Patrick Flaherty left the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, Oklahoma, three titles and $12,101 richer. The Arizona trainer had ridden Golden Secret Weapon to win the Southwest Reining Horse Association Billingsley Open Futurity Levels 1, 2, and 3.

Flaherty and Golden Secret Weapon, by Easy Hollywood Buck out of Tardys Golden Dance, competed in the first set of Open Finals for Levels 1-3, marking a 220. That score clinched the Level 1 and 2 Championship.

“She was pretty good everywhere. She really locked in and was just perfect. She did everything with a draped rein,” Flaherty said. “She really ran and drug her butt – that’s where she’s really good. You can push her as hard as you want.”

But there were nine other Open Level 3 entries who also qualified for the Level 4 Open, so when Scott McCutcheon and BH Is Packin Heat also marked a 222, he and Flaherty decided on a run-off. When the scores were tabulated, Flaherty and “SW” were declared the Level 3 Open Champions.

Flaherty got SW to train in August of 2010. “Bobby Logan from Utah started her and owned her. Lois Whittington then bought her and I brought her along,” he explained.

SW was unregistered until after a successful showing at Reining By The Bay. “Quarter Horse News was asking about her breeding and other stuff about her, so we went through a lot to get her registered. We have her papers now,” Flaherty noted. Because SW was never enrolled in the National Reining Horse Association’s Foal Nomination Program, she won’t be competing in Oklahoma City at the NRHA Futurity. “She’s not eligible for some of those events, but we wanted to do the Futurity stuff. We just came here to show her and try to win the Limited since I won’t be eligible in that division next year. That was our goal and I’m glad we accomplished it.”

Finishing Reserve in both divisions was Bobby Barko and Kachina Whiz Olena with a 221.5. The Reserve titles netted owner Lance Griffin $2,071, a pair of Anderson Bean boots, and a $100 SmartPak gift certificate. Kachina Whiz Olena is by Topsail Whiz out of Kachina Oak Olena.

Built in 1937, the historic Hardy Murphy Coliseum has been a mainstay as an Ardmore tourist attraction. Primarily designed to host horse and livestock shows, recent renovations to the facility have given it the flexibility to host even more events. Along with the space upgrades that allow the facility to stall 500 horses, the addition of air conditioning provides Hardy Murphy with the competitive ability to attract national and regional events. The renovations have resulted in a premier competitive equine facility.

For more information on the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity, or to inquire about the SWRHA, please call 580-759-2929, or visit www.swrha.com