For Immediate Release – June 16, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The wait is over, and the finalists for the 2020 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Non Pro Derby presented by Markel have been decided. Over two exciting days, the field of 249 non pro entries was whittled down to the crème de la crème who get to compete in Friday’s clean slate finals.
There was a four-way tie at the top of the preliminary leaderboard. Mandy McCutcheon held two of the positions, while McKinnon Larcombe and Indy Roper also got a portion of the number one position. Each rode their horses to a 218.5. McCutcheon rode Party Nite (Gunners Special Nite x Topsail Survivor) and Tidal To The Buckles (Show Me The Buckles x Starlights Tidalwave), Larcombe was on Gunners Bar Fly (Gunner x Blonde At The Bar), and Roper rode Lil Patron (Lil Joe Cash x Miss Rey O Shine).
Larcombe and Gunners Bar Fly, owned by Shauna Larcombe, also finished in the top spot of the Level 3 Non Pro and Youth Non Pro divisions.
Harper Conner and Money Carlo put together a solid run, resulting in a 217.5, which placed them in the top spot of the Level 2 Non Pro. Money Carlo is a 5-year-old stallion by A Sparkling Vintage out of Chex Drive.
With a score of 215, Tabitha Sternberg Allen and Holly Trashya won the Level 1 Non Pro preliminary round. Holly Trashya, a 6-year-old mare owned by Francesca Sternberg, is by Gunnatrashya out of Hickorys Holly Cee.
Leading the Masters Non Pro division into the finals is Morris Kulmer and his standout gelding NVR What A Lucky Joe with a 218. The six-year-old reiner is by Lil Joe Cash out of What A Lucky Hit.
Winning the Bob’s Custom Saddles Novice Non Pro Derby Championship was Adam Donahue on Not Ruf with a 216.5. Not Ruf is a 4-year-old gelding by Not Ruf At All out of Kays Freckles. The duo also topped the Prime Time Non Pro preliminaries with a 219.5 (includes handicap).
Look for the detailed recap of Donahue’s win on Not Ruf in the Bob’s Custom Saddles Novice Horse Open Derby in Thursday’s event coverage.
The top 30 in the Non Pro Levels 4 – 1 will compete in the clean-slate finals on Friday, June 19, as well as the top 20 in the Prime Time and Youth divisions. The top 15 in the Master’s Non Pro will also earn a spot in the finals.
Unofficially, it took a 212.5 to make it back in the Non Pro Level 4 and 211.5 in the Non Pro Level 3. In the Non Pro Level 2, the magic number was a 211, and in the Non Pro Level 1, contestants needed a 208.5 or higher. Non Pro Prime Time competitors with a score of 211.5 (includes handicap), Masters riders with a 205.5 (includes handicap), and Youth riders with a 210, also earned finals’ berths.
Draw positions for the finals will be determined on Wednesday, June 17, during the virtual Platinum Performance Non Pro Draw Party. The Draw Party will be held at 5:30 p.m. and will be streamed via the live feed that can be found at NRHADerby.com.
The NRHA Derby presented by Markel continues Wednesday with the first set of Open Preliminaries in the Jim Norick Coliseum arena. Please visit www.NRHADerby.com for a complete schedule of events, as well as complete results from the show.
For Immediate Release – June 16, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The horse show action continued in the Adequan® Arena at the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby presented by Markel. There were 60 entries in the Novice Horse Open classes, spread across three levels. In the end, Jared Leclair and Matt Palmer took home the wins.
Novice Horse Open Level 2 & 3 Co-Champion/Level 1 Champion – Matt Palmer and Im Painted Special
Matt Palmer & Mark Hurd
It was only the first time for Matt Palmer to show Im Painted Special, but the duo looked like a veteran team, completing an impressive run that resulted in a score of 149. That run not only won the Novice Horse Open [1] Level 1, it also tied for the win of Levels 2 and 3. All totaled, Palmer and Im Painted Special won $2,503.
“Going in for the first time with everything that has gone on, COVID-19 and all, it was just to go in and see what I had. Every maneuver he did, I loved him. We bought him for his owner, Mark Hurd, to show, so I wanted to get him in the pen and see what he’s like, so when I coach Mark I’d have a better idea,” Palmer shared.
Hurd and Palmer found Im Painted Special, a 4-year-old by Gunners Special Nite and out of Darlins Not Painted, in Texas at NRHA Professional Tom McCutcheon’s barn. “As soon as Mark got on him, I knew this was the horse we needed to take home. My plan was to show him at the NRBC, but when that got pushed back, I decided to show him here. I’ll show him at the NRBC that is now in Tulsa,” Palmer said.
