cash prizes for aerc events?

Nancy_E._Smart@NEB.VOA.GOV
2 Dec 96 12:30:03

As many of you probably know, the First Annual Cosequin (sp?) Challenge Endurance race is scheduled for Memorial Day in Ft. Valley, Va. It is offering $30,000 in cash prizes (non-sweepstakes prizes), which apparently is legal under AERC rules as long as there is an AERC steward present.

It would be interesting to know how you on this list feel about cash prizes for an AERC event? Do you think it would change the sport? For better or for worse? Do you think most people ride the big -name endurance races (like the ROC, for instance) for the prizes (as the organizers of this ride have been quoted as saying)? What about it?

I would love to hear some discussion of this issue, which I personally think is a crucial one to our sport.