(Grand Prairie, Texas - Friday, November 6, 2015) - It's been a year in the making, and it's finally here! The world's fastest athletes will be at Lone Star Park this weekend as the Grand Prairie, Texas racetrack plays host to the 23rd Bank of America Challenge Championships. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, with a first race post time of 6:35 p.m. for each night's 10-race program. Times are (CT).

The traveling Championships for American Quarter Horses - a two-night, million-dollar extravaganza - is often called Quarter Horse racing's "Super Bowl", with a total of 11 stakes races, five of which are graded championship races for the sport's divisions: older horses, females, two-year-olds, three-year-olds, distance horses and claiming horses.

The centerpiece is the Grade 1, $350,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship for three-year-olds and up at the classic 440-yard distance.

This is the fifth time that Lone Star Park has hosted the Challenge Championships. It was last held locally in 2006 before a crowd of 8,126, where more than $1 million was wagered on-track. Another $1+ million was bet at simulcast locations throughout North America.

All told, 11 stakes races will be run over the two Challenge Championships nights. They are:

Friday, November 6
Farnam Stakes, $25,000 Guaranteed, 3-Year-Olds & Up, 440 yards
John Deere Stakes, $25,000 Guaranteed, 3-Year-Olds, 400 yards
Markel Stakes, $25,000 Guaranteed, 2-Year-Olds, 350 yards
AQHA Members Plus Stakes, $25,000 Guaranteed, Fillies and Mares, 3-Year-Olds & Up, 400 yards
Q-Racing Video Stakes, $25,000 Guaranteed, 3-Year-Olds & Up, 870 yards

Saturday, November 7
Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1)
$350,000 Guaranteed, 3-Year-Olds & Older, 440 yards
Adequan Challenge Derby Championship (G1)
$200,000 Guaranteed, 3-Year-Olds, 400 yards
John Deere Challenge Juvenile Championship (G2)
$150,000 Guaranteed, 2-Year-Olds, 350 yards
Merial Distaff Challenge Championship (G1)
$125,000 Guaranteed, Fillies & Mares, 3-Year-Olds & Older, 400 yards
Zoetis Distance Challenge Championship (G1)
$125,000 Guaranteed, 3-Year-Olds & Older, 870 yards
Invitational Bonus Challenge Championship
$75,000 Guaranteed, 3-Year-Olds & Older, 350 yards

Don't miss the pre-race handicapping seminars with Track Handicapper Rick Lee and the AQHA Wrangler Racing Aces on both Friday and Saturday. The Racing Aces are Martha Claussen, Denis Blake, John Hernandez and Jonathan Horowitz. They will be on hand this weekend with in-depth analysis of the Challenge Championship races, Twitter updates @HorseRacingAces, free handicapping information, tips sheets etc. and will answer questions for interested fans.

Fans can also enjoy live music and food trucks on both Friday and Saturday night in our Courtyard of Champions.

Meander through the artwork entered by area school aged children that entered the art contest. All of the art submitted will be on display on the first level of the grandstand. We will be choosing the winner of the contest tomorrow night as well.

On Saturday, the track's Family Fun Park will be open from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on the Bar & Book lawn.