The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) has hosted two successful events at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas and has finalized its plans for a third event. The 2013 NRHA Cowtown Classic will run Aug. 10-17 and once again will bring the sport of Reining to the “City of Cowboys and Culture.”
Will Rogers Memorial Center
The 2013 National Reining Horse Assn Cowtown Classic will run Aug. 10-17, 2013, bringing the sport of Reining to the "City of Cowboys and Culture," at Will Rogers Memorial Center.
© 2013 by Joe Mabel
The event will offer nearly $160,000 in added money for aged-event competition, plus plenty of ancillary opportunities for youth to prime time reiners.
$122,000-Added NRHA Novice Horse Derby
- For four, five and six year old horses that have earned less than $25,000 in all categories (except 3, 7, 9, 10, 11 & 12) in lifetime NRHA earnings as of January 1.
- The $67,500-added NRHA Open Novice Horse Derby will consist of four divisions: Level 4 Open, Level 3 Open, Level 2 Open and Level 1 Open. Entries may enter at any level for which they are eligible, but must enter up at least one division.
- The $54,500-added NRHA Non Pro Novice Horse Derby will consist of five divisions: Level 4 Non Pro, Level 3 Non Pro, Level 2 Non Pro, Level 1 Non Pro and Prime Time Non Pro. Entries may enter at any level, but must enter up at least one division. Prime Time Non Pro entries must be entered into at least one other division.
- Entries must be postmarked by July 15 to avoid penalty.
$22,000-Added NRHA Silver Spurs Equine Non Pro 7 & Up
- For horses that are 7 years old and older as of January 1.
- The NRHA Non Pro 7 & Up will consist of five divisions: Level 4 Non Pro, Level 3 Non Pro, Level 2 Non Pro, Level 1 Non Pro and Prime Time Non Pro. Entries may enter at any level for which they are eligible, but must enter up at least one division. Prime Time Non Pro entries must be entered into at least one other division.
- The NRHA Youth 7 & Up will consist of two divisions: Youth 13 & Under, and Youth 14-18. Youth Derby entrants are not required to enter the Non Pro 7 & Up, however, if they wish to do so, they must enter by following the Non Pro 7 & Up conditions and paying all fees by the posted deadlines.
$13,750-Added NRHA Pre Futurity
- •For three-year-old horses as of January 1.
- •The $8,000-added NRHA Open Pre Futurity will consist of four divisions: Level 4 Open, Level 3 Open, Level 2 Open and Level 1 Open. Entries may enter at any level, but must enter up at least one division.
- •The $5,750-added NRHA Non Pro Pre Futurity will consist of four divisions: Level 4 Non Pro, Level 3 Non Pro, Level 2 Non Pro and Level 1 Non Pro. Entries may enter at any level, but must enter up at least one division.
- •Entries must be postmarked by July 15 to avoid penalty.
NRHA Cowtown Classic – 2-Point Break-of-Gait Review
- Break-of-gait is the only 2-point penalty eligible for review by the judges.
- In the 2- or 3-judge system, the review will occur if the call is not unanimous.
The 2-point penalty has a great impact upon the placing of a class while at times being one of the most difficult calls a judge makes. Many in the industry have asked for the reviews to be extended beyond 5-point penalties and penalty score zeros in order to provide a way for judges to take a second look at these difficult calls and thus result in more accurate scores.
The NRHA Judges Committee discussed several options for the 2-point review, debated which penalties to review, how many judges on a team would need to call the penalty to initiate the review, whether to review the go-rounds and finals or only the finals and considered the potential impact to the flow of the show.
Upon evaluating these variables and determining that the break-of-gait penalty was the most often disputed 2-point penalty, they submitted their request to the NRHA Board of Directors. The Board approved their proposal for both the go-rounds and finals.
After evaluating the efficacy of this practice, the Board will work with the Judges Committee to determine if this would be a viable practice for NRHA to consider on a larger scale.
For more information on the Cowtown Classic
To learn more about the “City of Cowboys and Culture,”
Looking for details on the Will Rogers Memorial Center?
NRHA appreciates Silver Spurs Equine (Michael and Michelle Miola) for being the official title sponsor of the Non Pro 7 & Up. Visit their ranch online at silverspursequine.com.
NRHA would like to thank the following Corporate Partners for their support: Adequan®, Arenus, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Classic Equine, Darling 888 Ranch, Downunder Horsemanship, Horse&Rider, John Deere, Kiser Arena Specialists, Markel Insurance Company, Merial, Montana Silversmiths, Pard’s Western Shop, Platinum Performance, Purina Mills, Quarter Horse News, Rios of Mercedes / Anderson Bean Boot Company, Miller International – Cinch / Cruel Girl, Silver Spurs Equine, SmartPak, Twister Trailer and World Development Group International.