He added, “Mark is second to none as a customer. I can’t thank him enough for all the things he has done for me. I also thank my family, everyone who works for me, and Bob and Arlene Santagata of Santa Hill Ranch. It’s a whole team effort, and I’m just the last one who gets to enjoy it.”
Novice Horse Open Level 2 & 3 Co-Champion – Jared Leclair and Lime A Rita
In the past year and a half, Jared Leclair and Lime A Rita have become quite the team, consistently winning in the horse show classes at major events. On Monday, the duo continued their winning streak, tying for the win in both the Level 2 and Level 3 of the Novice Horse Open. The win netted checks totaling $1,777.
Susan Meyer
“This is a very good mare,” noted Lime A Rita’s owner Susan Meyer. “I bought her a year and a half ago in Las Vegas, and I started showing her. I did well with her and won my first trophy, and then Jared took over. They’ve had a lot of success together, too.”
Leclair and Lime A Rita, by Custom Legend and out of She Slides Wright, marked a 149 in the day’s competition. “Today she did very, very well. She kept her head down and was very obedient. Everything was stellar, and you could tell she and Jared were listening to one another very well,” she said.
It was the first show back after the COVID-19 quarantine period. “It definitely makes me feel more normal,” Meyers shared. “I thank Jared for all of his hard work, dedication, and ability to show. I appreciate him so much.”
Complete results for the NRHA Derby presented by Markel can be found at NRHADerby.com.
For Immediate Release – June 15, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The Non Pro preliminary round of the 2020 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby presented by Markel kicked off on Monday, June 15. While there was concern that the current pandemic would dampen entry numbers, this year’s show is especially robust.
This year’s Non Pro Derby features 249 entries, a big jump from 214 the previous year.
Currently tied for the lead of the Non Pro preliminary round are McKinnon Larcombe and Mandy McCutcheon. Both women piloted their horses to a 218.5.
McCutcheon was riding Party Nite, by Gunners Special Nite out of Topsail Survivor. The 5-year-old mare, owned by Mandy and her husband Tom, topped the preliminary round of the NRHA Non Pro Derby with Mandy last year.
Larcombe and Gunners Bar Fly also lead the Level 3 Non Pro and Youth Non Pro preliminaries. Gunners Bar Fly, a 6-year-old mare by Gunner and out of Blonde At The Bar, is owned by McKinnon’s aunt Shauna Larcombe.
Harper Conner and Money Carlo put together a solid run, resulting in a 217.5. Conner and the 5-year-old stallion by A Sparkling Vintage out of Chex Drive, currently top the Level 2 Non Pro preliminaries.
Currently holding the high score of the Level 1 Non Pro preliminaries with a 213.5 is Madison Gustin and her horse Win My Cash. This 5-year-old mare is by Lil Joe Cash and out of Win My Shine.
Holding steady with the top score of the Bob’s Custom Saddles Novice Non Pro Derby is Adam Donahue and Not Ruf, a 4-year-old gelding, with a 216.5. The Bob’s Custom Saddles Novice Non Pro Derby Championship will be decided at the completion of the preliminary round, so Donahue and Not Ruf, by Not Ruf At All out of Kays Freckles, are sitting pretty. The duo also lead the Prime Time Non Pro preliminaries.
Sitting atop the Masters Non Pro leaderboard is Michael Garnett and his horse Hollywood Nites. Garnett and Hollywood Nites, a 7-year-old by Gunners Special Nite out of Dun It For Chex, marked a 215.5.
Non Pro preliminary competition continues Tuesday. The top 30 in the Non Pro Levels 4-1, the top 20 in the Prime Time Non Pro and Youth Non Pro, as well as the top 15 in the Masters Non Pro, will advance to the clean-slate finals on Friday. The draw for the finals will be decided during the Virtual Platinum Performance Non Pro Draw Party on Wednesday evening.
For complete results and other information, visit NRHADerby.com.
Three days into the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby presented by Markel Insurance, the event is in full swing. In addition to the great prizes presented in the Adequan® Arena, exhibitors have a chance to win circuit buckles, as well. The first circuit championships were awarded Monday afternoon.
Austin Morris and John Wayne Tag Clean House in Adequan® Arena
John Wayne Tag might have one of the coolest names for reining horses competing this year at the NRHA Derby presented by Markel, and he’s proven to be an exceptional show horse, too. With Austin Morris at the reins, the eight-year-old gelding marked a 143.5 in Monday’s competition to win the second slate of Intermediate Open, Limited Open, and Rookie Professional classes, worth $2,530.
The winning doesn’t end there. Morris and John Wayne Tag also competed in the first slate of classes on Sunday, and finished in the top five both days, which secured the high point buckle for all three classes.
