Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 6666 NRHA Derby

The 6666 NRHA Derby Presented by Markel is back at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, bringing together the sport’s top horses and riders for 12 days—June 10–21, 2026—of elite reining competition.

With the Open Derby alone carrying $473,000 in added money and a newly expanded 4-Year-Old Stakes program now surpassing $300,000, this year’s Derby is one for the record books.

Whether you’re heading to OKC or following along from home, here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 6666 NRHA Derby.

Table of contents

• Event Details
• What’s New in 2026
• Classes & Added MoneyOpenNon-ProAdditional Classes
  • Open
  • Non-Pro
  • Additional Classes
• Schedule at a Glance
• Where to Watch
• Hotels

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Event Details

What: 6666 NRHA Derby Presented by Markel
When: June 10–21, 2026
Where: OKC Fairgrounds, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Move-In: Noon, Tuesday, June 9

What’s New in 2026

The biggest news heading into this year’s Derby is a $150,000 increase to the 4-Year-Old Stakes, bringing total added money for that program to over $300,000. Previously limited to Level 4 Open and Level 4 Non Pro, the Tamarack Ranch Open 4-Year-Old Stakes and Colston Paving Non Pro 4-Year-Old Stakes now include Levels 1 through 4 in both Open and Non Pro competition — opening the Stakes to a much wider field of competitors.

Also running concurrently: the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC), June 12–18, incorporating affiliate-level competition across multiple divisions.

Classes & Added Money

Open

Non-Pro

Additional Classes

The Derby also features the $20,000 NRHA Invitational Freestyle Reining Presented by Visit OKC, Jackpot Classic Equine Green Reiner Levels 1 & 2, Rookie divisions, AQHA and APHA concurrent classes, and the full NAAC competition schedule.

Schedule at a Glance

*Novice Horse Open Derby and Tamarack Ranch Open 4-Year-Old Stakes awards presented after Section 3 on Sunday, June 14.

Download the Full Schedule

Where to Watch

Watch live on Ride TV or the NRHA’s website.

Watch the NRHA Derby live on Ride TV.

Hotels

Multiple hotel options are available near the OKC Fairgrounds, most within 2–4 miles of the venue and several offering special NRHA group rates with complimentary breakfast, parking, and airport shuttle service. Options include Embassy Suites, DoubleTree, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn, LaQuinta, and more.

View the full hotel list with booking links here.