Category: Derby

For Immediate Release – June 18, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The preliminary rounds of the National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel are in the books. The open preliminaries were held June 17-18 and featured 247 talented entries, each vying for a chance in the clean-slate finals.

With COVID-19 regulations requiring the event to be closed to the public, the whoops and hollers that typically emit from the Coliseum were shockingly subdued. The competition, on the other hand, was intense as ever.

Craig Schmersal and No Smoking Required impressed the judges with an impeccable run, securing the go-round win with a 223. No Smoking Required, Schmersal’s 2019 Level 4 Open Derby Reserve Champion, is by NRHA 11 Million Dollar Sire Gunner out of Icing Required. The 7-year-old stallion, owned by Wranglen Partnership, also carried Schmersal to the 2019 Run For a Million Co-Championship. No Smoking Required was nominated by Carluccio Orsi.

Topping the Open Level 3 and Open Level 2 was Arno Honstetter and Shine Yur Gun. The pair also tied for second in the Level 4. Shine Yur Gun, a 6-year-old stallion by Gunner and out of Lil Miss Shiney Chex, is owned and nominated by Carol Rose.

Winning the preliminary round of the Level 1 Open was Marie Kleiner and Pale Face Gunslinger with a 220. The 6-year-old stallion, by Pale Face Dunnit and out of Lost In Tinseltown, is owned and nominated by Tim Anderson.

Winning the Open Prime Time was Ann Salmon Anderman and her 4-year-old stallion Maximum Mag with a 221.5. Maximum Mag, by NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream and out of Dunit A Lil Ruf, was nominated by Anderman.

The Bob’s Custom Saddles Novice Horse Open Derby winner is decided during the preliminary round, and Fernando Salgado claimed the win with a 219 on Gotta Shiney Peso. Gotta Shiney Peso, by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Cee Bee Shine, is owned by Pedro Herandez. The 4-year-old stallion was nominated by Diane Beckmann. Look for coverage of the Novice Horse Open Derby winner in Saturday’s news.

Unofficially a 217.5 was the magical number for Level 4 finals hopefuls, and Open Level 3 riders were shooting for a 215.5 It took a 213 to make it back for the Level 2 finals, and the bubble score in the Open Level 1 was a 202.5 The Open Finals begin Saturday, June 20, at 11 a.m., with the Open Level 4 finalists competing at 5 p.m.

For more information and complete results, visit NRHADerby.com.

For Immediate Release – June 17, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Horse show competition at the National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel continued Wednesday, June 17. The Non Pros reigned supreme in the Adequan® Arena, competing in the normal ancillary classes as well as the 8 & Up Derby.

8 & Up Level 4 Non Pro Derby and Non Pro [2] Champion – Lane Colston and Chics Nite

Lane Colston started out his week at the NRHA Derby presented by Markel with a win on Chics Nite. He and the standout mare returned to the Adequan® Arena on Wednesday for another win, this time claiming the Level 4 Non Pro 8 & Up Derby Championship. He also won the concurrently-run Non Pro [2] class, clinching the Non Pro high-point buckle. All totaled, Colston and Chics Nite won $5,227.

“She was really good,” Colston said of Chics Nite, an 8-year-old mare by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite out of Wind Her Up Chic. The pair marked a 145. “I pushed her a little harder than I did the other day, and she was really good for me. She did everything I asked to the best of her ability. On the last stop she kind of picked her foot up, but it was because she jerked her front shoe off. She tried her hardest and I couldn’t have asked for a better ride.”

Colston, of Kentucky, is already looking to the next event. “I might show her at one of our shows in Kentucky, and then probably not anymore until the NRBC. She’s pregnant and will have a Magnum With A Dream baby next year,” he said. “I thank my parents Kevin and Amy Colston. I thank Tom, Mandy, and Cade McCutcheon for their support, and also Brandon Brant who helped me with this mare a few weeks ago. They are all always there for me.”

8 & Up Level 3 Non Pro Derby Co-Champion – Bailey Kolsun and Diamond Studded Guns

Bailey Kolsun and Diamond Studded Guns marked a 144.5 in the Adequan® Arena to tie for the win of the 8 & Up Level 3 Non Pro Derby. Having also entered in the Level 4, as well as the horse show Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro, the Texan pocketed $3,031.

“He was awesome for me today. He stopped huge and circled big, so I was really happy with him,” Kolsun shared.

It was only the third show back after quarantine for Kolsun, of Pilot Point, Texas. “We schooled at Hamilton, and then were here for the Red Bud. I missed showing so much,” she said.

Kolsun has owned 8-year-old Diamond Studded Guns, by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya and out of Like To Flo, since his 3-year-old year. “He was too green as a 3-year-old to be shown, but I’ve shown him pretty much every time he’s been in the pen, except for a few times when my trainer Ruben Vandorp showed him,” she said. “I thank Ruben, the assistants, and all my good friends at the barn. I also thank my parents back home who are stuck across the border in Canada.”

8 & Up Level 3 Non Pro Derby Co-Champion – Madison Rafacz and Whizenboonsmal

Madison Rafacz and Whizenboonsmal are always a team to watch, and a few months of quarantine didn’t change that. With a score of 144.5, Rafacz and Whizenboonsmal took the 8 & Up Level 3 Non Pro Derby Co-Championship and also finished high in the Level 4 Derby and Non Pro [2], worth a cool $4,131.

