AMARILLO, Texas - The American Quarter Horse Association will host its annual three-day racing conference October 17-20 in conjunction with the 9th running of the MBNA America Challenge Championships.

The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Anaheim, California with registration opening on Wednesday, Oct. 17. The MBNA Challenge Championships, which include six championship races and six undercard stakes events for nearly $1 million in purses, will be held on Saturday night, Oct. 20 at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Various social events will take place during the conference in addition to a golf tournament, awards ceremony, racing scholarship auction and various meetings.

A new forum on drug testing and race day medication will take place on Friday morning at 10 a.m. at the Hyatt.

Following the forum a luncheon will be held for owners of the horses competing in Saturday night's races and AQHA Members. During the lunch presentations will be made to honor the 2001 winners of the AQHA Sprint, Simulcast, Gordon Crone, Millie Vessels and Special Achievement Awards.

Meetings also will be held Friday afternoon for the American Quarter Horse Racetrack Association and the American Quarter Horse Racing Affiliates.

On Saturday morning the AQHA Racing Committee will meet at the Hyatt. Following the meeting at noon is the MBNA Challenge Championships Owner's Recognition Luncheon and AQHA Racing Scholarship Auction. The scholarship auction will include silent auction items as well as a new event called the "Gold Rush." Funds raised will towards scholarships for youth interested in racing.

There are currently 30 racing scholarship recipients who will be awarded a total of $24,000 in educational funds. The AQHA Racing Council selects students based on academics, horse involvement and pursuit of careers in racing or the equine industry.

For a complete schedule of events for both the AQHA Racing Conference and the MBNA America Challenge Championships visit AQHA's official racing Web site, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal Online at www.aqha.com/racing. Registrations may be made online or at the door. For additional questions please call the AQHA Racing Department at (806) 376-4811.