The American Saddlebred Registry (ASR) is announcing changes to its Four-Year-Old Sweepstakes program.

Based on a recommendation from the Sweepstakes Committee, the ASR Board of Directors, together with the show management of the World’s Championship Horse Show, has agreed to the relocation of the ASR Four-Year-Old Sweepstakes classes to Kentucky State Fair beginning in 2012, and going forward. The ASR Two-Year-Old and Three-Year-Old Sweepstakes classes will continue to be held at the All American Horse Classic.

There are four divisions of sweepstakes classes, which are Five-Gaited, Three-Gaited, Fine Harness and Park Pleasure. These classes will be held on Sunday night and will serve as qualifiers for the Junior Championship classes. Only horses nominated to the ASR Four-Year-Old Sweepstakes program will be eligible to participate in these Sweepstakes classes.

In addition, the nominations and payment deadline for the Three-Year-Old and Four-Year-Old Sweepstakes has been changed from January 31 to March 1, with a 10-day grace period. The new deadline will begin in 2012 and will apply to previously nominated horses as well as new nominations.