Reiners gathered at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City to celebrate the 40th consecutive running of the NRHA Futurity. The celebration began early in the draw as Shawn Flarida scored a 223 on KR Lil Conquistador owned by Cheree Kirkbride, Ocala, Florida. Hot off his victory in the All American Quarter Horse Congress Reining Futurity on this three-year-old son of Conquistador Whiz and out of Smart Little Prize, Shawn caught the judge’s attention immediately as he aggressively entered the show pen to run straight and pure to his first stop and rollback. The remaining maneuvers in Shawn’s NRHA Pattern #1 followed suit.
Tanya Jenkins scored a 222.5 on Las Cruces Whiz owned by Manntana LLC, Las Vegas, Nevada, to place second in the First Go, First Section of the Open Division and to take the lead in the Intermediate Open Division. Las Cruces Whiz is a three-year-old gelding sired by Topsail Whiz and out of Shining Bubbles. Andy Johnson earned a 217.5 to place second in the Intermediate Open standings on day #1. Andy rode Sugar Bars Taffy, a filly by Jac Be Quick (AQHA Sugar Bar Buckaroo) and out of Colonel Taffy Badger owned by Troop Quarter Horses, Marietta, Oklahoma.
Casey Deary and Martin Muehlstaetter both scored a 215.5 to go to the head of the class in the Limited Open Division. Casey rode Ciscos Roan Ranger by Cisco Lena and out of Changabang owned by Alison and Harry Courtice of Weatherford, Texas. Martin rode Hollywood China Chic by Hollywood Dun It and out of Smart China Doll owned by Terri Hendricks, Tioga, Texas, and Karen Adair, Mesa, Arizona.
The first go round of the NRHA Open Futurity continues through Sunday, November 27, with the second go round starting on Monday, November 28. The clean slate Open Division Finals is scheduled for Saturday evening, December 3. The winner is guaranteed $125,000!
While the 40th Anniversary NRHA Futurity is the high-profile event of the 2005 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show, the National Reining Horse Association will host the $50,000 added Cinch/NRHA Non Pro Futurity, a full-slate of NRHA sanctioned classes each with a North American Affiliate Championship Division, an FEI CRIO International competition, three premium sales and a host of special events including the annual Clinton Anderson Downunder Clinic slated for Saturday, December 3, at 10:00 am.
