Tickets are now selling for the annual Saddlebred Raffle, with winners to be drawn at random during the Kentucky State Fair World’s Championship Horse Show.

According to Brenda Newell, Senior Program Administrator for the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA), the raffle is one of the ASHA’s most important fundraisers. Only 400 tickets are sold worldwide, at $100 each, for gross proceeds of $40,000. Of that, $20,000 goes into the Saddlebred Futures Fund, and $20,000 of it is returned to winners in cash prizes.

The grand prize is $5,000, with two prizes of $2,500 each, one each of $2,000 and $1,500, three of $1,000 each, and seven of $500. Compared to the original ASHA Raffle years ago, prize money has now doubled to $20,000 from $10,000 originally, and the number of winners has tripled to 15.

“This is a great way to make a small investment in the promotion of the Saddlebred breed,” said Newell, “and get a tax deduction, yet still have the chance to win some real money back. It’s ideal for people who want to see the Saddlebred promoted more and better, because all the funds go to education about and promotion of the breed.”

The lucky 15 winning names will be drawn on Thursday night, August 21, in Freedom Hall during the World’s Championship Horse Show by the Saddlebred Ambassadors who have committed to promoting the breed by selling the raffle tickets. Ticket holders need not be present to win. Then the lucky winners or their representatives will draw for their actual prizes on Friday evening, August 22.

Raffle tickets will soon be available for purchase online at https://www.asha.net/asha/contribution.php.

Ambassadors selling tickets include Jennifer Dixon in California at [email protected] or (650) 851-7399; Stacey Kipper in Colorado at [email protected] or (303) 766-6985; Bridget McNeese in Texas at [email protected] or (713) 520-6789; Judy Werner in Illinois at [email protected] or (618) 660-8325; Mary Ann Pardieck in Indiana at [email protected] or (812) 525-7733; Jennifer Robertson in Kentucky at (502) 220-5696; Scott Matton in Wisconsin at [email protected] or (262) 227-6219; Susan Reimer in Georgia at [email protected] or (770) 599-0594; Kristen Cater in New Hampshire at [email protected] or (603) 566-2264; and Nancy Boone in North Carolina at [email protected] or (704) 933-7416.

The American Saddlebred Horse Association is organized under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and all contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Association’s Kentucky License for the annual raffle is Number 0557.

For more information, contact Brenda Newell at [email protected].