The added-money rises to $300,000: but not for the “usual few”

The total prize money of what was already the richest reining competition in the world among the qualifiers for the prestigious NRHA world titles, has risen by $100,000 dollars. The Open, with $101,000 in prize money, remains the highestpaying competition of its kind anywhere in the world, but there are now big incentives for reining’s base and for its more ‘showy’ competition: the purse for Open Intermediate and Limited classes along with all Non Pro levels has increased – as well as that of the Freestyle, which alone will be worth $50,000.

Read MoreThe added-money rises to $300,000: but not for the “usual few”

Fonck rides Shiners Voodoo to the BO Ranch Open Maturity Championship

Photos by © Tom Hautmann
Photos by © Tom Hautmann

The duo made up of NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck and Shiners Voodoo took the lead in the qualifying go round of the $26,000-added BO Ranch Level (L)4 Open Maturity. Draw #1 in the second section of the Finals, the pair performed to a 224.5 and their score held until the end which secured them the title. The 6-year-old stallion by Shiners Voodoo DR out of BR China Rose, owned by Kimberly Wegner, added the Open Maturity Championship to his accolades and $55,500 NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE). “I started riding this horse at the beginning of this year as my wife, Ann, had three open horses to show so she passed the reins to me,” said the Belgian professional. “He’s a really powerful horse with a lot of talent and I like him a lot. He did good for me here from day one and I must say that the facility and organization here made it great for us to show.”

Read MoreFonck rides Shiners Voodoo to the BO Ranch Open Maturity Championship

Ann Fonck and Rising Star Gunners Specialolena Win the AMERICANA €40.000-added NRHA Open Bronze Trophy

Photo courtesy of IHP Media Partner Dead or Alive Photo / AMERICANA 2019 Press Office
Photo courtesy of IHP Media Partner Dead or Alive Photo / AMERICANA 2019 Press Office

It took a qualifier and a final to bring home top honors in the NRHA Open with the highest added offered in Europe: the 2019 AMERICANA €40.000-added Open Bronze Trophy. NRHA Million Dollar Rider Ann Fonck went ahead and won with Diego and Laura Dalla Gassa’s Gunners Specialolena, a 5-year-old double registered AQHA/APHA mare by NRHA’s Three Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite out of Dolly Jac Olena.

Read MoreAnn Fonck and Rising Star Gunners Specialolena Win the AMERICANA €40.000-added NRHA Open Bronze Trophy