The 2021 National Reining Horse Association Futurity is in full swing, and at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, the first section of the preliminary round of the Open Futurity is in the books.
It will be a historic year for the 55-year-old event, with nearly 400 Open entries and a championship purse that includes a $350,000 check to the Level 4 Open Champion. Over the next week, the field will be trimmed down to determine the top horses and rider teams that will compete in the clean-slate MS Diamonds Level 4 Open Finals on Saturday, Dec. 4.
The first step to winning that momentous prize is to advance through the first round to the Level 4 Open Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All.
Dan Huss, Casey Deary, and Shawn Flarida have set themselves up for success by topping the first section of the first round with identical scores of 223.
Flarida, an NRHA $6 Million Rider with multiple Futurity Championships under his belt, rode Alpha Jac Sparrow for longtime friend and client Fritz Leeman. Alpha Jac Sparrow is by NRHA $3 Million Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Chexanicki.
Deary’s mount, Live N On A Prayer is by In Like Flinn out of former NRHA Futurity Champion Americasnextgunmodel, is owned by Neiberger Performance Horses. The $2 Million Rider and the talented colt are coming off a recent co-championship at the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity.
Dan Huss and This Joe Got A Gun competed in the final set of the day to tie for the lead of the Level 4, and top the Level 3 and Open Prime Time. This Joe Got A Gun, owned by Jamie Walters, is by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash out of This Girls Got A Gun.
Currently tied for the lead of the Level 2 Open with scores of 219 are Erik Caddeo on Sixty Six Genes and Josh Lyons and I Shine At Nite. Sixty Six Genes, by Inferno Sixty Six out of Taris Designer Genes, is owned by NRHA $2 Million Owners Rancho Oso Rio. I Shine At Nite, owned by Josh Lyons, is by NRHA $4 Million Sire Gunners Special Nite out of Shiney Enterprise.
Sitting atop the Level 1 leaderboard with a 216.5 is Colin Fitzpatrick on Flamethrow, owned by Brian Bell and Chuck Swain. Flamethrow is by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash out of Freckled Whiz.
The first section of the NRHA Open Futurity continues through Saturday, after which time the top 75 plus ties in Levels 1 through 4 will advance to the semi-final round, with Levels 1 – 3 competing on Tuesday and Level 4 on Wednesday in the Not Ruf At All Level 4 Semi-Finals. The clean-slate MS Diamonds TX L4 Open Futurity Finals will be held Saturday, Dec. 4.
Complete results, as well as the latest news, updates, and draws, can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.
The 2021 National Reining Horse Association Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships are in full swing in Oklahoma City. While the Futurity is held in the Jim Norick Coliseum, the NAACs are held in the Adequan® Arena. The NAAC competition spotlights a variety of members and horses from across North America who qualify to compete in Oklahoma City.
In addition to incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners, the champion of each NAAC class will be presented an Adequan® Championship vest the following day in the Jim Norick Coliseum as a show of support for these successful affiliate riders.
Brian Bell Wins Adequan® NAAC Open Championship on Mr Royal Hollywood
Brian Bell’s tenure in Oklahoma City is off to a great start, winning the Adequan® NAAC Open Championship on Mr Royal Hollywood, winning $3,821 as well as prizes including a saddle from Kyle Tack, a Montana Silversmiths buckle, product from Dr. Joe Carter, Platinum Performance and Classic Equine, and a gift certificate for Bluebonnet Feed.
Bell and Mr Royal Hollywood also topped the ancillary Open, worth an additional $2,925. “They’re putting a lot more money in these NAAC classes, and it makes it more fun to keep these older horses going,” Bell said. “I’m having fun here. I showed one of my futurity horses today (Cee Miss Lilly) and was a 221 on her. She’s out of the same mare as Mr Royal Hollywood, so it was like a family event today.”
Bell and Mr Royal Hollywood, by NRHA $3 Million Sire Hollywoodstinseltown out of Miss Royal Hollywood, have had a banner year, winning approximately $70,000 prior to the NAAC. That included a third place finish at the National Reining Breeders Classic as well as a qualification for The Run For A Million presented by Teton Ridge.
The 6-year-old stallion was also the catalyst for a major career milestone. “I actually went over the $2 million mark on this horse,” Bell shared. “He’s been really solid all year. We have one more year of derbies left, so I’m looking forward to doing it all over again next year.”
My Royal Hollywood is from a family of winners bred and raised by the Bell family. The line began when Brian’s father, George Bell, acquired Hall of Fame mare Miss Cee Blair. “At one time she was the highest producing dam in history,” Bell shared. Miss Cee Blair produced 11 foals that earned almost $250k, including Cee Miss Hollywood.
“Cee Miss Hollywood’s foals have won right at $500,000 now, and of that, I’ve probably won $350,000 of it,” Bell explained. “It’s kind of cool because I know how they respond to different things and I know how to ride them. It kind of makes it easier.”
He added, “I thank all the sponsors that put all the money up for the show and everyone who puts these shows on. I also thank my dad and his wife Carol for keeping me on good horses.”
NRHA Million Dollar Rider Dany Tremblay took second in both classes on Tinker With Dreams, winning a total of $4,107. Tinker With Dreams, by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Tinker With Guns out of This Chicsdundreamin, is owned by Diamond Dub Quarter Horses.
Benjamin Beckett and Xtra Dun Step Take Adequan® NAAC Int. Open Championship
With a score of 219, Benjamin Beckett and Xtra Dun Step claimed the Championship for the Adequan® NAAC Intermediate Open. The pair also finished fourth in the NAAC Open, and won money in the ancillary divisions for both classes, earning more than $6,735 for owners Jerry Douglas and Jennifer Groehn.