“I didn’t really know I was going to show here, and he’s pretty much just been a fat pony at home,” Rafacz said of Whizenboonsmal, an 8-year-old gelding by Peptoleap out of She Whiz A Star. “When we came here I figured we would just do what we always do. I just went in and showed the horse I had, and it went well.”

Rafacz has been busy the past couple weeks, and will stay that way through the end of the Derby. “We were home for three days from a show in South Carolina, and then we came here. I’ll show again in the novice tomorrow, and then I have this horse and another one in the youth later this week,” she said.

Rafacz added, “I thank my parents especially, and the entire MR team. They’re just my best friends and I appreciate them a lot.”

8 & Up Level 2 Non Pro Derby Champion and Int. Non Pro [2] Co-Champion – Bundy Lane and Gunner Gump

Winning the Level 2 of the 8 & Up Non Pro Derby was Bundy Lane and Gunner Gump with a 143.5. Lane also placed in the Level 3, Level 4, the Non Pro [2], Intermediate Non Pro [2], and the Prime Time Non Pro [2]. Not only did Lane rake in $5,146, he won the high-point buckle for the Intermediate Non Pro and the Prime Time Non Pro.

Gunner Gump is by NRHA 11 Million Dollar Sire Gunner and out of Little Patrasha Gump.

8 & Up Level 1 Non Pro Derby Champion – Anna Clausen and Smart Tinseltown

Anna Clausen and Smart Tinseltown were looking for redemption when they walked into the Adequan® Arena to compete in the 8 & Up Non Pro Derby. “It didn’t go too well in the first slate of non pro classes. I made sure to get the pattern correct in my head today before I showed, and it helped,” the 16-year-old shared.

With a 143, Clausen took sole possession of the Level 1, and also placed in the top five of Levels 2 through 4. Cross entered into the Non Pro [2] and the Intermediate Non Pro [2], Clausen won $3,813. “Today he was great. He is always good, it’s just a matter of getting me right, and it happened today. He’s always there for me when we’re going to show. I love him,” Clausen said of Smart Tinseltown, who’s by NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook out of Tinseltown Lil Step.

Since the quarantine, Clausen was only able to compete one time prior to the Derby. “I showed at the Mother’s Day Slide, but before that we’ve just been home riding almost every day. It’s just not the same as a horse show, so we’re glad to be here,” she said. “I thank my parents Andrea and Clay Clausen, and Patrick Flaherty.”

Int. Non Pro [2] Co-Champion – Kimberly Horner and Lil Red Dreamer

When her run in the Non Pro Derby didn’t go as planned, Kimberly Horner decided to enter Lil Red Dreamer in the Intermediate Non Pro [2]. “We made a few mistakes in the Derby and couldn’t stay out of the penalty box, so I came back and showed him today,” she explained. The pair tied for the win of the class, worth $1,059. “It was mainly to work on me and boost my confidence before we head to the NRBC later this year. This helped quite a bit with that.”

Horner has owned Lil Red Dreamer, by NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream out of Skeets Red Dunit, a little over a year. “He’s super easy. Today we just made an easy, relaxed ride, and it worked well. Now he’s going to head home for some rest, but I’ll stay, and my daughter Faith will show in the youth classes,” Horner said.

It was the first event back for Horner, who quarantined with her family in Florida. “We were there for three months and didn’t even ride. I needed a reason to come back, and once I saw the Derby was on, we loaded up the car and came back to Texas. It feels wonderful to be back at a horse show,” she said. “I thank my trainer Casey Hinton and his team. I also thank my family. My husband and kids are all supportive. I also thank my mom who wasn’t able to come but is one of my biggest fans.”

For Immediate Release – June 17, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby presented by Markel has reached the half-way point. On Wednesday, June 17, the first section of the Open Derby preliminaries was held in the Jim Norick Coliseum at State Fair Park.

To lead the pack of the first section of Open Derby preliminaries, it took a score of 222.5. Two riders shared that spot—Arno Honstetter riding Carol Rose’s Shine Yur Gun and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Jason Vanlandingham astride Diane Mesmer’s A Vintage Smoke. Vanlandingham and his mount, a 5-year-old stallion by A Sparkling Vintage and out of Lady Smoke Peppy, showed later in the day to tie with Honstetter’s ride on Shine Yur Gun.

Honstetter and Shine Yur Gun, a 6-year-old stallion by NRHA 11 Million Dollar Sire Gunner and out of Lil Miss Shiney Chex, are also entered in the Level 3 and Level 2 Open, and leading those divisions.

Topping the Level 1 is Dalton Vanlandingham and Staring Shine with a 214.5. Owned by Vaughn Zimmerman, the 6-year-old gelding is by Shine Chic Shine and out of Staring Amie.

The Bob’s Custom Saddles Novice Horse Open Championship will be decided at the conclusion of the preliminary round and is currently led by Fernando Salgado and Gotta Shiney Peso. The 4-year-old stallion by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Cee Bee Shine is owned by Pedro Pastor Hernandez.

The top 30 from the Open Levels 4 -1 will compete on Saturday in the clean-slate finals. Draw positions will be determined at 10 a.m., CDT, on Friday during the virtual Platinum Performance Open Draw Party.

For complete results and information, visit NRHADerby.com.

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

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.

“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.