Resources

Barrel racing payouts use a D-format (division) system to level the playing field. The fastest time in a class sets the 1D — every other time is slotted into 2D, 3D, or 4D based on how many seconds off the leader they ran.

For example, in a half-second split: 1D is the fastest time through +0.499s off. 2D is +0.500s through +0.999s. 3D is +1.000s through +1.499s. 4D is +1.500s and slower. The total entry-fee pool is divided among these divisions (typically 40/30/20/10 or 30/30/25/15), then split among top placings within each D.

Side pots work differently — they are optional add-on bets where only riders who pay in are eligible. A "Novice Horse" side pot, for instance, pools separate money paid only by novice-horse riders and pays back within that group.

Added money — funds contributed by the producer or sponsors on top of entry fees — is distributed across divisions according to the same payout table, increasing every placing's value.

A draw determines the order in which competitors run. Fair draws are randomized, but with constraints: the same horse cannot run back-to-back if it appears in multiple classes, and partner pairings in team roping must be spaced correctly.

Absolute Rodeo uses a seeded random generator with an auditable seed — meaning the draw can be verified as fair after the fact. The seed is recorded and can be re-run to produce the identical result.

Horse-spacing rules ensure animal welfare: if a horse is entered in Class A run #5 and Class B, the system guarantees at least N runs between appearances. This is configurable per event.

Once a draw is generated, the producer can lock it, make manual adjustments (e.g., moving a late entry to the end), and publish it so competitors can see their run order.

Before the event: Confirm registration is closed and entry counts are final. Generate the draw and publish run orders. Verify Stripe Connect is active so payouts can be processed. Print or export your arena sheet.

Day of: Open the Arena Manager to begin check-ins. Mark each competitor as checked-in when they arrive. Any no-shows can be flagged — their slot stays in the run order but is marked NT (No Time).

During runs: Record times and penalties in real time through the Arena Manager. Times flow immediately to the live results tab on the public event page. For timed events, enter raw time and any penalty seconds separately — the system calculates the total.

After the event: Review results and confirm placings. Run the payout calculator to generate the payout sheet. Finalize and mark the event as Completed. Payouts are processed through Stripe Connect to competitor accounts.

Step 1: Create an account and verify your email. Add at least one horse to your profile — you'll need a horse to enter any class.

Step 2: Browse events on the Find Events page. Click into an event to see classes, fees, side pots, and add-ons. If registration is open, click "Enter This Event."

Step 3: The entry wizard walks you through selecting classes, choosing your horse for each class, opting into side pots, and adding any event add-ons (like stalls or extra runs).

Step 4: Review your selections and complete checkout. Payment is processed securely through Stripe. You'll receive a confirmation and can view your entries on your dashboard.

You can add more entries to the same event at any time while registration is open. Your dashboard shows all your entries grouped by event, with status indicators.

Every horse needs a registered name — this is how event management identifies your animal and is printed on run sheets and results. If your horse has a barn name, add that too for easier selection during entry.

Include breed, color, foaling year, and sex. These details help producers manage divisions that have eligibility rules (e.g., "Novice Horse" requires horses with fewer than a certain number of starts).

If your horse competes under a registration number (AQHA, APHA, etc.), add it to the notes field. Some events may require this for verification.

You can add multiple horses to your account. During entry, you select which horse runs in each class — different horses can run different classes at the same event.

A series bundles multiple events into a season-long points race. After each event, placing competitors earn points based on a configurable table (e.g., 1st = 10 pts, 2nd = 8, 3rd = 6, etc.).

Series can be configured to count only the best N results — for example, "best 8 of 12 events." This encourages participation without penalizing competitors who miss a few events.

Standings update automatically after event results are finalized. The public series page shows a live leaderboard for each division.

Finals qualification can be set by the series operator — e.g., top 15 in season standings qualify for the finale. Finale payout pools and payout tables are configured separately from regular events.