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Oklahoma City Hosts Groundbreaking for New Coliseum at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) was proud to join Oklahoma City officials on Wednesday, February 22, for a groundbreaking ceremony of the new coliseum at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.

The beloved Jim Norick Coliseum, known by some as ‘The Big House,’ was built in 1965 and will be replaced by a new $126 million state-of-the-art coliseum. Set to be completed in 2025, the facility will feature a 216,000-square-foot building with 7,000 seats and a restaurant, lounge, and upscale concession areas. The current Jim Norick Coliseum will be utilized for all events until the new project is completed.

Speakers at the groundbreaking included Ron Norick, past Oklahoma City Mayor and son of the late Jim Norick, Oklahoma City Major David Holt, Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau president Zac Craig and president and CEO of the Oklahoma State Fair Kirk Slaughter.

“The Jim Norick Coliseum hosts two million people and 150 events per year,” said Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau president Zac Craig. “On any given week, you see the best riders in the world in their respective disciplines, and it is an economic engine for our community.”

Craig also highlighted the coliseum generates $350 million in annual economic impact for Oklahoma City and is an investment into tourism along with solidifying Oklahoma City’s reputation as a host for premier equine and livestock events. The project is funded through MAPS4, a debt-free public improvement program funded by a temporary penny sales tax, with additional funds coming from city hotel tax revenues.

“This project is about maintaining what this place provides our community, and it is tremendous,” said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. “I have always loved the idea of what this venue means to the entire state, and if you are a young person in Oklahoma and involved in agriculture, or basketball, or other sports, this is your mecca and where you dream of coming.

“I think it is cool that we love the history of this building; Elvis even played here, and it is really cool history. However, I think people will come to love the amenities and attractiveness provided by this future facility. History only takes you so far on a practical side, and what you are going to have with this new iteration is a practical, useful building to continue having economic impact on this community and bring people from around Oklahoma and the country. Congratulations to everyone involved in this!”

Excitement broke among the crowd as shovels broke ground, including an extra shovel turned by Ron Norick to honor his father, Jim Norick.

“I am so proud of my father and what he did, and how proud I am that his name is on this building, and how proud he is going to be when we have the new building,” said Norick. “This building has served our community well. It is a wonderful day!”

NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter, who was present at the event along with NRHA staff, echoed the excitement.

“We are so fortunate to have great partnerships throughout Oklahoma City, and this project coming to fruition is just another example of the community coming together,” said Carpenter. “Our relationship with the Oklahoma State Fair is one we have always valued, and we look forward to supporting them through this process. This venue will be a stage worthy of our events, and our competitors will move to a new, elevated level not experienced before.”

For more information, including a concept video of the new facility, visit okcfairgrounds.com/new-coliseum.

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2023 6666 NRHA Derby Presented by Markel Judges Have Been Chosen

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) proudly announces the group of judges chosen for the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, held June 13-25, 2023. As the second largest NRHA-approved event of the year, preparation for the prestigious show has started, including finalizing who will evaluate each run.

Kelly Hedges, Jan Hay, Dean Bogart, and BJ Riberio have been chosen for the Adequan® Arena classes. The Judges Monitor will be Bob Kail.

The Jim Norick Coliseum will be judged by Bub Poplin, Ollie Griffith, Mack Weaver, Gabe Davide, and Manu Maiocchi, with Jeff Buckley as equipment judge. The Judges Monitor is Eugenio Latorre.

“The selection of judges for an NRHA Event is thorough, fair, and rigorous,” said Patti Carter, Senior Director of Education and Officials. “The NRHA Judges Committee is confident this group of judges will represent NRHA and its athletes with consistent and accurate maneuver and penalty application throughout the event. We look forward to working with this amazing group of selected NRHA Judges.”

The NRHA Derby and Futurity judges are recommended by the Judges Committee, submitted to a sub-committee appointed by the NRHA President, and given final approval from the Executive Committee. The recommendations are made by the following criteria:

  • Each eligible judge is contacted for their availability for the event
  • All available judges are compiled into a list and sent to each member of the Judges Committee
  • Judges Committee members make selections from the list to fill the allotted slots for the event
  • These names are compiled into a shortlist and discussed on a conference call with all members of the Judges Committee.
  • The committee members, except for the chair, then rank their choices, and each ranking equates to a certain number of points. The points are compiled and submitted to the committee chair.
  • The committee chair reviews and makes recommendations based on the outcome of the vote and the needs of NRHA.
  • The ranked list with the Judges Committee Chair recommendations is submitted to the subcommittee for final selection.

For more information, visit NRHA.com/judges. 

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2022 Peter Phinny Memorial Leading Futurity Sire Award

In 2021, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) established the Peter Phinny Memorial Leading Futurity Sire Award to honor the late NRHA member whose support contributed immensely to the association and the future of the industry.

The second recipient of the award is NRHA $8 Million Sire Gunnatrashya (Gunner x Natrasha), who also received the inaugural award last year.

At the 2022 NRHA Futurity, the stallion owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA and bred by Katarina Dorminy had ten offspring in the Open Finals and five in the Non Pro Finals. In total, the offspring earned $613,444 in both finals for an average of $40,896.

