The National Reining Horse Association’s (NRHA) first Non Pro and first woman to earn one million dollars in NRHA Lifetime Earnings, Mandy McCutcheon, is adding another $23,739.20 to her coffers following the 2007 NRHA Non Pro Derby Finals. McCutcheon, of Aubrey, TX, was presented with a check for $12,224.85 and a host of other prizes after winning the Non Pro Derby Championship with a score of 224.5 on I Spin For Chics (Tangys Classy Peppy x Chics Koko Angel) owned by her father, NRHA’s Leading Lifetime Money Earner, Tim McQuay, from Tioga, TX.
2006 NRHA Non Pro Futurity Champion Kelle Smith, from Belle Center, OH, was awarded the Reserve Champion title and a paycheck of $9,722.15. Smith scored at 222.5 on her JD Conquista Anna (Conquistador Whiz x Hollywood Anna), the mare that carried her to the 2006 NRHA Non Pro Futurity championship.
McCutcheon smiled following the awards ceremony Friday evening at the Oklahoma State Fair Arena. She talked about how Smith edged her out for the 2006 NRHA Non Pro Futurity Championship. In Friday’s Non Pro Derby Finals, Smith was the last draw and McCutcheon says she was very nervous right down to the last second. “When I was standing at the top of the chute watching her go last, my heart was beating pretty fast.”
McCutcheon placed two other horses in the top ten. Dun It Found A Star (Hollywood Dun It x Dont Miss This), tied for third with a score of 220 earning a paycheck of $6,951.32. McCutcheon scored a 217.5 on Dun Its Deja Vu (Hollywood Dun It x Miss Okie Too) to tie for sixth place and earn a paycheck of $4,563.03. Both Dun It Found A Star and Dun Its Deja Vu are owned by McQuay.
The winner of the Intermediate Non Pro Derby Championship and fifth place in the Non Pro Derby is just a teenager, but Carlie McKinzie, from East Wenatchee, WA, is taking home $12,413.38 for her placings on RU Missin Diamonds (Like A Diamond x Missy Olena) owned by her parents, George and Cindy McKinzie, also from East Wenatchee, WA. The 18-year-old scored a 219. McKinzie earned $6,624.03 for the Intermediate Non Pro Derby Championship and $5,789.35 for placing fifth in the Non Pro Derby. This isn’t the first time RU Missin Diamonds has performed beautifully for McKinzie. The pair won the 2005 NRHA Limited Non Pro Derby Championship.
The teen says she switched from barrel racing to Reining six years ago and there was one main reason. “The crowd! I liked the crowd. We had a horse in the NRHA Futurity finals in 2000 and I had no idea what Reining was. I was into barrels and we came to the finals and I saw the intensity and the excitement of the crowd and I fell in love with it,” says McKinzie.
The NRHA Derby is twice as exciting for Kathleen Armenta, from Whitesboro, TX. Armenta won the Intermediate Non Pro Reserve Championship and the Limited Non Pro Championship! Armenta scored a 218.5 on her Custom Twister (Custom Crome x Ms Pines Forty Nine). Armenta will receive a paycheck of $5,267.95 for the Intermediate Non Pro division win and $5,369.20 for her Limited Non Pro Derby Championship. In reserve was Sarah Willeman, Gloucester, MA, riding her Gimme Major Bucks.
The Prime Time Non Pro Champion is James T. Morgan, DVM, of Pilot Point, TX. Dr. Morgan scored a 220 on his Hesa Friendly (Hesa Smart Chic x Seduction) to earn $2,215.60. Robert Thompson, Savannah, TX, was second riding his Angels Mark.
Once the Non Pro Derby Finals were over, the Reining action in the arena was not. The Open ancillary class followed the Non Pro Finals. Justin Mathison, from Tioga, TX, scored 223.5 on Lenas Taxman (Lenas Wright On x Zans Light Sparkles), owned by Bob and Linda Hamilton, from Scottsdale, AZ. Mathison earned a check for $1,898.30.
The competition at the Derby started the day on Friday bright and early with the Limited Non Pro ancillary class. Stephanie Holcomb, from Temecula, CA, won first place with a score of 215.5 on her Peppys Lil Dun It (Hollywood Dun It x Peppys Lenita).
Saturday brings an entire day full of Reining and family fun at the NRHA Derby with the evening’s spectacular entertainment, the Open Derby Finals beginning at 6:00 pm.
If you’re in the market for a reining horse make plans to attend the NRHA/Markel Insurance Spotlight Sale Saturday at 10:00 am. Potential buyers can choose from 60 consignments of yearlings, two-year-olds, three-year-olds, show horses and broodmares. A Champagne Brunch and preview begins at 8:00 am in Barn 6. Then, the NRHA/Markel Insurance Spotlight Sale begins at 10:00 am in Barn 3.
Also on Saturday, there’s lots of fun for kids of all ages. Join the National Reining Horse Youth Association for the NRHyA Youth Day & Derby Block Party. The entire day will be filled with fun for all ages and benefit a worthy cause at the same time. The Block Party is free, but participants are asked to bring non-perishable food items or a monetary donation to benefit the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. The block party begins at 1:00 with a petting zoo, moonwalk, rock climbing wall, a demonstration by the Oklahoma City Mounted Police as well as a Reining demonstration with NRHA Professional John Horn.
