The field is set, the players are named. The 2020 National Reining Breeders Classic Open preliminaries wrapped up Thursday evening after two tough days of competition. More than 180 horses entered the Ford Arena of the Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and that was whittled down to the best of the best who will compete in Saturday's clean-slate finals.
The National Reining Breeders Classic Open Preliminaries began Wednesday, September 2, at the Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The field of 194 will be narrowed to the top 30 in each division at the conclusion of Thursday's competition.
A quick perusal of the draw sheets quickly tells of the tough competition in the Ford Truck Arena. Holding the top spot at the end of the first day is Casey Deary on Gunnabeabrightstar with a 225. Gunnabeabrightstar, by ARC Gunnabeabigstar out of Abbie Be Tuff, is owned by Neiberger Performance Horses LLC.
The 2020 National Reining Breeders Classic, being held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the current year, is off to a great start. The Non Pro preliminary round wrapped up Tuesday evening, and the field for Friday's clean-slate finals is set. The 188 entries were whittled down over two days to the crème de la crème, and in the end, Indy Roper and Spooks Show Time lead the field with an impressive score of 222. In addition to a finals berth, the pair won a go-round check for $7,151.
The first week of the 2020 National Reining Breeders Classic culminated with the SmartPak Non Pro Futurity on Saturday. Longtime NRBC and Tulsa Reining Classic sponsor, SmartPak opted for the sponsorship of the $27,000 added SmartPak Non Pro Futurity in this transition year. It's a perfect fit for SmartPak at a time when the highly popular "Texas Hold-em" night could not be held due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The pinnacle of futurity competition at the National Reining Breeders Classic was held Friday, August 28, with the incredible $61,000 added Hollywoodstinseltown Open Futurity. The 114-entry futurity featured top riders from all over, and when the last horse had left the arena, there was tie for the win. Abby Lengel and Andrea Fappani had both marked a 224. While they could have elected to run-off for the title, they decided to stay co-champions.
Fappani and Lengel weren't the only co-champions crowned, as Arno Honstetter and Kole Price tied for the Open Level 3 win, and Diego Gaona and Julie Roshelli posted identical scores to top the Open Level 1.
A Vintage Smoke blew into the Jim Norick Coliseum during the Level 4 Open Finals of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby presented by Markel. At the reins was his trainer, Jason Vanlandingham. The newly crowned NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider and the flashy black stallion had already made their mark on the reining industry by winning two of the three largest reining events: the 2018 NRHA Futurity and the 2019 National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC). The only accolade missing from A Vintage Smoke’s resume? An NRHA Derby presented by Markel Championship.
Following a board meeting on May 7, the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) Board and Management has announced that this year's show will be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma August 26 - September 6.
The National Reining Breeders Classic has announced a postponement of the event, which had been rescheduled to May 24-31 at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas.
The National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) board and management team and the Great Southwest Equestrian Center continue planning to hold the NRBC May 24-31 if Texas and Harris County restrictions from the Covid-19 Virus permit. In a meeting held April 16, Amy Uniss-Coleman, General Manager of the GSEC along with Tom McCutcheon, Colleen McQuay, Tim McQuay, Pete Kyle, Dell Hendricks and Cheryl Cody discussed the future of the event.
Following a board meeting earlier today, the NRBC has announced that this year's show will be rescheduled for May 24-31, 2020.
Draw 25 in a field of 36 finalists in the second section of the NRBC Open Classic finals, Jason Vanlandingham and his 2018 National Reining Horse Association Futurity Champion A Vintage Smoke marked a scorching 227.5. Three horses later, Nathan Piper and Patriot, also rode to a 227.5 and, for the first time in the NRBC’s history, two riders would opt to share the Level 4 Open Championship, with each taking home $63,000.
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