The perpetual award is presented annually at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel in June. The Mehl Lawson Bronze, which represents the award, will remain in the NRHA office in Oklahoma City.

A member of the NRHA since 1966, Phinny was raised in Fremont, Michigan, and lived most of his life in the Glen Arbor area. He will be remembered as a solid citizen, devoted to family, and always kind and generous with friends, associates, and worthy causes.

To learn more about Peter Phinny, visit here.

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The Teams Have Been Chosen for the American Performance Horseman

The Teton Ridge American Performance Horseman gets prepared for the bright lights of Arlington, Texas, at the home of the Texas Rangers MLB team, Globe Life Field. The American Western Weekend will kick off with the Top Five professionals from the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA), National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA), and National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) on Friday, March 10, 2023.

Each team will include a reining professional, reined cow horse professional, and cutting professional. This highly anticipated competition will open with cutting, then move into the reining, and close out with the reined cow horse competitors. The performance horse industry will witness history with the first team concept competition battling for $1 Million in prize money.

Each NRHA professional announced their two equine athletes of choice to ride for this inaugural event during The American Performance Horseman Team Selections event held on February 6th. The horsepower will be off the charts, and riders must declare their official decision by March 8th at noon.

First up, NRHA $7 Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida selected Alpha Jac Sparrow, owned by Fritz Leeman. This is a stallion sired by NRHA Hall of Famer Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Chexanicki, with lifetime earnings (LTE) of $126,953. He chose Shiner On My Eye as well, with a lifetime earnings of $169,999 and owned by Bob Santagata. The stud is out of Flashy Lil Step and sired by NRHA $3 Million Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr.

Second up, NRHA $3 Million Dollar Rider Casey Deary, with his choice of Down Right Amazing, a stallion owned by DAG Ventures LLC with lifetime earnings of $224,250.

The 2022 Run for a Million Shootout Champion is sired by NRHA $13 Million Sire Gunner and out of Shesouttayourleague. His other pick is lifetime earner of more than $369,059, the 2021 NRHA Futurity Champion Ten Thirty, owned by Rancho El Fortin and sired by Gunnatrashya and out of Dainty Little Step.

Next in line, NRHA Professional Fernando Salgado chose Gunnabeabrightstar, owned by Neiberger Performance Horses, carrying a lifetime earnings of $157,017. This stud is out of the mare Abbie Be Tuff and sired by ARC Gunnabeabigstar. Salgado’s other option is Pale Dun Star, owned by Ian and Kristen Cantacuzene. The stud with $78,208 in NRHA LTE is sired by NRHA $3 Million Sire Pale Face Dunnit and out of the mare Get Ya Some Stars.

Next, NRHA $7 Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani plans to pair up with Trash Talkin Spook with $154,770 NRHA LTE owned by Marilyn Overgaard. A stud sired by Gunnatrashya and out of I Spook. Fappani, in addition, chose a stud owned by Teton Ridge, Starjac Vintage, with a lifetime earnings of $172,769. The stud is an NRHA $3 Million Sire A Sparkling Vintage and out of Starjac Miss.

Last to draw, NRHA Million Dollar Rider Matt Mills electing to pilot Guns And Dynamite sired by NRHA $5 Million Sire Gunners Special Nite and out of Chic Olena Starbuck. The stallion chosen is proudly owned by Tim and MaryBeth Ruckman and has an LTE of $250,424. He also elected Stopping In Jersey owned by Bosque Ranch Performance Horses, lifetime earner of $96,864. The stud is out of Stop Little Sister and sired by Yellow Jersey.

Burnt Orange Team

Cutting: Austin Shepherd, Summerdale, Alabama

Reining: Matt Mills, Weatherford, Texas

Reined Cow Horse: Lee Deacon, Marietta, Oklahoma

Racing Green Team

Cutting: Lindy Thorn, Claremore, Oklahoma

Reining: Casey Deary, Weatherford, Texas

Reined Cow Horse: Chris Dawson, Perrin, Texas

Royal Blue Team

Cutting: Adan Banuelos, Weatherford, Texas

Reining: Fernando Salgado, Gainesville, Texas

Reined Cow Horse: Sarah Dawson, Perrin, Texas

Imperial Purple Team

Cutting: Wesley Galyean, Claremore, Oklahoma

Reining: Andrea Fappani, Scottsdale, Arizona

Reined Cow Horse: Corey Cushing, Weatherford, Texas

Regal Red Team

Cutting: Lloyd Cox, Marietta, Oklahoma

Reining: Shawn Flarida, Springfield, Ohio

Reined Cow Horse: Justin Wright, Santa Maria, California

The American West Weekend is one you won’t want to miss. The American Performance Horseman event will commence at 6:45 p.m. CST on Friday, March 10. The evening will conclude with a concert featuring Darius Rucker and Sheryl Crow, which is included in your admission fee. The American Rodeo will be held at Globe Life Field on Saturday, March 11, with admission to a Cody Johnson concert included. For a 25% discount on your tickets for the weekend, use code NRHA23 at checkout.

Buy your tickets TODAY by visiting americanrodeo.com/tickets, and be sure to download Teton Ridge + to stay in the know regarding all things American West Weekend at tetonridgeplus.com. We can’t wait to see you there!