorrect due to these errors. It is the exhibitor's responsibility to verify these results and notify Event Secretaries and/or AHA of any discrepancies. Q. WHERE CAN I FIND ENROLLMENT FORMS? A. Enrollment forms are available online at ArabianHorses.org/Sweeps, or if you would like to call AHA, we would be happy to fax you any forms you may need. Q. WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION? A. Log onto the AHA website, ArabianHorses.org/Sweeps for further information, enrollment forms and details. Additionally, you may enroll your horses online through your member home page. Also, you may call AHA and a customer service representative will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Q. WHAT ARE THE CURRENT FEES TO NOMINATE MY PUREBRED ARABIAN STALLION? A. The good news is, if your stallion is entered as a Breeding Entry in the Sweepstakes program, the cost is $1,500. The fee for all other purebred stallions is $3,500. Q. WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE POINT PAYOUTS TO BE? A. The goal of the Points Program is a per point payout in the $10 range. Q. WHEN CAN I EXPECT TO RECEIVE MY SWEEPSTAKES CHECKS? A. Because points cannot be calculated until the end of the competition year, all payments will be mailed before March 31 following the competition year. Q. CAN I EXPECT THAT A SWEEPSTAKES-QUALIFIED HORSE MAY BE VIEWED AS MORE VALUABLE THAN A NON-SWEEPSTAKES HORSE? A. Although there are many variables that impact the value of a horse, one could expect that a horse with Sweepstakes earning power will have a greater value in terms of marketability and/or salability. Q. I PLACED IN THE TOP FIVE AT A REGIONAL SHOW, BUT WHY DON'T I RECEIVE POINTS PAYBACK OR ALLOCATED PRIZE MONEY? A. For horses participating in Regional Events, points up to five placed will be earned. If fewer than nine horses are in the class, 50% rounded up, will be eligible for Sweepstakes points and Allocated Prize Money. Regional shows have the option to issue Top Five Awards based on the 50% rule or issue Top Five Awards in all class regardless of how many entries are competing at the close of the gate. This information must be clearly stated in the Regional Prize List. Q. I HAVE A DEAD FOAL CREDIT THAT I WILL NEVER USE. CAN I GET A REFUND FOR MY ENTRY? A. The entry fee for a Breeding Entry is non-refundable, but can be transferred for any following year to a foal of any mare under the same ownership. You do have the option of selling the dead foal credit to another member. AHA would then require written notification from the owner of the Dead Foal Credit that authorizes AHA to use the Dead Foal Credit for an entry listed under a different ownership. Q. WHY DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A W-9 FORM? A. Prize money payouts are federally reportable as income. Therefore, a tax ID must be associated with each account that receives payout. A tax ID (TIN or Social Security Number) reported on form W-9 is required for the release of any such payment regardless of the amount. If a W-9 form for said account is not on file, the payout will be placed on hold until the form is received. If this information is not provided within 120 days after notification, all Sweepstakes prize money will be forfeited. Q. I PROVIDED A W-9 IN THE PAST FOR MY SWEEPSTAKES PRIZE MONEY. WHY AM I BEING ASKED TO COMPLETE ANOTHER ONE? A. Each AHA account that receives prize money must have a W-9 on file. It is possible to have two or more AHA accounts, each with its own unique information (i.e. horse, owners, etc.). Therefore, a separate W-9 is required for each account. This is especially important for joint accounts. Payees on a joint account have the choice of which owner will assume the tax liability and file the tax return should one be required. The only reason a W-9 would be requested is due to the fact a tax ID is not on file for that specific account. Q. I EARNED THE PRIZE MONEY LAST YEAR BUT I AM GETTING THE CHECK IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. WILL THIS AFFECT MY TAX RETURN FOR LAST YEAR? A. The tax liability is assessed in the year the payment is actually made. Although the prize money was earned last year, the payment is made in the early part of this year so it does not affect last year's taxes. Form 1099-Misc is used to report the payments to both the payee and the IRS for the tax year beginning January 1 and ending December 31. The 1099 will reflect only the payments actually made in that year, regardless of when the prize money was earned. |
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