“I’ve been riding this horse since November of last year. I’ve only been to three or four shows with him, but every time we’ve been successful. He’s a great horse that is really easy. You can go for weeks without riding him, then get on him and he’s the same,” Morris said.
Just last week, Morris and John Wayne Tag took an eight hour trip to South Carolina for an event. “He showed really great down there, and then we drove him 22 hours here to Oklahoma City, and he was ready to show again,” Morris, of Damascus, Maryland, said. “We had a few things that happened in yesterday’s class that I knew I could do better today. I came out with the goal to have a better ride in some areas, and it all worked out.”
John Wayne Tag, by Whiz N Tag Chex and out of Kachina Oak Olena, is owned by Summerwind Farm Inc. “I thank Bob LaPorta who owns Summerwind Farm for providing my nice horses to show. I thank my girlfriend and co-worker Tricia Tillman for her support and advice, our sponsors, and everyone at Summerwind or being supportive,” Morris said.
Kalicia Walters and Lady Gotta Gun Get Redemption in Limited Non Pro
Kalicia Walters didn’t have the run she wanted in Saturday’s Limited Non Pro, but she and her mare Lady Gotta Gun came back strong in the second slate to win the class with a 142. “We worked really hard this winter, and today I got aggressive, and it paid off. We’ve worked hard to get where we are, and this was our first big win together,” Walters shared.
Lady Gotta Gun, by Spooks Gotta Gun and out of Ms Kiper Nic, is a five-year-old mare. “I have had her about a year. Luckily I live just 10 miles from Dany and Fred Tremblay, so I was able to go from our ranch, to their ranch, and back home all winter. We got a lot of practice in, and everything is coming together,” she said.
Walters has been showing reiners off and on for the past six years, and credits her success to Fred and Dany. “They have helped me a bunch this winter, and it has changed everything. I’m super excited to be working with them,” she said.
Walters will show in more non pro classes throughout the week.
Morgan Hinkle Wins Limited Non Pro High Point Championship on Wimpys King Lad
Consistency was the key for Morgan Hinkle and Wimpys King Lad. They put together two solid runs to win the high point circuit buckle for the Limited Non Pro. “This is my first high-point win – today was pretty good! We had a couple bobbles; he spooked from the cameraman once. The run was pretty clean except for that spook,” she shared.
Wimpys King Lad is by Wimpys Little Step out of King Tucks Lassie. “I’ve had him for about six years. I know him pretty well and he’s a really good horse. With all the practice we’ve had we’re finally getting it together,” Hinkle, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, said. “I thank my parents for supporting me, as well as my trainers Shane Brown and Emily Emerson.”
Hinkle is looking forward to competing in the 8 & Up Non Pro Derby on Wednesday.
A Full Day of Horse Showing at the NRHA Derby presented by Markel
For Immediate Release – June 14, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Day two of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA presented by Markel Insurance is in the books, with more than 176 entries competing in the horse show classes. Once again, large class sizes dictated the split to two arenas for the classes, with the Open horse show classes being held in the Adequan® Arena, and the Novice Horse Non Pro exhibitors competing in Arena Six.
Fappani and Piper Tie for Win of Open (1)
Andrea Fappani
Andrea Fappani and Nathan Piper tied for the win of the $6k added Open (1) class. Fappani was riding Shine Plum Shine, while Piper rode Ruff Spook, with each winning $1,846.
The decision to show in the Open was a last-minute one for both Fappani and Piper. Piper had planned to show Ruff Spook at another large event. “We were going to show in the Shootout. When they canceled that, I decided to bring him here to show in this Open here,” Piper said.
“This horse is still derby eligible, but it was a last-minute deal, so I figured I’d bring him and show him in this class. It’s great that the NRHA put a $6k open in here. We decided to go for it, and it worked out even though it was last minute,” Fappani shared.
Shine Plum Shine, by Shine Chic Shine and out of Plum Reyning, is owned by Rancho Oso Rio. “I showed this horse the last couple years and he’s been pretty successful. We had a little bobble on the second stop. The ground is a little more slick than what we have in Arizona, and we’ve only been on it one day so it will take a few more days to adjust. Other than that I was really happy with him. He was with me the whole time,” Fappani said. “I thank the owners Jim and Pat Warren of Rancho Oso Rio. I manage the ranch they always make sure I have nice horses to show. Thank you to my whole team. It’s always a team effort, and I appreciate them.”
Nathan Piper
While Fappani is confident about his Derby entries, he’s glad this is his second event back. “We had a show in Arizona a couple weeks ago. It was the first time we showed, and it was a good thing because I was a little rusty. Hopefully, I’m ready now,” he said with a laugh. “I’ll show in the Derby, and Luca is showing a couple in the Non Pro, and then we have a couple other non pros, but it’s pretty chill and we’re going to enjoy it. We’re definitely happy to be showing again.”
