2020 NRHA Markel Insurance Futurity Sales Review

Like many things in 2020, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Markel Futurity Sales looked a little different this year. In the past, the sales have been held in the sale pavilion in Barn 3 and spread out over several days. This year, four sales were held back-to-back on Dec. 3 in the Barn 6 arena.
“I personally liked having it all the same day,” said Cooper Smith, who purchased a top seller and consigned two top sellers. “I think they had it set up good. They didn’t really have a lot showing today, and I think the guys had a fair opportunity to be able to look at the horses. Yeah, it’s a long day, but you kind of got it one and done and out of the way. It was good for everybody.”

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National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Open Futurity Prelims

Brian Bell and Gunnabebigtime Top NRHA Open Futurity Preliminaries:


Anticipation mounts as a field of more than 300 entries has been narrowed down to the cream of the crop that will compete in the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Open Futurity Finals on Saturday, December 5. Competition began last Thursday, with the top 75 from each division advancing to the semi-finals. The Level (L)4 Open semi-finals, presented by Not Ruf At All and Tamarack Ranch, today featured the top 75 L4 horses, plus ties, following the preliminary round. The 30 competitors with the highest composite scores in Levels 1-4, plus top 10 in Prime Time, will advance to the Finals.For the first time in NRHA history, the L4 Open Futurity Champion will win a quarter-million dollars during the MS Diamonds TX L4 Open Finals. This year, the NRHA Futurity boasts a record $1,033,530 in added money for the Open and CINCH Non Pro Futurity combined, thanks in large part to NRHA Futurity Challenge sponsors and the NRHA nomination program.

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Tish Fappani Tops National Reining Horse Association CINCH Non Pro Futurity Preliminary Round

Tish Fappani Tops NRHA CINCH Non Pro Futurity Preliminary Round:
Over the past three days of competition, the top 3-year-old reining horses and their riders from across the country have vied for a spot in the finals of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity. With the conclusion of Tuesday’s preliminary round, most of the field is set for the CINCH Non Pro Futurity finals, which will be held on Friday, December 4.
Securing the preliminary high score for the Level (L) 4 and L3 CINCH Non Pro Futurity was Tish Fappani and Joes Genes with a 220. Joes Genes, owned and nominated by Tish and her husband Andrea Fappani, is by Lil Joe Cash and out of Electric Genes. In her short career, the mare has accumulated earnings exceeding $24,000, thanks to wins at the Friends of Reining Futurity and the SmartPak Non Pro Futurity at the National Reining Breeders Classic.

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Jason Vanlandingham and A Vintage Smoke Win Level 4 Open Championship at 2020 NRHA Derby Presented by Markel

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.

Read MoreJason Vanlandingham and A Vintage Smoke Win Level 4 Open Championship at 2020 NRHA Derby Presented by Markel

2020 MS Diamonds Tx NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Champion to Win a Quarter Million

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) made the landmark announcement today that the 2020 MS Diamonds Tx NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Champion will receive a quarter of a million dollars! The news came during the association’s Annual General Meeting and was accompanied by the additional announcement that the NRHA Non Pro Futurity Champion will receive $60,000, and added money for the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) will be doubled.

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Cade McCutcheon and Super Marioo: 2019 MS Diamonds TX NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Champions

Photo ©IHP
Photo ©IHP

With a total purse worth $932,207, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Open Futurity Finals closed the ten days of intense, world-class competition featuring top horses and riders from across the globe. Emotions ran high in Oklahoma City’s Jim Norick Arena where records were broken and history — once again — was made.

Read MoreCade McCutcheon and Super Marioo: 2019 MS Diamonds TX NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Champions

A Smoking Run leads to the 2018 NRHA Open Futurity Champion

Photo by Waltenberry
Photo by Waltenberry

The 2018 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Open Futurity Finals featured a field 70 horses deep across the four levels and prime time division. At the end of the night after the last score had been announced, NRHA Million Dollar Rider Jason Vanlandingham, riding A Vintage Smoke for owner Diane Mesmer, secured the title of 2018 NRHA Open Level (L) 4 Futurity Champion.

Read MoreA Smoking Run leads to the 2018 NRHA Open Futurity Champion