Fort Worth, Texas – August 27, 2011 – The final horse exited the arena, trailers were loaded and 1,300 entries departed the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Cowtown Classic today. By the end of the show, nearly $340,000 in added money was awarded to participants in more than 40 classes. The final day of competition included the $67,500 added Novice Horse Open Derby for four-, five- and six-year-olds who have won less than $20,000 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings, in addition to youth and Green Reiner classes.

Dean Brown and Robert Santagata’s Shiners Whizard along with Dan Huss and Marc Gordon’s Charisma N Chrome led most of the day in Novice Horse Open Derby with a 221. However when draw 99 entered the pen, the leader board changed. Casey Deary and A Bueno Chic (Bueno Fritzi Nic x A Hollywood Chic by Smart Chic Olena) marked a 222 for owner Jenelle Viniel of Lipan, Tex. to win the Level 4 Open division. The duo took home a check for $6,488.

Shiners Whizard (Whizard Black Jac x Ebony Shines by Shining Stack) with Brown and Charisma N Chrome (Custom Crome x Miss Sissy Gun by Gun Town) with Huss tied for the reserve championship in the Level 4 Open division and were co-champions in the Level 3 Open division. They each won a total of $9,711 for their efforts.

Double Tag Chex (Whiz N Tag Chex x Chic Olena Whiz by Smart Chic Olena) and Bobby Barko scored a 219 to win the Level 2 Open division, Level 1 Open division and a check for nearly $4,500. Lance Griffin (De Winton, Alberta) owns the 2007 gelding.

The Level 2 Open Division Reserve Champion was He Willie Whiza Star (Who Whiz It x Stellar Lady by Grays Starlight) and Jeremy Gates who marked a 218.5 for owners Joanne Dipiazza and Joe D' Ercole of Franklin Lakes, N.J.

The reserve championship honors in the Level 1 Open division went to Sparkle Spook (Smart Spook x Setting Off Sparks by Shining Spark) and Ryan Rushing with a 218. Niedereulenbach-Rott, Germany’s Shooting Star Quarter Horses own the 2007 mare.

ANCILLARY COMPETITION
In the Green Reiner Level 1 and Level 2, Kristin Gribble-Bowring and Shes One Hot Chic (Hesa Smart Chic x Poco Bay Gril by Poco Club) marked a 140 for the win. James McCutcheon of Valley View, Tex. owns the four-year-old mare.

Two riders scored a 140.5 to tie for the win in the Youth 14 - 18 class - Jordan Donnelly (Aubrey, Tex.) with Jessiesstarlights (Starlights Gypsy x Wannab Jessies Girl by Jessie Rey Tari) and Sarah Bouchard (Petersham, Mass.) with Mif Dee Gunner (Gunner x Mif Dee Bay by Mifillena).

Weatherford, Texas’ Whitney Conrad rode Lil Hollywood Gun (Lil Gun x Hollywood Baby Dunit by Hollywood Dun It) to a 140.5 to win the Youth 13 & Under class. Conrad owns the seven-year-old gelding.

Kenleigh N Wells and The Ultimate Magnum (Magnum Chic Dream x Queen De La Club by Queens Colonel) slid to an impressive 142 to win the Youth 10 & Under class. Rayelynne Wells of Valley View, Tex, owns the seven-year-old gelding.

On Saturday, the Cowtown Classic also featureda judging seminar hosted by top NRHA Judges, a leadership development seminar and the inaugural 4-H & NRHyA Youth Reining Championship. The Youth Reining Championship featured six accomplished youth riders in a “catch ride” competition. Texas 4-H wasrepresented by the top three placing reining individuals atthe Texas State 4-H Horse Show. NRHyAselected three riders from the World Championship standings to compete on behalf of the NRHA. When the class ended, Sarah Bouchard rode Jordan Donnelly’s Jessiesstarlights to take home bragging rights for the NRHyA.

The following NRHA Corporate Partners provided awards for the Novice Horse Derby, Pre Futurity and Silver Spurs Equine Non Pro Shootout: Adequan®, Arenus, Classic Equine, Pard’s Western Shop, Platinum Performance, Purina, Rios of Mercedes / Anderson Bean Boot Company, Rocky Mountain Clothing Company and SmartPak.

For complete results, visit nrhaclassic.com.

THANKS TO SHOW SUPPORTERS
The NRHA would like to thank the following corporate partners for their support: Adequan®; Arenus, Bob’s Custom Saddles; Cimarron Trailers; Cinder Lakes Ranch and Reproduction Center; Classic Equine; Darling 888 Ranch; Horse&Rider; John Deere; Kiser Arena Specialists; Markel Insurance Company; Merial; Montana Silversmiths; Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau; Pard’s Western Shop; Platinum Performance; Purina Mills; Quarter Horse News; Rios of Mercedes / Anderson Bean Boot Company; Rocky Mountain Clothing Company; Silver Spurs Equine; SmartPak and Xtra Quarter Horses, plus Cowtown Classic Event Sponsors Cool-A-Zone, KO Trading, Kyle Tack and RAM.

For more information on the Cowtown Classic, visit nrhaclassic.com.