Fort Worth, TX - Today, reining superstars slid across the illustrious ground, where, for decades, cowboy legends have made unforgettable rides, broken records and inspired thousands of western dreams of gold belt buckles. The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Cowtown Classic brought the $113,000 added Open Pre Futurity and the $25,000 added Silver Spurs Equine Non Pro Shootout to the historic Will Rogers Equestrian Center Coliseum on Thursday, August 25. More than 130 entries including Reining’s most talented three-year-olds and 19 leading non pro riders showed at the inaugural event.

In the Level 4 Open division, NRHA crowed co-champions after two entries marked a 220. Freckles Got Ashiner and Matt Mills tied with Wranglin Chics and Craig Schmersal to take home $14,846 for their owners. Dealers Auctions Inc. / Vincent and Lynn Maffucci of Denver, N.C. own Freckles Got Ashiner (Smart Shiner x Scats Frecklefoot by Doctor Freckles). Wranglin Chics (Wrangle Whiz x Cheeky Boom by Smart Chic Olena) is owned by David and Lyn Bishop of Bayfield, Mo.

Third place went to Andrea Fappani and Spook Off Sparks for owner Rosanne Sternberg of Aubrey, Tex. The duo marked a 219.5 to win $8,215.

The Level 3 Open Pre Futurity Champion was BH Is Packin Heat and Scott McCutcheon. Susan Jones of Forest Lake, Minn. owns the Gunner stallion who is out of BH Song And Dance by Be Aech Enterprise. They also placed fourth in the Level 4 Open division for a total paycheck in excess of $11,000.

Reserve Champion in the Level 2 Open division went to Jay McLaughlin and Sharp Dressed Shiner (owned by La Mesa Performance Horses, LLC of Prichsenstadt, Germany).

Winning both the Level 2 and Level 1 Open Pre Futurity divisions was Cody Stark and What A Lucky Hit. Gary and Sandy Vickery of Cedaredge, Colo. own the mare who is by Hit The Lights and out of My Lucky Moonstone by Topsail Whiz.

Second place in the Level 2 Open went to Mark Rafacz and Misters Smokin Gun for owner Javier Melo of Pinecrest, Fla.

Keith Ceddia and Wimpy Bar The Door took home the Reserve Championship in the Level 1 Open division for Talala, Oklahoma’s Barron Ranch/Meeks Family Trust.

The $25,000 added Category 1 Silver Spurs Equine Non Pro Shootout is the largest added money class of its kind held in the United States and could make a significant impact on NRHA World Championship standings.

Jessica Sternberg (Sandhurst, Kent, United Kingdom) and Shiners Chic (Smart Chic Olena x Ebony Shines by Shining Spark) have had a successful 2011 earning more than $50,000 thus far. Today, they marked a 221.5 to win the Non Pro Shootout to take home $7,400. Shiners Chic, owned by NRHA Million Dollar Owner Rosanne Sternberg, now has more than $140,000 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings.

NRHA Corporate Partner Silver Spurs Equine sponsored the first-ever Non Pro Shootout. Silver Spurs Equine believes in creating a reining legacy one stallion at a time. Their legacy began with NRHA Hall of Fame sire Boomernic, the stallion that ushered in the modern era of reining with Brett Stone in the driver's seat. They have continued building a legacy with Conquistador Whiz, Spooks Gotta Gun, and Nic It In The Bud; stallions that are truly destined for greatness. They offer the finest stallions at reasonable prices, create partnerships with their breeders and motivate them with lucrative Futurity Incentive Awards. Join their breeding program and become the legacy at silverspursequine.com.

In ancillary competition, Jordan Donnelly and Jessiesstarlights won the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 class. The Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 win went to Tracy Higginbottom and Starbucks Sassy Sara.

The NRHA Cowtown Classic held two classes for youth members today. Genevieve Shifrin and Cinnful Conquistador marked the high score in the Youth 13 Under class. In the 14-18 Youth class, Jordan Donnelly and Jessiesstarlights took home top honors in yet another class on Thursday.

Dana Fielder and Shiners Whiz made a clean sweep of the last three remaining classes on Thursday’s schedule. The duo from Grand Forks, N.D. won the Rookie Level 1, Rookie Level 2 and Prime Time Rookie classes.

For complete results, visit www.nrhaclassic.com.

FRIDAY’S LINE UP
The NRHA Cowtown Classic schedule for Friday includes the $48,000 added Non Pro Pre Futurity, $60,000 added Non Pro Novice Horse Derby and $67,500 added Open Novice Horse Derby.

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 www.nrhaclassic.com.