Oklahoma City, OK – November 27, 2008 – A traditional Thanksgiving to most includes watching football with the family after eating a bit too much turkey and dressing. However to Reining enthusiasts, Thanksgiving is the first day of the NRHA Futurity & Adequan^® North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) Show – the largest NRHA-approved show in the world. The 2008 NRHA Futurity & NAAC Show kicked off Thursday, November 27 at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, OK.

 

This year’s NRHA Futurity witnessed a whopping 57% increase with 930 total nominations. Additionally, final qualified entries totaled 628 for an 18% increase over 2007. Open entries represented 455 of the total while there are 173 Non Pro entries.

 

The First Go, 1^st Section of the NRHA Open Futurity began early Thursday morning with the first 129 horses in the draw. NRHA One Million Dollar Rider Craig Schmersal and NRHA Professional Todd Crawford emerged as the leaders with dual scores of 221.5. Schmersal, of Overbrook, Okla., rode Barry Waack’s Chics Blazin Spark (Jacs Electric Spark x HR Smart Little Sam). Blanchard, Oklahoma’s Crawford matched the 221.5 on Clinton Anderson’s Shiny Hot Pants (Shining Spark x Eyed Be A Princess).

 

Electric Code and Jared Laclair are tied for the lead in the First Go, 1^st Section of the Intermediate Open Division with Chroniz Feather and Matt Flarida with a 217.5. Leclair, of Pilot Point, Tex., was aboard L and D Partnership’s Electric Code (Jacs Electric Spark x Hot Coded Candy). Midway, Ohio’s Flarida brought in the tie score with Jay Clutter’s Chroniz Feather (Chronic Whiz x Little Patsy Doll).

 

At the end of the first day of the NRHA Futurity, Miss Smokin Rose is leading the pack in the Limited Open Division. Randall Dooley, of Carbondale, Colo., marked a 212 on K.C. Belcher’s mare by Topsail Whiz and out of Glendas A Smokingun. Sebastian Petroll and Steve Tieche’s Lucky Lil Dun It (Hollywood Dun It x Majors Serendipity) scored a half-point behind the leader with a 211.5.

 

In the Gelding Incentive Division, Oh Yes Oh Jay (Smart Like Juice x Tenino To Pay) and Dan Huss are 4.5 points ahead on the leaderboard with a 212. The gelding is owned by Elizabeth Barnard.

 

This weekend’s slate of Reining features tough competition, educational opportunities and heart-warming exchanges. Friday morning brings the First Go, 2nd Section of the Open Futurity. Saturday includes other Futurity highlights such as the Stacy Westfall Clinic – “Teaching Whoa” and “Basic Body Control.” The clinic begins at 11 a.m. in the Adequan Championship Arena. Admission for adults is $25 and youth (18 and under) admission is FREE.

 

Also scheduled for Saturday is the 4R Performance Horses Celebrity Slide, organized by the Reining Horse Sports Foundation, benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Oklahoma. The Celebrity Slide features a host of celebrities who will receive Reining tips from an all-star line up of NRHA Million Dollar Riders and top NRHA competitors - and their young friends from Make-A-Wish. The event starts at 7 p.m. with an autograph session and VIP reception following. 

 

The second week of the NRHA Futurity & Adequan^® North American Affiliate Championship Show features the $100,000 added FEI World Reining Masters, an Invitational Freestyle competition, the Performance Horse Rookie of the Year, and three exceptional horse sales sponsored by Markel Insurance.