Thanksgiving Day at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City signals the start of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show being held through December 4. The NRHA kicked-off its first day of competition on Thursday with the first go, first section of the $170,000 added NRHA Open Futurity featuring the world’s most talented three-year-old reining horses and riders in five open divisions.

Always Gotyer Gunsup and Two Million Dollar Rider Tim McQuay, Tioga, Texas jumped to the top of the leader board with a 222.5. The duo currently leads the NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open and the Prime Time divisions. The Gunner mare, owned by McQuay Stables, has already won the John Deere Futurity and Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity earlier this year with McQuay’s daughter Mandy McCutcheon in the saddle.

NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida and Brett Stone tied for second place in the Level 4 Open division by scoring a 221.5. Flarida rode Quistador, a Conquistador Whiz stallion owned by Augustine and Gaynia Revenberg of Oldcastle, Ontario, Canada.

 Stone marked the 221.5 aboard Smoking Whiz, a stallion by Topsail Whiz owned by Silver Spurs Equine of Cave Creek, Arizona. The duo also leads the Level 3 and 2 Open divisions.

In the Level 1 Open division, Jake Telford, took the lead after scoring a 215.5 aboard Hes Shinettes CD. The stallion by CD Olena is owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses of Santa Ynez, California.

The $1.9 million show features the Open Futurity Finals on Saturday, December 4 when one entry is guaranteed a check for $125,000 as well as incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners and award sponsors. The NRHA / Cinch Non Pro Futurity offers an additional $105,000 in added money for non pro reiners, which will be awarded on Friday, December 3.

Watch the live webcast, keep tabs on the leaders and find out about the latest news and upcoming events at www.nrhafuturity.com, www.facebook.com/nrhareining or www.twitter.com/nrha.

The NRHA would like to thank the following corporate partners for their support of the 2010 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show: Adequan®; Arenus, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cimarron Trailers; Cinder Lakes Ranch and Reproduction Center; Classic Equine; Horse&Rider; John Deere; Kiser Arena Specialists; Markel Insurance Company; MD Barns; Montana Silversmiths; Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau; Pard’s Western Shop; Platinum Performance; Purina Mills; Quarter Horse News; Rios of Mercedes / Anderson Bean Boot Company; Rocky Mountain Clothing Co.; SmartPak, and Wimpys Little Step.

Incorporated in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association is the standard setting body of the sport of Reining. NRHA, with their International Headquarters in Oklahoma City, is responsible for promoting the sport of Reining and working to ensure the highest standards of competition.

For more information on the NRHA, or the sport of Reining, please visit nrha.com or call (405) 946-7400.

Place / Rider / Horse / Score / Owner / Hometown – 1st Go, Current Leaders

Level 4 Open

1 / Tim McQuay / Always Gotyer Gunsup / 222.5 / McQuay Stables / Tioga, TX 2T / Shawn Flarida / Quistador / 221.5 / Augustine (Gus) & Gaynia Revenberg / Ontario, Canada 2T / Brett Stone / Smoking Whiz / 221.5 / Silver Spurs Equine / Cave Creek, AZ

Level 3 Open

1 / Brett Stone / Smoking Whiz / 221.5 / Silver Spurs Equine / Cave Creek, AZ

2 / Todd Sommers / This Cat Can Slide / 221 / Cat Can Slide Partnership / Whitesboro, TX

3 / Troy Heikes / Whole Lota Jac / 219.5 / Gwendy Steif / Kildecr, IL

Level 2 Open

1 / Brett Stone / Smoking Whiz / 221.5 / Silver Spurs Equine / Cave Creek, AZ

2 / Thiago Boechat / Wimpyneedsacocktail / 217 / Prudencio Flores / Guadalupe, Mexico

3 / Jerry Fowler / Mr Wizzelena / 215.5 / Jery Fowler / Polson, MT

3 / Jake Telford / Hes Shinettes CD / 215.5 / Holy Cow Performance Horses / Santa Ynez, CA

Level 1 Open

1 / Jake Telford / Hes Shinettes CD / 215.5 / Holy Cow Performance Horses / Santa Ynez, CA

2 / Zane Haverty / Who Whiz Who / 215 / Clint Haverty / Krum, TX

3 / Jonathan Gauthier / Great Quintana / 214.5 / Francois Gauthier / Lucama, NC

3 / Todd Wright / Coffee Whiz It / 214.5 / Gene McGill / Skiatook, OK