Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A longtime New York State Fair tradition is ending this year after barrel racing competitors pulled out over a new safety policy that limits vehicle access on the fairgrounds.
For decades, barrel racing has been part of the fair, with competitors bringing horses onto the grounds to unload, stable and prepare for events. Tammy VanEtten, director of NBHA NY-O7, said the group has attended the fair for more than two decades. “We’ve been going to the fair 20-plus years,” VanEtten said.
That run will stop this year, according to the New York State Barrel Horse Association, which said new traffic policies make it impractical to participate. Under the policy, private and vendor vehicles are prohibited from driving inside the fairgrounds between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. each day.
VanEtten said the group learned about the change months ago. “We were told a couple months ago,” she said. “What they’re asking is unreasonable.”
FULL STORY: cnycentral.com/news/local/barrel-racers-pull-out-of-new-york-state-fair-over-new-vehicle-safety-policy
_______________
Visit cnycentral.com for the news that matters most to Central New Yorkers.
Stay up to date with our social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/cnycentral
Twitter: twitter.com/cnycentral
Instagram: instagram.com/cnycentral
WSTM and WSTQ are Syracuse-based stations, NBC and CW Television affiliates, owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. Sinclair also operates WTVH a CBS affiliate for Syracuse under a JSA/SSA agreement with Granite Broadcasting. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today.
#CNYCentral #WSTM #WSTQ #WTVH #Syracuse
A longtime New York State Fair tradition is ending this year after barrel racing competitors pulled out over a new safety policy that limits vehicle access on the fairgrounds.
For decades, barrel racing has been part of the fair, with competitors bringing horses onto the grounds to unload, stable and prepare for events. Tammy VanEtten, director of NBHA NY-O7, said the group has attended the fair for more than two decades. “We’ve been going to the fair 20-plus years,” VanEtten said.
That run will stop this year, according to the New York State Barrel Horse Association, which said new traffic policies make it impractical to participate. Under the policy, private and vendor vehicles are prohibited from driving inside the fairgrounds between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. each day.
VanEtten said the group learned about the change months ago. “We were told a couple months ago,” she said. “What they’re asking is unreasonable.”
FULL STORY: cnycentral.com/news/local/barrel-racers-pull-out-of-new-york-state-fair-over-new-vehicle-safety-policy
_______________
Visit cnycentral.com for the news that matters most to Central New Yorkers.
Stay up to date with our social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/cnycentral
Twitter: twitter.com/cnycentral
Instagram: instagram.com/cnycentral
WSTM and WSTQ are Syracuse-based stations, NBC and CW Television affiliates, owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. Sinclair also operates WTVH a CBS affiliate for Syracuse under a JSA/SSA agreement with Granite Broadcasting. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today.
#CNYCentral #WSTM #WSTQ #WTVH #Syracuse
