Thanksgiving Day is special to reiners, and not just for the delicious food and camaraderie amongst friends and family. It typically means the start of the most storied reining event in the world – the National Reining Horse Association Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships.
While the start of the Futurity was moved up a couple of days, there was much to be thankful for on Nov. 23. According to NRHA Chief Financial Officer John Foy, the 2023 Futurity is a record-breaker in numerous ways. Foy shared that total Open entries were up by 8.5 percent over the prior year. He also noted that 2022 was a record year for added money, but 2023 raised the bar, increasing by $66,200 to $1,163,529.
Another noteworthy record is that the Level 2 purse surpassed $200,000 for the first time in NRHA history!
Taking home a piece of that payout is a three-tier process, with the first being advancing out of the first round, which wraps up Friday, Nov. 24. Riders who qualify in Levels 1, 2, or 3 compete in the Semi-Finals rounds on Nov. 27 and 28, with the Level 4 qualifiers moving to the Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All on Nov. 29.
From there, the top 30 in each level advance to the Open Finals, with finalists in Levels 1, 2, and 3 competing Saturday morning, Dec. 2. That evening, the Level 4 Open qualifiers will vie for a $350,000 championship prize in the MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Finals.
Current Level Leaders through Go 1, Section 3, are:
Level 4 & 3, & APHA Open Chrome Cash – Dany Tremblay & Pawn Stars (PS Mega Shine Chic x All Guns On Deck) – 225
Owned by Cooper Smith | Nominated by Adh-Mor Ranch
Level 2 Co-Leader & Prime Time – Shauna Larcombe & Steppin Thruthe Nite (Steppin On Sparks x Spooks Night Time) – 220
Owned by Karon Murff | Nominated by Karon Murff
Level 2 Co-Leader – Daniel Martins Cruz & Wimpys Inferno (Inferno Sixty Six x Wimpys Pinesail) – 220
Owned by Ixtul Quarter Horses | Nominated by Ubere Agropecuaria Eireli
Level 2 Co-Leader – Robin Schoeller & Shine OH Shine (Shine Chic Shine x Miz Whizconsin)
Owned by Ruoff Dietter Reining Horses, Inc. | Bred by Ruoff Dietter Reining Horses, Inc.
Level 1 – Maxime Morin & Magnum Wimpys Dream (Magnum Chic Dream x Wimmpys Little Lassie) – 219
Owned by Maxime Morin | Nominated by Henry Knox
Complete results, draws, and more for the NRHA Futurity are at NRHAFuturity.com.