11/2/2009
To the AJRA members,
After talking with the Apache Gold casino, they will not be able to support the AJRA for the remainder of the year. I was told that they will not provide a prize line (sponsor the buckles) and that they will not be able to pay us the $5,000.00 that was owed at our finals last year.
In our meeting at Florence, it was decided that we will look for alternative sites due to the situation with the Apache Gold casino. We have been able to relocate the January rodeo to Buckeye and the March rodeo will now be in Gilbert. The rodeo dates along with the entry dates will remain the same. Please mark your calendars accordingly. Buckeye will require that all over night horses be kept in stalls. I will have the contact information posted for you shortly on reserving stalls and there are a limited amount of 30 amp hook ups if desired. I will have the calendar changed on our web site to identify the new locations.
In light of the situation with the Apache Gold casino, we will not consider them as a finals location and will be bidding out locations for our finals this year. Prescott, Payson, St. Johns and Williams were several locations that were identified. I will be contacting the above locations in the near future and begin this process. If you have connections at a different location and wish to have them participate in the bidding process, please contact me with your information. I would like to have our finals locked in no later than the end of January.
Thank you again for your support,
Brian Keaveney