Arizona Classic Derby 2024 Rules

This course requires a tough bird on the Final - birds that can survive the Summer and fly in desert conditions despite the early fast training races which allow the birds to be conditioned properly and have a high probability of getting to the tough Final. 2022/2023 Late Hatch (397 initial entries, after settling/training/Activation Race - 300, 264 went to Final, Speeds 1638-1529-1483-1394 ypm).

Accepting Birds February 5th, 2024 through August 5, 2024 (including replacements)

100-120-140-190-320 mile series in December 2024. Trophies for ALL 1st in clock winners and Avg Speed.

Perch Fees - $100 per bird due September 1st  OR  $150 per bird AFTER 120 mile Activation Race.

Perch Fees are due for only settled birds - you do not pay for lost birds off the loft.

Entry fees - $325 per bird due AFTER the 120 mile Activation Race

Payout 1st drop, then clocking order.
Payout on the Final Race limited to 10% of birds shipped to the Final.
OPTIONAL $500 High Roller Average Speed entry (40/30/20/10 split).
OPTIONAL 400 mile race 10 days after the Final - $150 entry.

Fly your remaining birds as Old Birds 2025 on our tough Federation course free up to 540 miles.

ALL decisions by the OLR manager are Final – by entering the race you agree to this.

Dates, Distances could be adjusted depending on weather, and any other unforeseen situation in the best interest of the birds and safety of all.
Any unpaid bird by due dates will be offered to others – new buyer will obtain ownership.

MINIMUM Training Schedule - All tosses above 50 miles published onWincompanion and ALL tosses on Benzing Live (link provided). We also train BETWEEN RACES ~!

2-5-10-15-25-35-50-50-50-50-75-75-75-90 before 1st race (PLUS)

Best Regards

Steve

As a reminder, there is NO 2023/2024 Yearling Race. We have moved back to regular format for a regular 2024 YB race series - accepting birds in Januar 2024 for November 2024 races.

On a personal note, we have opened our loft for some 2023 youngbirds that we can fly in our Arizona Federation in October 2023. Some have taken advantage of this - next week is the last opportunity for you to ship some youngsters for us to fly locally for you.

Regards

Return Shipping:

Several of you got ahead of me before I had a chance to post-  Return shipping is $60 per bird (add $10 for each extra bird). I did get 8 -boxes shipped out Wednesday morning. Next week Monday 15 - Wed 17 I am out of town so will not be able to ship until the following week.

Remaining Birds:

Other remaining birds will be flown in Old Birds on our Federation South East course in February.

2023 Old Birds was a rough one on our toughest NW course where none of the remaining birds came back from the 540 mile race. Here is the link to the race results before the Final for the birds that made it to that point.

Races | ARPU National Database (pigeon-ndb.com)

Choose An Organization  "Arizona Federation" 

Choose a Race "4-8-2023" Peacock Mountain 

Look under Loft "Irish Syndicate"

Prize money:

Still waiting on a few inbound checks

Race: 2nd Peacock MT Date: 04/08/2023 Station: PEACOCK MOUNTAIN, AZ 37 Lofts / 609 Birds

Super Congrats to all and to the 1st drop of 3 birds (Pegasus - Dan Coury, Sienna Loft - Joe Erato, Sooner Challenge - Rex Urbany) that were 5 mins out front of the 2nd group of 4. 3rd in the clock hung out extra - luckily went in before the 2nd drop arrived and will be counted as 1st drop.

After postponing the 200 due to 100 degree temps in favor of lower temps that led to a blowhome and a relatively easy race, we decided to keep the Final as scheduled. Due to a relatively quick turnaround, we only saw 112 birds today on what should have been an easy race with SW winds 10-15+ (which is effectively a tailwind on this course). The alternative would have been to rest up some more and possibly a 40+ bird drop so the added element slowed the returns today IMO.

There is the same confusion every year on the Wincompanion Approximate Speed calculation - that calculation is 1 hour off due to probably an incorrect time zone setting (nothing I can do on my side). The correct actual speeds are shown next to each bird - simply do the math and prove that to yourself (distance / time * 1760 ypm).

There will be no 400 this year as we are running out of good temperature days to host that.

