The field of 101 Open entries at the 2010 National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby was narrowed to twenty after a grueling round of competition at the Paso Robles Event Center in Paso Robles, California. Over the first four days of the show, top 4- and 5-year-old cow horses vied for a slot in the clean-slate finals on Sunday, June 20, where the Open Champion will be awarded a check for approximately $40,000.

Leading the Open field advancing to the finals is Todd Crawford, who piloted Shiners Nickle (Shining Spark x Shesa Lota Nic) to a 653.5 composite for Michelle Cannon of Venus, Texas. Crawford, who is an NRCHA Million Dollar Rider, also made the finals on Playguns Courage (Playgun x Badge Of Courage), owned by Circle Y Ranch, and Shiney Senorita (Shining Spark x Tarizana), owned by Garth and Amanda Gardiner.

The top 20 plus ties advanced to the Open finals, with the bubble score at 643.5. The magic number for the 11 Intermediate Open riders who also earned a finals berth was a 630.5. Advancing to the Limited Open finals took a score of 623.5.

The Open and Intermediate Open Novice Horse division was won by Russell Dilday and Just Plain Hip, owned by Jim and Linda Schrack of Selma, California. Dilday and Just Plain Hip (Hickorys Indian Pep x Miss Plain Plain) collected $1,560 in the Open Novice Horse, and an additional $1,120 in the Intermediate Open Novice Horse.

Anne Reynolds topped the Non Pro division leader board on Shiney And Verysmart, the horse she rode to the Non Pro title just months earlier at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. Reynolds and Shiney And Verysmart, by Very Smart Remedy out of Shirley Shine, had a 648.5 composite in the preliminary round.

Eight Non Pro riders will compete in the finals on Sunday, and it took a 637.5 in the Non Pro division to earn a finals berth, while the top five Intermediate Non Pro riders advanced to the finals with a bubble score of 626.5.

Complete results can be found at www.nrcha.com.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, now in its 61st year, is the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Markel Insurance Company, Wide World of Horses, John Deere, AdequanR, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Quarter Horse News, Pfizer Animal Health, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and EQUIOXX, Running W Designs, and the Silver Legacy Hotel, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.