2025 RULES

• 2025 Perch Fee: $150/ bird due upon arrival – NON-REFUNDABLE. Any pigeon sent without perch fees can be sold at the owner's discretion.
• One reserve bird is allowed for every five birds sent! (If sending under five, no reserve bird.) The Reserve Bird will automatically take the perch of any lost bird. If replacement birds are still needed, they must be shipped by June 18th. Get birds in early!!
• Entry Fee: $375 Activation Fee/ Bird due after the activation trainer. Any bird not returning from the activation race will have an activation fee credited for future perch fees.
• Accepting birds Feb 17th – LAST DAY TO SHIP Birds, Tue June 3rd, 2025.
• It is Recommended for PMV vaccination 14-21 days before arrival at the Tar Heel Classic Loft. Please note if you did or did not vaccinate and the date and type of vaccine used when sending birds.  We will pmv, pox, and salmonella vaccinate all the birds.
• Perch Fees must accompany birds upon arrival. Failure to send perch fee with the birds may result in the birds' immediate sale or non-entry into the system.
• Training will begin around October 1st when temperatures are cool to allow the pigeons the greatest chances for success (exact date to be determined by John Ward).
• Training and Races will be a South Course on I 95.
• Activation Trainer approx date Nov 1st. All birds completing the activation trainer must pay the “Activation Fee” of $375 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 the buyer's property, and the breeder relinquishes all rights to the bird and any prize money. All birds on the team must be activated. It is an “All or Nothing” activation.
• FOR SALE BIRDS: They can be activated at any time until Hot Spot #1. Once the activation fee is paid, the bird becomes eligible for future prizes.
• Breeders make the Activation Payment within 5 days of Activation Trainer.
• After the Activation Trainer, email and website updates with payment information, including payment methods and deadlines, will be posted.
• Race Series will consist of 5 races. (Activation trainer does not count towards Average Speed.)
• The Grand Finale Race can be shortened or lengthened depending on weather conditions as deemed fit by the race manager (John Ward).
• All prize money is based on the actual number of paid activations after the activation trainer. Prizes will increase or decrease based on the actual number of activations paid. A new payout will be posted once all activations are in. Note: ANY ACTIVATIONS OVER 1000 PAID ENTRIES WILL HAVE 80% OF ENTRY MONIES ADDED TO PRIZES ON TOP OF THE $300,000 IN PRIZES Prizes must be claimed by Dec 30, 2025.
• Tar Heel Classic LLC is not responsible for any loss of birds due to illness, injury, or failure to return from training or races.
• FINISH LINE.  The birds are clocked when they go up onto the stall trap platform.  The platform is the finish line not passing through the bobs!  The antenna is located under the stall's platform.  Birds will be clocked before passing through the bobs.  Once a bird goes up onto the platform and is clocked, they are considered finished, regardless if the pigeon passes through the bobs or not.
• FINAL RACE ONLY!   The arrival of the first pigeons together will be considered a drop and paid equally – (if 4 pigeons arrive together – the top 4 prizes will be added together and split evenly among the first 4 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.
• Hotspot Races 1, 2, and 3 will be paid by clocking order.
• There is no dead time during races, the clock will keep running until the race is finished.
• Race Day is over 1 hr. after sunset on the 2nd day of release. Any remaining prizes to be paid out will be divided equally amongst the returned birds.
• If two or more birds show in the clock as exact ties, prizes will be added up and split equally among the birds that tied.
• If the bird does not clock due to piggyback or clock/chip malfunction and Tar Heel Classic Staff verifies the bird in the drop it will be placed last in the drop order.
• John Ward will settle any unforeseen circumstances. 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 the breeder's expense. The prize money would be divided equally for the remaining races among pigeons still competing.
• NO BETTING, POOLING, WAGERING, ALLOWED!
• Ace pigeons will be verified by the clock, computed on total distance/total time.
• Average Speed will determine the Ace Pigeon Champion Birds and will include Hotspot Races 1, 2, 3, and the Grand Finale race.
• Breeders/Fanciers winning over $600 in prizes will be required to provide a W9 form to Tar Heel Classic.
• 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).
• All birds being returned after races to the breeder will be required to have shipping expenses paid by the breeder/fancier. Shipping expenses will be determined per breeder due to recent increases in shipping fees within the United States Postal Service.
• Tar Heel Classic WILL NOT HOLD CHECKS for payments of perch fees or activation.

Any Check returned NSF will be charged a $35.00 NSF Fee.

• Tar Heel Classic is not responsible for processing fees for the use of PayPal (4% Fee added) or Zelle (1% Fee added). The use of PayPal and Zelle is a convenience set up by Tar Heel Classic Race LLC for those who choose to use them. Processing Fees are Non-Refundable.
• Tar Heel Classic will not make changes to loft names after May 31st.  NO EXCEPTIONS.
• When signing up for a team or syndicate, 1 person must be designated as the contact person.
• All birds being returned after races to the breeder will be required to have shipping expenses paid for by the breeder/fancier. Shipping expenses will be determined per breeder due to recent increases in shipping fees within the United States Postal Service.
• Tar Heel Classic is not responsible for delayed/lost shipping within the USPS System and will not file for a shipping refund if not delivered on time.
• All Birds Returning Home Must Be Claimed within 7 DAYS of the final race in writing via email.  After 7 days, birds will become the property of Tar Heel Classic LLC.
• Birds will not be shipped home until after the Grand Finale race.  All birds will be shipped to the registered name on Benzing Live OLR whether it is a Partnership, Syndicate, etc.  We will not divide teams to go to multiple people or ship multiple lofts together.