1. Registration & Entry
Perch Fee
• 2026 Perch Fee: $150/bird due upon arrival or 8 birds for $1000. NON-REFUNDABLE. Any pigeon sent without perch fees can be sold at race
owners’ discretion.
Bird Acceptance
• Accepting birds Feb 15th – May 10th, 2026. ONLY ACCEPTING 4500 BIRDS.
Vaccination Requirement
• All Birds MUST HAVE a PMV Vaccine 14-21 days prior to arrival to the Hoosier Classic Loft.
Perch Fee Payment
• Perch Fees must accompany birds upon arrival. Failure to send perch fee with the birds may result in the immediate sale of the birds or non-entry of the birds into the system.

2. Training & Activation
Training Schedule
• Training will begin in July (date to be determined by Jim Ward).
Activation Race
• The Activation Race will be 100 Miles. All birds completing the 100 Activation Race will be required to pay the activation fee of $650 per bird. Failure to pay the activation fee will result in the sale of unpaid birds. Any bird sold for the activation fee will then become property of the buyer, and the breeder relinquishes all rights to the bird and any prize or auction money. All birds on the team must be activated. It is an “All or Nothing” activation.
Activation Payment
• $650 activation fee/bird due after 100 Mile Activation Race. Should any fancier pay activation fees, prior to the Activation Race and their activated bird/s does not return from activation race, they will have the activation fee refunded.
• Breeders are responsible for making the activation payment within 7 days of Activation Race.

• Email updates and website updates will be posted after the 100-Mile Activation Race with payment information, including ways to pay and
deadlines.
Activation Credit
• If an activated bird does not make it to Race 1, the activation fee may be applied as credit toward optional races or carried over to the 2027 season. It is the entrant’s responsibility to notify Hoosier of any eligible birds. Requests for credit must be submitted within 5 days after Race 1. After this deadline, any unused credit will expire. Hoosier is not responsible for issuing credits for birds that are not reported within the required timeframe.

3. Race Format
Race Series
• Race Series will consist of 5 races. 125 Miles, 150 Miles, 190 Miles, 235 Miles, and 350 Miles. (Activation Race does not count towards Average Speed.)
Final Race
• 350 Mile Race will be the Final Race and can be shortened or lengthened dependent upon weather conditions by the race manager (Jim Ward).
Average Speed
• 125 Mile, 150 Mile and 190 Mile is calculated by Average Speed. 235 Mile Race will be paid by clocking order.
Race Timing
• There is no dead time during races, clock will keep running until race is finished.
• Race Day is over 1 hour after sunset on the 2nd day of release. Any remaining prizes to be paid out will be divided equally amongst the returned
birds.
Race Changes
• Hoosier Classic reserves the right to amend the racing program, race dates, and race distances at its sole discretion in response to weather conditions, the welfare of the pigeons, or any other circumstances affecting the successful conduct of the race.

4. Race Results & Placings
Final Race Drop Rule
• FINAL RACE ONLY! Arrival of the first pigeons together will be considered a drop and paid equally – (if 3 pigeons arrive together – the top 3 prizes will be added together and split evenly among the first 3 pigeons). If one pigeon does not trap that arrived with the first pigeons, this pigeon will be considered on the drop until another pigeon arrives. All other prizes will be paid by clocking order.
Exact Ties
• If two or more birds are shown in the clock as exact ties, prizes will be added
up and split equally among the birds that tied.
Piggyback / Chip Malfunction
• If a bird does not clock due to piggyback or clock/chip malfunction and Hoosier Classic Staff verifies the bird in the drop, it will be placed last in the drop order.

5. Ace Pigeon Competition
Ace Pigeon Verification
• Ace pigeons will be verified by the clock, computed on total distance/total
time.
Ace Pigeon Championship
• Average Speed will determine the Ace Pigeon Champion Birds and will include the 125, 150, 190, 235, and 350 Mile Races.

6. Auctions & Prize Money
Auction

• Top 100 birds clocked on the 350-Mile Race and the Top 10 Ace Pigeons will be auctioned off on iPigeon 14 days after final race. Breeder receives 50% of the auction monies. A Pedigree must be provided to receive 50% of the Auction Proceeds. Pedigrees must be a minimum of 2 Generations. Pedigrees must be provided to the Hoosier Classic Office within 5 days of the final race for the Top 100.

Prize Money Claims
• All prize money must be claimed by Dec 30, 2026. U.S. Tax Requirements
• Breeders/Fanciers winning over $600 in prizes will be required to provide a W9 form to Hoosier Classic.
International Tax Requirements
• Breeders winning over $600 in prizes from outside the United States will be required to fill out the appropriate paperwork according to the country they reside (Ex: Canada W8- BEN).

7. Final Race Bird Returns & Shipping

Claiming Birds
• Breeders have 7 days from the date of the Final Race to claim their birds and have them returned. Any birds not claimed within 7 days become property of the Hoosier Classic. BREEDER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CLAIMING THEIR BIRDS. THE HOOSIER CLASSIC STAFF MAKES NO ASSUMPTIONS
REGARDING BIRDS BEING SHIPPED HOME.
Shipping Costs
• Any and All birds being returned after races to breeders will be required to have shipping expenses paid by the breeder/fancier. Shipping expenses will be determined after the Final Race. Fees will be based on the current USPS shipping rates. Shipping Boxes will be brand new Horizon Boxes allowing either 2 birds or 3 birds per box. No more than 3 Birds will be shipped in 1 box. Additional birds over 3 will require an additional box.
Shipping Liability
• Hoosier Classic is not responsible for delayed/lost shipping within USPS System and will not file for refund of shipping if not delivered on time.

8. Payments
Checks

• Hoosier Classic WILL NOT HOLD CHECKS for payments of perch fees or activation.

Returned Checks
• Any Check returned NSF will be charged a $35.00 NSF Fee.
Processing Fees
• Hoosier Classic is not responsible for processing fees for the use of PayPal or Credit Card. The use of PayPal and Credit Cards are a convenience set up by Hoosier Classic for those that choose to use them. Processing Fees are non- refundable.

9. Loft Registration
Loft Name Changes
• Hoosier Classic will not make changes to loft names after May 15th. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Teams & Syndicates
• When signing up for a team or syndicate, 1 person must be designated as contact person. The designated person will be the contact regarding all correspondence for the team. The designated contact person is also responsible for collecting payments for activation and sending to the Hoosier Classic. 1 payment is to be provided. Please plan accordingly!! Our office will not collect payments from every person in the syndicate. If any prize money is to be paid out, the designated contact person is responsible for providing the Hoosier Classic office with a list of names, addresses, and total if separate checks are being written.
Contact Information
• Please ensure that all information on Wincompanion is correct for contacting purposes.

10. Liability & Management
Bird Loss
• Hoosier Classic is not responsible for any loss of birds due to illness, injury, or failure to return from trainings or races.

Right to Refuse Entry
• Hoosier Classic Managers (Jim and Kelly Ward) reserve the right to deny any breeder participation in the Hoosier Classic Race.
Unforeseen Circumstances
• Any unforeseen circumstances will be settled by Jim Ward. In case of a Natural Disaster or Catastrophic Event requiring the cancellation of the race(s), birds will be shipped back to the breeder at breeder’s expense. Prize money would be divided equally for the remaining races among pigeons still competing.

11. Final Race Event
Attendance
• Final Race Events located at the Hoosier Classic property are for participating fanciers only. If you do not have birds that participated in the current season, please refrain from attending. Final Race Day Events are for those that paid to participate in the series.