The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show witnessed an electrifying opening day on November 22 with the first go-round, section one of the $540,000 added NRHA Open Futurity. The top-flight event features the world’s most talented 3-year-old reining horses and open riders and is held at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. The show continues through Saturday, December 1.

Sizzling Entries
974 futurity prospects were entered in the 2012 NRHA Futurity with 654 making all payments. Both of these tallies smoked all previous records to be the highest ever seen at the NRHA Futurity. Qualified entries (the number of horses with all payments made) increased 11% over last year (654 vs. 589). The next largest qualified entry total (630) was reached in 2008.

Electrifying Opening Day
Offspring of new NRHA Million Dollar Sire Jacs Electric Spark, Electric Jac and Ref Black Mamba, turned in high-voltage runs to take the top two positions in the open go-round. Electric Jac (out of Katijac Miss by Hollywood Jac 86) and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Tom McCutcheon (Aubrey, Tex.) lead the level 4 open division with a 222. Turnabout Farm Inc. (Gloucester, Mass.) owns the stallion that placed 7th in the level 4 open division at the 2012 Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity (SWRHA) with McCutcheon aboard.

Marking a 221 was Ref Black Mamba (out of Metermaid To Order by Doc O Lena) and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Jordan Larson (Whitesboro, Tex.). The team has earned more than $13,000 this year with strong outings at the High Roller Reining Classic and Rocky Mountain Summer Slide. Rancho El Fortin of Del Rio, Tex. owns the stallion that now sits in the #2 position.

In the level 3 open division, Legacy In Lights (Hit The Lights x Doc Berry Miss by Elderberry Ace) and NRHA Professional Ruben Vandorp (Aubrey, Tex.) moved atop the leader board with a 219. Legacy In Lights, owned by Janet Benson of Valley View, Tex., and Vandorp won the level 4 and level 3 open divisions at the 2012 NRHA Cowtown Classic Pre Futurity.

There was a three-way tie for second in the level 3 open division (218.5): Mr Electric Spark (Jacs Electric Spark x Sailin Rowdy by Rowdy Yankee) and NRHA Professional Tyson Randle for Reining Partners LLC (Kiowa, Colo.); Dunnit Like A Master (Master Snapper x Justanother Dun It by Hollywood Dun It) with Bobby Barko (Ardmore, Okla.) for Impresa Agricola Cuoghi (Modena, Italy); and Ruff Spook (Smart Spook x Ruffle Me Up by Lil Ruf Peppy) and NRHA Professional Brad Giesbrecht (Pilot Point, Tex.) for Don M Byrne (Montgomery, Tex.).

Dunnit Like A Master and Barko lead the level 2 and level 1 open divisions. Earlier this year, they won the level 1 open division and took reserve honors in the level 2 open division at the SWRHA Futurity.

Walla Walla Smarts (Walla Walla Whiz x Ms Peppy Mint Chic by Smart Chic Olena) and NRHA Professional William Bowen earned a 217 for owner Southern Trace Reining of Dublin, Ohio. They are second in the level 2 and level 1 open divisions.

Competition continues on Friday, November 23 with the second section of the first go-round. The second go-round begins on Monday, November 26. Cinch Non Pro Futurity entries take to the arena on Monday as well.

Watch the free live webcast, keep tabs on full results and get the latest news at www.nrhafuturity.com, www.facebook.com/nrhareining or www.twitter.com/nrha.

MORE ABOUT THE SHOW
It’s the most elite reining event in the world with 3,000 entries competing for more than $2 million in cash and prizes. More than 1,300 horses and 127,000 visitors come from nearly 20 countries to compete and watch the excitement unfold. During its 10-day run, the show contributes more than $67 million to the overall Oklahoma City economy.

The show features the $540,000-added NRHA Open Futurity Finals on Saturday, December 1 when the winning entry is guaranteed a check for $150,000, as well as incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners and award sponsors. The NRHA / Cinch Non Pro Futurity offers an additional $260,000 in added money for non pro reiners, which will be awarded on Friday, November 30. Nearly $100,000 in nominator incentive money also will be distributed to those individuals who originally nominated horses to the NRHA Nomination Program, despite whether or not they still own the horse.

SPECTATOR EVENTS

NRHA / Markel Insurance Futurity Sales
Thursday, Nov. 29 through Sat., December 1 / 9:30 a.m. / Sale Arena
FREE PARKING AND ADMISSION
Attend three premier performance horse sales while at the show. The sales feature yearlings, sires and dams of performers, show horses, prospects and 3-year-old reining horses. Total sales of horses last year exceeded $3.65 million.