“We kind of missed the first stop, but he made up for it,” Beckett admitted. “He’s as easy as they come. He does whatever you say, when you say it. It doesn’t matter if you’re showing in the green, the open, or whatever… he will do what you ask.”
With the announcement of the Bob’s Custom Showdown round for the Intermediate Open, Beckett was excited to show the talented stallion, by NRHA $12 Million Sire Wimpys Little Step out of All Thats Dun. “Oh yeah, it had a factor with us coming. Whenever there is good money up, you gotta take a swing at it,” the Michigan trainer said. “I wanted to come here and show him. When you have an opportunity to show a horse like this, you have to do it.”
Although his time in the show pen with Xtra Dun Step has been short, Beckett can still recall watching the colt as a youngster. “I remember when he was two years old and Trevor Dare showed him at the Futurity, so I have known this horse his whole show career. He’s always been phenomenal,” Beckett said. To date, Xtra Dun Step has won more than $155,000, including a third place finish with Dare at the 2017 NRHA Futurity.
Davis Hanson and Xtra Needs A Drink (Wimpyneedsacocktail x Ruby Chic Olena) took second in the NAAC and ancillary Intermediate Open with a 218.5. With money also won in the Open divisions, Xtra Needs A Drink, owned by N Anne Driscoll, added an additional $4,702 to his lifetime earnings.
The top 10 finishers of the Adequan® NAAC Intermediate Open earn a spot in the clean-slate Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown, which will be held Friday, Dec. 3. All qualifiers must check in and confirm their spot in the Showdown no later than noon on Dec. 2.
Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown Qualifers:
Xtra Dun Step Benjamin Beckett
Xtra Needs A Drink David E. Hanson
ARC Trashin Yer Chic Kyle Kellmer
Nite Tripps Jarvis M. Anderson
Lady Infernofourosix Derek Jon Heitland
Hollys Juicy Miracle Ryan J Anderson
Good Friday For Guns Jesse P Gentile
Wimpyslittlesnowgun Derek Jon Heitland
Payaso Rojo Gunner Mariano Pedrero
Smart Stepin Lena Stephen D Archer
Adequan® NAAC competition continues Friday with the Limited Open. Complete draws, results, news, and more can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.
The futurity season for reining horses is nearing completion, and in less than 24 hours, the best riders in the world will begin the intense preliminary competition at the National Reining Horse Association’s premier and most prestigious event, the NRHA Futurity. They’ll be competing for a piece of a purse that exceeds $2,000,000, highlighted by a record-breaking $350,000 check for the Champion.
Under the lights in the historic Jim Norick Coliseum, the mettle of talented 3-year-old reining horses will be tested as they’re navigated through the signature circles, spins, and sliding stops the event is known for.
While there are several futurities throughout the year, only one is known simply as “The Futurity.” Since its debut in 1966 in Columbus, Ohio, the event has grown from a handful of entries to what will be a record-breaking 599 + in 2021.
The payout has grown, and to say it has done so significantly would be an understatement. This year’s Level 4 Open Champion will leave Oklahoma City $350,000 richer and in possession of the largest limited age event championship check in the western performance horse industry. That is thanks to the generosity and dedication of a group of reining enthusiasts who created the Futurity Challenge.
Not only that, but this year’s Level 4 Open Reserve Champion will win a guaranteed $150,000, and third is also guaranteed $100,000. With that kind of money on the line, it’s not surprising that the entry lineup is not only the largest in the event’s history, it’s also stacked with horsepower and horsemen.
For stats and facts about this year’s Open Futurity entries, take a look at the Open Roster Rundown.
Winning the Level 4 Open Championship is a three-step process. All Open entries compete in the first round, which begins tomorrow, Nov. 25, with the top 75 (plus ties) advancing to the Not Ruf At All Level 4 Open Semi-Finals round on Dec. 1. There, the top 30 (plus ties) move on to the clean-slate MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Futurity Finals on Dec. 4.
Open riders in Levels 1, 2, and 3, who are in the top 75 of their levels (but not in the top 75 of the Level 4), will compete in the Semi-Finals Round on Nov. 30. The top 30 in each of those levels (plus ties) will earn a spot in the first section of the Open Finals on Dec. 4.
Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased here.
2021 NRHA Futurity Rider Designations are due October 1, the same day as the last payment. This was a change made by the NRHA Board of Directors in an effort to streamline the entering process.
In the past, the Rider Designations were due on November 1. Horses that were undesignated at that time were put at the front of the draw. This often caused hardship for an owner and rider who might have simply miscommunicated on who was sending in the designation form.
Having the Rider Designation deadline set earlier gives time for undesignated horses to be verified and needed corrections made so that a mistake doesn’t automatically cause a horse to be put at the front of the draw.
For most people showing in the Non Pro and Open Futurities, there is little question as to who will show a horse so it’s one less deadline to keep up with. NRHA Professionals needing extra time to decide whether they or an assistant trainer will show a particular horse, can simply designate a rider by October 1 and then change as necessary with no penalties until noon two days before the first day of futurity.
The key is to get the designations in by October 1, then there is no charge for any rider changes that are completed before the final deadline.
When a rider change is submitted after the draw is complete and it stays within the same division (Open or Non Pro), there is no fee.
There is a difference when a rider change is submitted after the draw is completeand the rider is switching from the Open to the Non Pro or vice versa. In that case, the draw number will become a negative draw and a $250 fee will be due at the time of the rider and division change.
No rider changes will be accepted after noon two days prior to the first go.