Ruff Spook, by Smart Spook out of Ruffle Me Up, is owned by Shannon and Hershel Reid. “He’s an 11-year-old stallion, and he’s had a lot of experience. This was the first time for me to show him and he was great. I’ve had him about three weeks, but he’s a machine, so it was pretty easy out there,” Piper shared. “I thank my Lord and Savior, my family, and everyone who works for me. It takes a village.”
This was also the second event for Piper. “We went to a show in Hamilton, Texas, and were very happy to have that. It will be interesting to see how it goes in the Derby. I had a system for myself, but I could see getting lost on how to prepare these last few months,” he said. “We brought 19 head of horses here. We have people showing in almost every class.”
Debbie Brown and A Glorious Nite Top Intermediate Open (1)
Debbie Brown piloted A Glorious Nite to a 146 to pocket $503 for the Intermediate Open (1) win. The five-year-old mare, by Gunners Special Nite out of Glory B Whiz, is owned by David Silva. “She was very good. She’s not been in the pen a bunch showing even though she’s five. She was really good in the maneuvers. She turned, ran, and stopped really well, and had no penalties, so it was really good,” Brown said.
Brown is a trainer at Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses and will be spending most of her week at the Derby helping out the crew. “We have a great team. I thank Tom and Mandy McCutcheon. They’re fantastic to work for. I thank the owners, David and Bonnie Silva, who have been fantastic over the years. They have such great horses and are great supporters,” Brown said.
The NRHA Derby presented by Markel Insurance, is the first big event back for Brown. “It’s nice to be getting back to the normal routine,” she said.
Wade McDonald and Smart Lil Velvet Win Limited Open (1) and Rookie Pro. (1)
With a score of 142.5, Wade McDonad and Smart Lil Velvet took the top spot of both the Limited Open (1) and the Rookie Professional (1). The dual wins came with more than $616.
Smart Lil Velvet, by Smart Like Juice out of Velvet Pistol, is owned by Bruce Koefoot.
Courtney Battison and Corona Tag Win Novice Horse Non Pro Levels 1 & 3 (1)
Courtney Battison
With COVID-19 protocols in place, Courtney Battison did not think there would be an awards ceremony in the arena, so after competing on Corona Tag in the Novice Horse Non Pro classes, she made the short trip home to Purcell. She and her mare had marked a 143, so when she got the call from Trevor and Laura Dare that there would be awards, she headed back to Oklahoma City. “I rushed back up and made it just in time,” she said. Battison and Corona Tag not only won Levels 1 and 3, they also finished reserve in the Level 2, for checks totaling $1,724.
Battison has owned Corona Tag, by Whiz N Tag Chex out of Kachina Oak Olena, for a few years. “She had a little soundness issue, but she’s all fixed up now so we’re back at it. I showed her last year and now this year,” Battison said. “She’s the same almost every time, and we had a great run today. I think my stops were a little bit better than the last time we showed. We’ve improved on that.”
Battison will stay busy this week with two horses entered in the Non Pro Derby. “I’ll also show this mare again on Wednesday. This is the first time I’ve gotten to show. We went to Tulsa to a horse show in March, and that’s been it. It’s great to be out showing again.” She added, “I thank Trevor and Laura. They’ve helped me a lot this year.”
Indy Roper and Lil Whizzer Gun Take Top Honors in Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 (1)
Indy Roper
Once Indy Roper got off work last Friday, she and her dad loaded up to make the 14-hour drive to Oklahoma City. “We’re here now and we’re ready to go,” she said. Roper is off to a great start, having won the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2, and $631, with a 144 on Lil Whizzer Gun.
“He was excellent. I took him to an Indiana horse show last weekend and schooled him a little bit. I was hoping that he would come here and be good, and he showed off his maneuvers today,” she said.
Lil Whizzer Gun, owned by Tim Roper, is by Lil Gun and out of Sugar Baby Whiz. “We bought him as a three-year-old and showed him in some derbies. He’s a horse I have at home to help me stay tuned up for my other derby horses. I have two derby horses to show this week, and then I hope to show this horse again, too,” she said. “I went to the Mother’s Day Slide in Arizona, and that was my first time back out showing. It felt great to be showing again. We put in all that hard work, and now it’s time to be at a horse show. We’re all smiles.”
Roper had several people to thank, including her father and family back home. “They’re great cheerleaders. I also thank Marco Ricotta, who has been instrumental in tuning me up and giving me pointers while we’re here,” Roper said.