There will be no late hatch acceptance for 2023 - we are moving to a YB 2024 series with acceptance in Feb 2024. Too many complications with late hatches, last rounds being weaker, double moult issues, major medication routines for health, etc..etc. Our race has been a low budget, low cost ($80 perch fee) with no frills, no white glove/white table cloth treatment, no staff to cater to your every need. By design, we keep cost down by avoiding all these bells and whistles. We will keep it that way but will change the Perch Fee structure to have perch/entry fees due after the 100mile activation race.

If you absolutely want us to test some of your super healthy late hatches in 2023, we will fly them in our local Federation races in October - December. There are some small money race options where your birds can participate. However I will need those birds in May 2023.

That's all the reflections for today.... Thanks

BEST of LUCK ~~!!

Lunch (Filipino food) served at 11:30 ..... txt msg for loft address (it's different from mailing address).

TENTATIVE PAYOUT (Based on all checks clearing and some funds still incoming)

 Free Perch Fee is for our intake in February 1, 2024.

4:30pm Update: Congrats to the 30+ on the drop. 1st in clock Nathan Plantado (AZ Fed President) - with a nice trophy. Winds have picked up to 20-25mph and temperatures are over 90 - so that shut things off in a hurry... hope to see some more make it in early morning. Any bird that is deemed unable to compete due to late arrival will be refunded if already paid.

Flying from release into 56 degrees - 72 degrees at arrival today is much better than last Sunday's 100 high temp. Of course, with the cooler temps means the birds got a lot of help from the 10-15mph SouthWest winds which is the ideal wind for this course - not pushing them past the loft but keeping them to the North which is more favorable for returns. Today was special to see the birds streaming in - in the words of my late mentor Al Coury (who taught me this course in 2006), this is a raceway Son that funnels the birds on line and if you can see the second hand on your watch, let them up ~~!

Using the same decision making process, due to the relative easy race, we will do Saturday 6th May Final as planned. The conditions will be even cooler (the lowest of this week) than today with a predicted high of 84, a low of 55 and sunrise at 5:33am - it cannot get much better than that - and SouthWest winds 10-15 mph AGAIN ~!!! 

Headcount for food on Saturday please ..... and get those entry $  in before we have to offer them to others ~!

Regards

Due to temperature highs of 100 on Sunday, we have decided to move the race to possibly Monday (if temps/winds dip back down) or Tuesday (our 1st choice). We want to give the birds a fair chance of making it home by 85 degrees well before the heat shuts them down.  Tuesday at 12PM is estimated at 85 degrees and birds should be home well before that. The entry fees deadline will remain in place by May 3rd (at least a notification that funds are on the way).

Birds will be on a short toss to keep them loose in addition to the daily loft flying~

Some have already started to send in entry fees - THank you ~!

Entry fees ($325 per bird) are due after the next race by Wednesday MAY 3rd. Without this, I will NOT make a PRIZE LIST ~!

WE WILL SELL ANY BIRD THAT IS NOT PAID BY THAT DATE - YOU MUST LET US KNOW BY WEDNESDAY MAY 3 RD ***********************************************************************************************************************

I AM SURE I WILL GET THE USUAL SUSPECTS THAT PRETEND THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW - AND IT WILL SURPRISE YOU WHO IS ON THIS LIST ~!!!

Options are:

(1) Paypal (FRIENDS AND FAMILY): stephenfurlonge@yahoo.com

(2) Zelle: (480) 215-4255

(3) Mail - LEAST PREFERRED METHOD as I have to clear the checks (need to let me know they are mailed - otherwise I will sell the birds).

Arizona Classic Derby, 965 E Desert Lane GILBERT AZ 85234

Any bird that does not make the Final Basketing list will be refunded (with the same payment method) immediately.

There are some birds whose owners have not sent in Perch Fees - these birds will be available for ($90 PERCH + Entry Fee = $415). Unpaid birds belong to Arizona Classic Derby - and we will do whatever we need to do to recoup lost fees ~~! Purchaser will retain ALL RIGHTS, ownership and 100% of prize money for any activated bird.

Congrats to the winners today  - 14 on the 1st drop. We started the day at 59 degrees and by Noon at 83 degrees topping out at 87 degrees. As such the late arrivals stopped off somewhere and we will hopefully see the stragglers trickle in by early morning. Birds made good time with the light winds along the course with first arrivals around 71 degrees - so plenty of time to fly in the cooler morning temps. We have to monitor the rising temps this weekend and make some decisions regarding the next race - stay tuned.