Pink Buckle and Ruby Buckle Announce Missed Nomination Opportunity for Aged Horses 9 & Older

The Pink Buckle and Ruby Buckle have announced a new 9 & Older Missed Nomination option, creating an opportunity for aged horses to participate in the incentive programs beginning in 2026.

The 9 & Older option was developed for horses that were never nominated or whose nominations may have lapsed during the early years of the programs. Any horse that is nine years old or older in 2026 may be enrolled, including horses sired by any stallion that has participated in Pink Buckle or Ruby Buckle at any point in time, not just stallions currently enrolled.

“As both programs have grown, we’ve heard from many owners who have aged horses they’d love to see involved,” saidKayla Jones. “This option allows us to create that opportunity while still honoring the structure that has supported the long-term success of Pink Buckle and Ruby Buckle.”

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Pink Buckle was established in 2018, with Ruby Buckle launching in 2020. Because of the timing of each program, all existing horses have had an opportunity to enroll at some point while their sire was actively enrolled. For that reason, the 9 & Older Missed Nomination option is available at this time for horses sired by any stallion that participated in either program during its history.

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As the programs continue to mature, eligibility language will gradually narrow. In future years, eligibility will be limited to horses conceived or born during the year(s) a stallion was enrolled in the program, or prior. Once a stallion exits the program, eligibility opportunities for future progeny will no longer apply, and horses bred after a stallion’s departure would not be eligible.

The 9 & Older option will be offered annually. For example, a horse that is eight years old in 2026 would become eligible for the 9 & Older option in 2027.

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Jones also emphasized that missed nomination opportunities already exist through November 1 of a horse’s four-year-old year, and that annual nomination remains the standard and preferred method of maintaining eligibility. The 9 & Older option is intended as a limited accommodation based on the age of the programs and is not meant to replace ongoing annual participation.

Eligible 9 & Older horses will have the opportunity to compete for significant payouts at Pink Buckle and Ruby Buckle events held across the country, including annual races in Oklahoma, Utah, and Georgia, as well as over 20 Double Down events nationwide.

Nominations for the 9 & Older Missed Nomination option are open for a one time fee of $4,000. Annual nomination into the program will be required after this to continue to stay in the program. A complete list of eligible stallions, nomination forms, and additional details can be found at www.therubybuckle.com and www.pinkbuckle.com.

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