By Katie Hendrickson – NRHA Reiner Assistant Editor

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) proudly presents the 2011 NRHA Derby Show at Oklahoma State Fair Park June 27 – July 2. The Derby is one of two major events presented by NRHA each year in Oklahoma City. It is the Association’s premiere event for the world’s best four, five and six-year-old reining horses, their exhibitors and their owners.

The Derby is the third-largest NRHA-approved event in the world and hosts the $155,000-added Open Derby and $87,500-added Non Pro Derby. The show offers two slates of ancillary competition awarding prized Montana Silversmith buckles and NRHA trophies, as well as guaranteeing $50,000 to the winner of the NRHA Derby Level 4 Open division champion. Nearly 130 horses entered the Coliseum Arena today in the first go, first section of the NRHA Open Derby.

Custom Cash Advance (Custom Crome x Cash In Roan) and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Duane Latimer posted the score to beat: a 226. The five-year-old stallion with over $95,000 in NRHA earnings is owned by Luga, LLC of Ardmore, Okla. The duo currently leads the go-round and the $80,000-added NRHA Derby Level 4 Open division.

Jay McLauglin and A Shiner Named Sioux earned a 223 to claim the top score in the $50,000-added Level 3 Open division. The five-year-old stallion by Shining Spark and out of Docs Sulena is owned by Carol Rose of Gainesville, Tex.

Robert Avila, Jr. rode Skeets Peppy Dot Com (Skeets Peppy x Jessie Dot Tari) to a 222.5 and the duo now leads the $15,000-added Level 2 Open for owner Vaughn Zimmerman of Springfield, Mo. The NRHA Professional and the four-year-old mare also sit second in the Level 3 Open division.

Chexy Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Chicks And Chex) and Melanie Wilhelm marked a 222 to gain the early lead in the $5,000-added Level 1 Open division. The six-year-old mare is owned by Michelle George of Amarillo, Tex.

In the $5,000-added Prime Time Open division, Dan Huss and Charisma N Chrome lead with a handicapped score of 223.5. The Custom Crome mare out of Miss Sissy Gun is owned by Marc Gordon of Elgin, Ill.

The NRHA Derby Show welcomes horse enthusiasts from all backgrounds and interest levels. The first four days of the competition are free to the public making it an excellent option for the whole family. The event also offers many activities outside of the show ring such as a trade show with more than 50 vendors from around the country, NRHA Collegiate Reining Championship, NRHA Interscholastic Reining Championship, NRHA Awards & Hall of Fame Banquet, Cimarron Trailers Amazing Trailer Race and much more.

Competition continues tomorrow at the NRHA Derby Show with the first go, second section of the $155,000-added NRHA Open Derby. Later in the day, non pros will take to the arena in the $87,500-added NRHA Non Pro Derby first go, first section. A dozen ancillary classes will be held in the AdequanR Championship Arena from the Green Reiner Level 1 and Rookie Level 1 to AQHA Amateur and APHA Amateur.

Plenty of fun outside of the arena is in store at the NRHA Derby Show, as well. Read below for more information.

SmartPakT Exhibitor Party – The SmartPak Exhibitor Party will be held on Tuesday, June 28 at 7 p.m. in the Arena 3 Cabana. NRHA Corporate Partner SmartPak will host the “Put the Scoop Down” Feeding Challenge where NRHA Professionals will battle the clock for great prizes. The festivities also will include the 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, NRHyA Dunk Tank and lots of fun for the whole family.

Stay Up-To-Date – For the latest news from the NRHA Derby Show, be sure to follow NRHA on Facebook and Twitter. Score updates, event reminders and video will be posted daily to keep reiners around the world informed as the news develops. In addition, NRHA will post the top three runs of the day from the NRHA Open Derby and NRHA Non Pro Derby go rounds and finals. Visit nrhaderby.com daily to watch the runs at your convenience 24/7.

The NRHA would like to thank the following corporate partners for their support: AdequanR; Arenus, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cimarron Trailers; Cinder Lakes Ranch and Reproduction Center; Classic Equine; Darling 888 Ranch; Horse&Rider; John Deere; Kiser Arena Specialists; Markel Insurance Company; MD Barns; Merial; 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 Company; Silver Spurs Equine; SmartPak and Xtra Quarter Horses, plus Event Sponsors Back on Track, Cool-A-Zone, Fowler Dodge, Scott Cleaners, Shorty’s Caboy Hattery and Metro Golf Cars.

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. To learn more about the NRHA, its programs and family of corporate partners, visit www.nrha.com.