Oklahoma City, OK – The National Reining Horse Association’s (NRHA) moved into its third day with the first go, third section of the $540,000-added NRHA Open Futurity at the 2011 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show. The show runs now through December 3 at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. Saturday’s schedule included the first go-round, third section of the $540,000-added NRHA Open Futurity, plus the two classes of the Adequan North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) Show.

NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida and Smart Merada Rey (Smart Shiner x Meradas Kitty Rey) challenged the leaders and marked a score of 224.5. They are now tied for the high score in the $280,000-added level 4 open division with NRHA Million Dollar Rider Dell Hendricks and Cache Of Jewels. Smart Merada Rey is owned by Gaynia and Augustine Revenberg of Old Castle, Ontario, Canada. Flarida rode the gelding to the level 4 open reserve championship at the 2011 All American Quarter Horse Congress Futurity.

Cache Of Jewels (Conquistador Whiz x Jewels Lil Sparkle) is owned by James Crews of Myakka, Fla. Hendricks and the stallion have already accumulated nearly $24,000 together with a level 4 open division championship at the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity and reserve championship at the Ariat Tulsa Reining Classic John Deere Reining Futurity.

Guapo Lena and Jay McLaughlin continue to lead the $145,000-added level 3 open division. The Shiners Lena Doc stallion (out of Annies Nu Lena) is owned by Carol Rose of Gainesville, Tex.

Brazilian rider Eduardo Salgado and Gunner Boy (Gunner x Kat Jordan) still lead the $75,000-added level 2 open and $35,000-added level 1 open divisions with a score of 220.5. Jefferson Abbud (Sao Paulo, Brazil) owns the Brazilian Quarter Horse stallion.

The first go-round of the Open Futurity concludes Sunday. The NRHA Futurity then welcomes its first non pro competitors for the first-go, first section of the $260,000-added NRHA / Cinch Non Pro Futurity, plus qualifiers in the Adequan NAAC Limited Non Pro championship.

Shane Allen Brown and Houston Shine Win Adequan NAAC Open
In the $5,000-added NAAC Open, Mountain region qualifiers Shane Allen Brown and Houston Shine ($35,000 NRHA LTE) returned to the Adequan Championship Arena with the championship title on their mind after winning the reserve championship in 2010. They marked a 222 today to take top honors for 2011. Sheryl Mease (Grand Junction, Colo.) owns the 2004 Hey Houston stallion that is out of Shining Shiner.

Archer and One Night Roost Win Adequan NAAC Intermediate Open
South Central region qualifiers Stephen Archer (Richmond, Tex.) and One Night Roost (Gallo Del Cielo x Princess In Diamonds) bested the class in the $3,000-added NAAC Intermediate Open with a score of 222. The 2004 stallion is owned by Carolyn Tellepsen of Simonton, Tex. He has earned more than $20,000 in NRHA competition.

Watch the live webcast, keep tabs on the leaders and find out about the latest news and upcoming events at nrhafuturity.com, facebook.com/nrhareining or twitter.com/nrha.

More About the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show
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 features the Open Futurity Finals on Saturday, December 3 when the winning entry is guaranteed a check for $150,000, as well as incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners and award sponsors. The NRHA / Cinch Non Pro Futurity offers an additional $260,000 in added money for non pro reiners, which will be awarded on Friday, December 2. Nearly $100,000 in nominator incentive money also will be distributed to those individuals who originally nominated horses to the NRHA Nomination Program, despite whether or not they still own the horse.

The NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship 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.

NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show Supporters
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.

For more information on the NRHA, or the sport of Reining, please visit nrha.com or call (405) 946-7400.