Oklahoma City, OK – Nearly 40 entries have been received for the $100,000-added National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Open World Championship Shootout presented by Equine Sports Medicine. The Shootout is scheduled for Thursday, December 1 at the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show with opening ceremonies beginning at 7:15 p.m. It is this year’s largest added money NRHA-approved (Category 1) class in the world.
2010 Shootout Champion and NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani is entered this year on three horses with total NRHA Lifetime Earnings in excess of $500,000. In addition, the top three contenders in the 2011 NRHA Open World Championship race are slated to compete (Great Sun Burst, Star Spangled Whiz and Rey Jays Award). Great Sun Burst (owned by Manuel Bonzano) won the 2010 Open World Championship with NRHA Professional Bernard Fonck. The duo will compete together at Shootout with the hopes of winning another NRHA World Championship title.
The $100,000-added NRHA Open World Championship Shootout presented by Equine Sports Medicine is an “Open-to-the-World” class where the top Open reining horses on the planet may compete in a dramatic showdown for the winner’s estimated purse of $30,000.
At the end of the evening, the 2011 NRHA Open World Champion will be recognized and honored at the show – even though the World Champion and the Shootout winner may not be the same. To be named the 2011 NRHA Open World Champion, the horse must have earned money in seven or more NRHA Category 1 Open classes. Entries can still be submitted with the appropriate late fee.
OPEN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SHOOTOUT – BY THE NUMBERS
· 36 horses that have won in excess of $3.6 million total in NRHA competition
HORSES
· 4 horses that have earned more than $200,000 NRHA LTE (Great Sun Burst, Smart Spook, Taris Designer Genes and Wimpys Little Buddy)
· 16 horses that have earned more than $100,000 NRHA LTE
OWNERS
· 1 owner with three horses (Rosanne Sternberg)
· 2 owners with two horses (Rancho Oso Rio LLC and Shannon Reid)
RIDERS
· 2 riders with three horses (Andrea Fappani and Jordan Larson)
· 5 riders with two horses (Stefano Calcagini, Shawn Flarida, Rudi Kronsteiner, Brent Naylor and Craig Schmersal)
BIG GUNS
· Rudi Kronsteiner - 2 horses with $539,800 NRHA LTE
· Andrea Fappani - 3 horses with $502,800 total NRHA LTE
· Jordan Larson - 3 horses with $394,900 total NRHA LTE
· Shawn Flarida - 2 horses with $326,500 total NRHA LTE
· Craig Schmersal - 2 horses with $187,700 total NRHA LTE
LEADING CONTENDERS FOR THE NRHA OPEN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
(Open World Championship Standings – All shows thru 11/05/2011 except Espirito Sto Do Pinhal, Brazil; Stare Zukowice, Poland; Kreuth, Germany; Columbia, MO; Chassieu, France; Williamston, NC; Fort Worth, TX; Kibbutz Netzer, Israel; Louisville, KY; New Smyrna, FL.)
· 1st - Great Sun Burst - $35,400 earned at 6 shows
· 2nd - Star Spangled Whiz - $22,200 earned at 5 shows
· 3rd- Rey Jays Award - $16,700 earned at 17 shows
· 7th - Custom Harley - $9,400 earned at 6 shows
· 8th - Wimpys Little Buddy - $7,800 earned at 3 shows
· 11th - Shepherd Star - $6,400 earned at 8 shows
ENTRIES WITH $100,000+ NRHA LTE
Horse / Rider / Owner / NRHA LTE
· Smart Spook / Kronsteiner, Rudi / Sternberg, Rosanne / $396,500
· Great Sun Burst / Fonck, Bernard / Bonzano, Manuel / $276,600
· Taris Designer Genes / Fappani, Andrea / Rancho Oso Rio LLC / $250,000
· Wimpys Little Buddy / Muehlstaetter, Martin / Roberts, Madalyn / $236,600
· Tinker With Guns / Fappani, Andrea / Rancho Oso Rio LLC / $197,300
· Whizkey N Diamonds / Flarida, Shawn / Rhodes River Ranch / CDR Farms / $186,800
· Spooks Gotta Whiz / Larson, Jordan / Kimball, Michell / $173,400
· Whiz It A Chic / Coulter, Lisa / Thompson, Robert / $164,500
· Shiners Chic / Massignan, Stefano / Sternberg, Rosanne / $155,500
· Star Spangled Whiz / Kronsteiner, Rudi / Bevilacqua, Fabrizio / $143,300
· Quistador / Flarida, Shawn / Revenberg, Gus & Gaynia / $139,700
· Magnum With A Dream / Mathison, Justin / Visser, Joshua / $127,000
· Custom Harley / Larson, Jordan / Rancho El Fortin / $124,800
· Custom Cash Advance / Latimer, Duane / Luga, LLC / $108,000
· Miss Lil Addy Tude / Schmersal, Craig / KC Performance Horses, LLC / $106,800
· Whizin Off Sparks / Vanlandingham, Jason / Sternberg, Rosanne / $103,000
GET MORE INFORMATION
For more information on the NRHA $100,000-added Open World Championship Shootout, e-mail Melanie Rinehart at [email protected] or call (405) 946-7400. Rules regarding NRHA Year-End Awards can be found in the NRHA Handbook.
EQUINE SPORTS MEDICINE
Equine Sports Medicine is a proud sponsor of the $100,000-added Open World Championship Shootout. To learn more about their veterinarians, show schedule and technology, visit equine-sportsmedicine.com.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
The NRHA would like to thank the following corporate partners for their support of the NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show: Adequan, Arenus, Bob’s Custom Saddles; 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; Miller International – Cinch / Cruel Girl; Silver Spurs Equine; SmartPak, Twister Trailer and Xtra Quarter Horses, plus NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show Sponsors: 4R Performance Horses, Avila’s Pro Shop, Cowdog Saddles, Equine Sports Medicine, eyeD™, Heat-A-Zone, KO Trading, Kyle Tack, Performance Horse Supply, RAM, Sandbur Productions LLC, Scott Cleaners, Shorty’s Caboy Hattery and Soft Ride.
MORE ABOUT THE NRHA FUTURITY & ADEQUAN NORTH AMERICAN AFFILIATE CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW
The international sport of Reining will host the world’s premier event for reiners – the 2011 NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show, November 24 through December 3 at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. This year’s eventwill be the 25thto be held in Oklahoma City.
It’s the most elite reining event in the world with more than 3,000 entries competing for nearly $2 million in cash and prizes. More than 1,300 horses and 127,000 visitors come from nearly 20 countries to compete and watch the excitement unfold. During its 10-day run, the show contributes more than $67 million to the overall Oklahoma City economy.
The show offers a variety of spectator events and activities including a western gift market, NRHA / Markel Insurance Horse sales, NRHA Open World Championship Shootout presented by Equine Sports Medicine, Silver Spurs Equine Rookie of the Year and 4R Performance Horses Hometown Heroes Slide & Freestyle Reining benefitting the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
Go to nrhafuturity.com for more information or to purchase tickets.