When you compete in a 4D barrel race, all riders run, no matter their ability, beginner or professional. The divisions are then determined by the times run, with the fastest horse setting the 1D time. The number of horses that are in the divisions depends on how many horses are at the race. If the fastest horse ran a 16.0 second run, then all the horses that ran 16.1 or slower, are 1D horses. The 2D horses are then determined by the riders that ran ½ a second off the 1D times. So a horse that ran a 16.5 or slower would be at the top of the second division, and any horses slower would be in the second division. The third division is a full second off the 1D times, so this would put the horses that ran 17.0 seconds or slower in the 3D. The last division, 4D would be horses that ran 2 seconds off the fastest time, putting them at 18.0 seconds or slower.
Originally an Open race where everyone ran together, beginners and professionals alike, barrel racing has now grown to having divisional races. The new 4D format allows everyone an opportunity to place and win at events, and even bring home some extra cash. But has this had a negative or positive effect on the industry?
The plus side of this for competitors is they now have more of a chance to be in the money. You do not need to have the fastest horse to place, but the fastest horse is going to bring home the biggest purse. With these divisions it seems the horse market has grown as well. Now you can sell a horse that is 2D/3D with the potential to be a 1D horse within in weeks if not days after he is up for sale. However, the way he ran his 2D races may not compare to the way you want to place in 2D at different events. He may have been a consistent 2D horse at a local saddle club, but taking him to larger shows he may struggle making it in 3D/4D. Be sure to check his record against other shows. Arenas, ground conditions, and pattern size all can vary on any certain day, causing your time to be different. But the benefit of that is you can sell a horse that is a few seconds off the usual winning time and still make a decent profit on him. Perhaps the reason people look for theses horses with the potential to be more is because of the 4D format. They can still place and win money while trying to improve their horses run, and they tend to be a bit cheaper then a winning 1D horse.
With this format, the purse can be larger by the number of racers there are in the sport now. Inexperienced people feel comfortable going to races and competing, even if it is with some of the best riders in the state. Often times races have an added jackpot of $100, $500, $1000 and up. Who wouldn’t that seem appealing to? But, some competitors with the capability to place and win in the 1D are displeased with the additional of the 4D and sometimes 5D races. It causes their purse to be smaller, and the chances of winning like they are used to could not be in their favor. Although, this is not reason to put down the riders in the lower divisions. If it wasn’t for the divided classes, they probably wouldn’t be bringing home enough to cover their entry fees, and their 1D horses wouldn’t be worth what they are today.
The 4D barrel race has become popular with all associations and even saddle clubs, who now hold 3D or 4D barrel races along with their regular shows. Events with added money are appearing in every state across the country, more every year. Even if you do not compete in a larger association, you have the opportunity to compete in one of these divisional events and have an insight to what is really all about, and if your horse has what it takes to be a contender.
Whether it is a positive or negative impact on the barrel racing world, it is up to you. But think how it would be if there was no 4D races. Everyone in the same class, and they only pay-out to 8th place if that. But with the additional races there are now, the advancement in barrel racing tack and training, and the way horses are bred, trained and sold, it seems that divisional racing has had a very positive effect on many areas of the horse world.