NRHA $100,000-Added Open World Championship Shootout
Presented by Equine Sports Medicine
Thurs., Nov. 29 / 6:30 p.m. / Coliseum
FREE PARKING – General Admission – $11 / Box Seats – $16
Top reining professionals, both horse and rider, will compete for the estimated paycheck of $30,000 and a shot at the title of NRHA Open World Champion.

NRHA Futurity – Cinch NRHA Non Pro Finals
Fri., Nov. 30 / 9:30 a.m. – Section 1 starts / 12:30 p.m. – Section 2
FREE PARKING – General Admission – $11 / Box Seats – $21
Come watch the world’s best non pro riders compete for nearly $600,000 in cash and prizes. Section 1 of the finals includes Level 1-3 Non Pro and Prime Time Non Pro qualifiers while Section 2 includes Level 4 Non Pro finalists.

4R Performance Horses Hometown Heroes Slide & Freestyle Reining
Featuring Michael Schumacher & Lyle Lovett
Benefitting the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation
Fri., Nov. 30 / 6 p.m. / Coliseum
FREE PARKING – General Admission – $11 / Box Seats – $21
Hometown heroes from local police and fire stations will hop on top of some of NRHA’s fastest spinning and smoothest sliding reining horses – all to benefit the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation! Also during that night’s show, you can see an invitational Freestyle Reining, a crowd favorite where riders are free to express their “style” by performing their own reining pattern to music while both horse and rider are dressed to play the part. Formula 1’s Michael Schumacher and Grammy Award Winning Lyle Lovett will join in on the reining competition. At 4 p.m., stop by before the performance for your chance to judge the most scrumptious dish at the Chili Cook-Off!

NRHA Futurity – Open Finals
Sat., Dec. 1 / 1 p.m. – Section 1 starts / 5 p.m. – Section 2 / Coliseum
FREE PARKING – General Admission – $11 / Box Seats – $21
Come watch the world’s best NRHA Professionals compete for nearly $1.5 million in cash and prizes. Section 1 of the finals includes Level 1-3 Open qualifiers while Section 2 includes Level 4 Open finalists. Be there to watch the thrilling action and see who takes home a check of $150,000 and the title of NRHA Open Futurity Champion!

TICKET PRICES

Coliseum Prices
• Thurs., Nov. 22 – Tuesday, Nov. 27 – FREE ADMISSION
• Wednesday, Nov. 28 – General Admission – $9 / Box Seats – $13
• Thurs., Nov. 29 – Open World Championship Shootout presented by Equine Sports Medicine – General Admission – $11 / Box Seats – $16
• Fri., Nov. 30 – Cinch Non Pro Finals – General Admission – $11 / Box Seats – $21
• Fri., Nov. 30 – 4R Performance Horses Hometown Heroes Slide & Freestyle Reining – General Admission – $11 / Box Seats – $21 / Kid 10 & Under – Free / Coupon
• Sat., Dec. 1 – Open Finals – General Admission – $11 / Box Seats – $21

Adequan Championship Arena Prices
• FREE ADMISSION

Ticket Special – Military – Buy one admission; receive one for free with valid Military ID.

NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show Supporters
The NRHA would like to thank the following corporate partners for their support of the NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show: Adequan, Arenus, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cinder Lakes Ranch and Reproduction Center, Classic Equine, Darling 888 Ranch, Downunder Horsemanship, Horse&Rider, John Deere, Kiser Arena Specialists, Markel Insurance Company, Merial, Miller International – Cinch / Cruel Girl, Montana Silversmiths, Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau, Pard’s Western Shop, Platinum Performance, Purina, Quarter Horse News, Rios of Mercedes / Anderson Bean Boot Company, Silver Spurs Equine, SmartPak, Twister Trailer and World Development Group International.

In addition, NRHA thanks NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show Event Sponsors:
• Platinum Futurity Sponsors: 4R Performance Horses, Equine Sports Medicine, KO Trading, RAM, Roleski Ranch, Sandbur Productions LLC and Scott Cleaners
• Gold Futurity Sponsors: Cowdog Saddles, Equine Oasis, Kyle Tack, Shorty’s Caboy Hattery, Soft Ride and The New West
• Silver Futurity Sponsors: Avila’s Pro Shop, E-Z Go, Forewheeler Golf Cars, Heat-A-Zone and Millennium Luxury Coaches

Incorporated in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association is the standard-setting body for 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 nrha.com.