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February 08, 2012 Members Login |
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSArabian Breeders Sweepstakes ProgramQ. WHAT IS NEW WITH THE 2011 SWEEPSTAKES PROGRAM? WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES FOR THE SWEEPSTAKES PROGRAM? WHY HAVE THE AMATEUR CLASSES BEEN ELIMINATED FROM ALLOCATED PAYOUT? IS THERE A PAYMENT OPTION FOR ME TO ENROLL MY HORSE(S) IN THE SWEEPSTKES PROGRAM? WHAT IS THE BREEDER / NOMINATOR? IS THE BREEDER/NOMINATOR PAYBACK FOR ALL SWEEPSTAKES FOALS? WHAT ARE THE INCENTIVES FOR BREEDERS? WHAT ARE THE INCENTIVES FOR THE EXHIBITOR? IS THERE A DEADLINE FOR THE POINTS PROGRAM ENROLLMENT, OR CAN I ENROLL AT ANY TIME? HOW ARE POINTS PAID OUT AND DO ALL PLACINGS EARN PRIZE MONEY OR IS THERE A SPECIFIC PLACING THAT GETS AWARDED? WHEN CAN I EXPECT TO RECEIVE MY SWEEPSTAKES CHECKS? WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE EVENT OF A SPLIT AAO CLASS? I PLACED IN THE TOP FIVE AT A REGIONAL SHOW, BUT WHY DIDN’T I RECEIVE POINTS PAYBACK OR ALLOCATED PRIZE MONEY? WILL NOTIFICATIONS OR REMINDERS BE SENT EACH YEAR TO SWEEPSTAKES PARTICIPANTS? MAY A SHOW HOLD MORE THAN ONE CLASS OF THE SAME TITLE FOR SWEEPSTAKES PAYOUT? WHAT ARE THE MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR PAYOUT? 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 ARE POINTS BE CALCULATED IN THE COMPETITIVE TRAIL AND ENDURANCE DIVISIONS? WHY IS THE ORIGINAL ENTRY CATEGORY GOING TO BE DISCONTINUED AFTER JUNE 1, 2011? WHAT IF I NOTICE THAT MY RESULTS ARE INCORRECT IN A SWEEPSTAKES CLASS? WHERE CAN I FIND ENROLLMENT FORMS? WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION? WHAT ARE THE CURRENT FEES TO NOMINATE MY STALLION AS A NOMINATED SIRE OR NON-ARABIAN NOMINATED SIRE? 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? WHY IS THE NOMINATED SIRE PAYBACK NOT BEING OFFERED FOR SIRES ENROLLED AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2009?
Q. WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES FOR THE SWEEPSTAKES PROGRAM?
Q. WHY HAVE THE AMATEUR CLASSES BEEN ELIMINATED FROM ALLOCATED PAYOUT? A. The Sweepstakes Commission has revamped the program to return it to its original intent, a breeding program, and reward the breeders who are the core of our industry. The dollar amounts offered in each category are significant enough to be the incentive breeders need to nominate their foals. It is definitely the intent of the Arabian Breeders Sweepstakes Commission to grow our breed and association. Q. IS THERE A PAYMENT OPTION FOR ME TO ENROLL MY HORSE(S) IN THE SWEEPSTKES PROGRAM? A. Yes. AHA offers a Deferred Billing Agreement. Payment of the entry fees due for a Breeding Entry, Original Entry (limited time), Nominated Sire, Nominated Dam, Non-Arabian Nominated Sire or Anglo-Arabian Nominated Dam may be made pursuant to a Deferred Billing Agreement. Please see Chapter 16 of the AHA Handbook regarding complete information and requirements for the Deferred Billing Agreement or contact a Competition Program Representative at 303-696-4500, option #4. Q. WHAT IS THE BREEDER / NOMINATOR? A. The Breeder/Nominator is the individual who enrolls the foal in the Sweepstakes program as a Breeding Entry. This person will receive the Breeder/Nominator payback for the lifetime of the horse. The Breeder/Nominator does not have to be the recorded owner of the mare. Q. IS THE BREEDER/NOMINATOR PAYBACK FOR ALL SWEEPSTAKES FOALS? A. All Sweepstakes Breeding Entries will be eligible for the Breeder/Nominator Payback. Current AHA membership is required in order to receive prize money. Q. WHAT ARE THE INCENTIVES FOR BREEDERS? A. Sweepstakes rewards the nominator of the Breeding Entry (the person who enrolls the foal as a Breeding Entry) with 5% of all prize money (allocated and point enrollment) earned by that entry at National, Regional and Local Shows, or at designated events (except Arabian Community Shows) provided all Sweepstakes Requirements are met. Payback money will be paid to the original nominator of the Breeding Entry. The Nominated Sire owner will also be awarded payback equal to 5% of all prize money (allocated and point enrollment) earned by each of the sire's offspring as a Breeding Entry at National, Regional and Local Shows or designated non-show events provided the Nominated Sire is enrolled in Sweepstakes as a Nominated Sire at the time of the shows or events. (Sire payback only pertains to Nominated Sires enrolled prior to December 31, 2009). 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. Allocated prize money at the Regional and National Level will be paid out no later than 60 days of completed show results. In addition, Sweepstakes offers an 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 points accumulated annually at AHA recognized Local and Regional shows and events (except Arabian Community Shows). Each exhibitor decides annually whether or not to participate in the Points Payback part of the program. Q. IS THERE A DEADLINE FOR THE POINTS PROGRAM 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. 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 on-line or enrollment can be made by calling the AHA office. Enrollments will not be accepted by any event management. Q. HOW ARE POINTS PAID OUT AND DO ALL PLACINGS EARN PRIZE MONEY 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. Receipt of a Sweepstakes ribbon does not guarantee payout. Q. WHEN CAN I EXPECT TO RECEIVE MY SWEEPSTAKES CHECKS? A. Because points cannot be calculated until the end of the competition year, Sweepstakes Points, Breeder/Nominator and Nominated Sire payback will be issued within 60 days of receipt of completed results for the competition year. Allocated Prize money at the Regional and National Level will be issued within 60 days of receipt of completed results. Q. