For Immediate Release
May 15, 2007
National Reining Horse Association
2007 NRHA Derby Show Kicks Off in OKC
Oklahoma City, OK – May 15, 2007 – The 2007 NRHA Derby Show is in full swing at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, OK. During the past three days, close to one-thousand reiners from around the world moved into their stalls and have been warming up in the coliseum, preparing for Monday’s first day of Derby competition.
On Monday, under sunny skies, the temperature heated up outside but it was cool inside the Coliseum where spectators cheered for their favorite Non Pro Derby competitor. The first section of the $30,000 added Non Pro Derby go round ended with a tie for first place.
When the first section’s 62, of 131, entries were finished, Mandy McCutcheon and Kelle Smith were tied. McCutcheon, NRHA’s only Million Dollar Non Pro Rider, scored a 219 on Dun It Found A Star (Hollywood Dun It x Don’t Miss This), owned by her father, Tim McQuay, of Tioga, TX. Smith also scored a 219 on her JD Conquista Anna (Conquistador Whiz x Hollywood Anna), the same horse Smith rode to win the 2006 Cinch NRHA Non Pro Futurity Championship. McCutcheon is from Aubrey, TX, and Smith is from Belle Center, OH.
Tish Fappani is leading the first section of the $15,000 added Intermediate Non Pro division’s go round. Fappani, of San Marcos, CA, scored at 215.5 on her Lady Smoke Peppy (Mister Dual Pep x Smoky Tibar). Bernie Paetzel is close behind in second place riding his Toriana Dun It (Mr Tori Kid x Dunits Reining Heir). Paetzel, of New Vienna, OH, scored a 214.5.
The leader of the first section of the $7,500 added Limited Non Pro division go round is T. Sharnai Thompson. Thompson, of Pilot Point, TX, scored a 214 riding her Dun Its Chico (Hollywood Dun It x Smart Chinas Chic). There’s a tie for second place between Kathleen Pinkley riding her Downright Juicy (Smart Like Juice x Bright Lynx) and Kathleen Armenta riding her Custom Twister (Custom Crome x Ms Pines Forty Nine). Pinkley is from Aubrey, TX, and Armenta’s from Whitesboro, TX.
The $2,000 added Novice Horse Open/AQHA Open/APHA Regular Open All Ages/APHA Solid Open All Ages (all run concurrently) followed the Non Pro Derby competition.
The winner of the $2,000 added Novice Horse Open was NRHA Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani. Fappani, of San Marcos, CA, scored a 219 to win first place on A Dream Date (Magnum Chic Dream x Miss Colonel Jaybird) owned by Regina De La Madrid, of Coronado, CA.
For the first time at the NRHA Derby, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) approved classes to run concurrently with NRHA ancillary classes.
Jarvis Anderson, of Clyde Park, MT, was awarded first place in the APHA Regular Open All Ages class. Anderson scored a 69 on Hollyhollywood (Twister Eighty Six x Pasa Magic Bucks).
The winner of the APHA Solid Open All Ages class was Carlie Mc Kinzie, of East Wenatchee, WA. Mc Kinzie won on RU Missin Diamonds (Like A Diamond/Missy Olena), owned by George & Cindy Mc Kinzie, of East Wenatchee, WA.
Patrice St-Onge won the AQHA Open All Ages class. St-Onge, of Gainesville, TX,,, rode Mister Hollywood Nic (Hollywood Dun It x Nic A Lynx) owned by Jac Point QH of Austria.
Tuesday’s competition begins with the 2nd and final section of the $30,000 added Non Pro Derby go round followed by the $2,000 added Intermediate Open, $500 added Limited Open and $500 added Rookie Professional classes (run concurrently).
If you can’t attend the Derby, you don’t have to miss a single run! You can watch all the competition on your computer! The NRHA is offering FREE live streaming video! Go to www.nrha.com to watch all the action at the 2007 NRHA Derby Show. Be sure to check nrha.com for updates on the top riders and horses each day of the competition.
Besides the fantastic Reining competition, there’s something for everyone at the 2007 NRHA Derby. You can “shop 'till you drop” at the Derby Trade Show. With over 70 vendors from across the nation, you’re sure to find something special to buy from clothes and jewelry to tack and massages, there’s a whole lot to see on the Coliseum Concourse. Trade show hours are 9:00 am – 6:00 pm and on Friday and Saturday vendors will stay open until 8:00 pm.
If you’re in the market for a reining horse, make plans to attend the NRHA/Markel Insurance Spotlight Sale preview and Champagne Brunch on Saturday, May 19. You can choose from 60 consignments of yearlings, two year olds, three year olds, show horses and broodmares. It all begins at 8:00 am in Barn 6. Then, the NRHA/Markel Insurance Spotlight Sale begins at 10:00 am in Barn 3.
On Saturday there'll be lots of fun for kids of all ages. Join the National Reining Horse Youth Association for the NRHyA Youth Day & Derby Block Party. The entire day will be filled with fun for all ages and benefits a worthy cause at the same time. The Block Party is free, but participants are asked to bring non-perishable food items or a monetary donation to benefit the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. The Block Party begins at 1:00 pm with a petting zoo, moonwalk, rock climbing wall, a demonstration by the Oklahoma City Mounted Police as well as a Reining demonstration with NRHA Professional John Horn.
Great reining and family fun at the 2007 NRHA Derby.
For more information contact Kathy Damrill, NRHA Communications Manager, at kdamrill@nrha.com or call (405) 946-7400, ext. 129.