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE EVENT OF A SPLIT AAO CLASS? A. The AAO classes may be split by age 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. I PLACED IN THE TOP FIVE AT A REGIONAL SHOW, BUT WHY DIDN'T I RECEIVE POINTS PAYBACK OR ALLOCATED PRIZE MONEY? A. For horses participating in Regional Events, points up to five places will be earned based on the 50% rule. (i.e. 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 award Top Five placings based on the 50% rule for qualification purposes only, may award a full Top Five in all classes, 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. WILL NOTIFICATIONS OR REMINDERS BE SENT EACH YEAR TO SWEEPSTAKES PARTICIPANTS? A. AHA sends out courtesy renewal notices (which are included with the other AHA program renewals) to participants in the Points Payback Program. It is the owner's responsibility to remember to enroll the horse prior to the horse's first competition. Sweepstakes Points is the only Sweepstakes Program that requires annual renomination. Q. MAY A SHOW HOLD MORE THAN ONE CLASS OF THE SAME TITLE FOR SWEEPSTAKES PAYOUT? A. No. A show may not pay out 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 classes are Sweepstakes designated in the prize list. Q. WHAT ARE THE MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR PAYOUT? 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 is sufficient. Q. HOW SHOULD SHOWS INCORPORATE THE SWEEPSTAKES CLASSES INTO THEIR SCHEDULES/PRIZE LISTS? A. Shows must denote the Sweepstakes designated classes in their prize lists. Class codes can be found on-line at www.arabianhorses.org/Sweeps or by request. AHA will request show management to post any changes to classes in the show office. 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. 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 postmarked/electronic transaction dated to the AHA office prior to the event. Event secretaries may not accept these enrollments. Q. WHO CAN SHOW IN SWEEPSTAKES CLASSES? A. The Regional Yearling Sweepstakes classes are the only classes that are restricted to Breeding Entries only. At the Local, Regional and National Level any horse may show in the Sweepstakes classes. 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. For 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 ARE 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 and one point for themselves up to 6th place. If a horse competes in ride that is held in conjunction with a Regional Ride, the horse will earn points only for the Regional ride. Competitive Trail Rides must be 25 miles in length or longer, Endurance rides must be 50 miles or longer. For Regional Rides, the 50% rule is applied (i.e. if 7 horses in a Regional Ride, the top 4 horses will receive points. Payout at the Regional and Local Rides are based on the combined results of registered Arabians and Half-Arabians/Anglo-Arabians Q. WHY IS THE ORIGINAL ENTRY CATEGORY GOING TO BE DISCONTINUED AFTER JUNE 1, 2011? A. When the Sweepstakes program began, the Original Entry category was intended to be temporary as to allow horses that were already born the opportunity to enroll into the program. The Original Entry category continued to be utilized, and over time, was not only continued, but often discounted. It became apparent that people were taking a wait-and-see approach. Additionally, this category was used to "cherry pick" and nominate horses that were already proven and had a high probability of taking out much more money than their nomination fee, which 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. The Sweepstakes Commission has expressed the fact that this is a breeders' program and, therefore, the enrollments need to be made in-utero. Q. WHAT IF I NOTICE THAT MY RESULTS ARE INCORRECT 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, (for points) of the competition year, prize money will not be adjusted. Allocated class results need to be adjusted within 60 days of receipt of completed results. 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 www.arabianhorses.org/Sweeps, or if you would like to call AHA, we can fax or email you forms. Q. WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION? A. Log onto the AHA website, www.arabianhorses.org/Sweeps for further information, enrollment forms and details. You may also contact AHA, and a Competition Program Representative will be able to answer any questions you may have. Q. WHAT ARE THE CURRENT FEES TO NOMINATE MY STALLION AS A NOMINATED SIRE OR NON-ARABIAN NOMINATED SIRE? A. If your stallion is already entered as a Breeding Entry in the Sweepstakes program, the cost is $1,000. The fee for all other purebred stallions is $2,000. To enroll a sire as a Non-Arabian Nominated Sire, the enrollment fee is $2,500. 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. Dead Foal Credits that are issued after April 1, 2010, require a $50 Dead Foal Credit Processing fee when the credit is applied toward a new entry. 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. A new AHA enrollment application and the Dead Foal Credit Voucher must be submitted prior to the enrollment deadline. 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/ownership. 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. Q. WHY IS THE NOMINATED SIRE PAYBACK NOT BEING OFFERED FOR SIRES ENROLLED AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2009? A. While we appreciate the need for stallion owners to receive a return on their sire nomination investment in the Sweepstakes Program, the stallion owners do receive the stud fees. The Sweepstakes Commission also reduced the cost to nominate a stallion that is already enrolled as a Breeding Entry to $1,000. It is the current Sweepstakes Commission's goal to redirect those funds to the Breeder/Nominator and to allocated payout as they become available. |
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