Oklahoma City, OK – The first go-round of the $540,000-added NRHA Open Futurity ended today at the 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show. The show also welcomed the Adequan® North American Affiliate Limited Non Pro Championship. Reining fans can enjoy the show until December 3 at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.

NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida and Smart Merada Rey remain 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 (Smart Shiner x Meradas Kitty Rey) is owned by Gaynia and Augustine Revenberg of Old Castle, Ontario, Canada. Flarida rode the gelding to the level 4 open reserve championship in the 2011 All American Quarter Horse Congress Reining 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 so far in NRHA competition.

2010 NRHA Open Futurity Champion Jordan Larson rode Heritage Farm’s HF Mobster (Gunner x Dun Its Black Gold) to a score of 224 to end the go-round in third place.

Guapo Lena and Jay McLaughlin won the go-round in 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. Nathan Piper and Kelly Hale’s A Little Flash O Fly marked a 222 for second place in the level 3 open division.

Brazilian rider Eduardo Salgado and Gunner Boy (Gunner x Kat Jordan) claimed 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.

In the level 2 open division, there was a tie for second place with two scores of 220 – Garth Brown riding Jeffrey Palmer’s Showtimes Packinagun (Mister Nicadual x Showtimes Tinseltown) and Todd Wright riding Ernie Rodina’s Self Wrighteous (Self Shine x Im A Wright Off). Wright and Self Wrighteous ended the go-round in second place in the level 1 open division also.

Open riders have one more go-round of competition before finalists are determined. The top horse and rider combinations, based on composite scores from the first and second go-round, will advance to the Open Futurity Finals on Saturday, December 3 where the winner of the level 4 open will earn a check for $150,000 as well as incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners and award sponsors.

$260,000-Added NRHA / Cinch Non Pro Futurity
The $260,00-added NRHA / Cinch Non Pro Futurity entered the Oklahoma State Fair Park Coliseum today with the first section of the go-round. Frederick Christen (Whitehouse, Ohio) and Gunner On Ice (Gunner x Dancin For Joy) earned a 217.5 to lead the $100,000-added level 4 non pro division. Christen has won nearly $170,000 in NRHA competition including a third place finish on Gunner On Ice at the 2011 Scottsdale Classic Futurity.

In the $70,000-added level 3 non pro division, Dublin, Ohio’s Carlie Thompson rode her Crome Dont Corrode (Custom Crome x Maggie Chex) to a score of 216 for the lead. They come to the Futurity after winning the level 4 non pro division at the All American Quarter Horse Congress Futurity’s Congress Non Pro Reining Stakes. Thompson has nearly $145,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings.

Allison Sutton (Gainesville, Tex.) and Whiz N Chexy Chic lead the level 2 non pro and level 1 non pro division with a score of 215. Gary Sutton owns the Topsail Whiz mare out of Tinky Chex Chic. Allison placed fourth in the level 2 non pro division at the 2008 NRHA Futurity.

Breanna Van Der Schaaf Wins Adequan NAAC Limited Non Pro
South Central region qualifiers Breanna Van Der Schaaf (Richmond, Tex.) and Hes At Bat (Rowdy Yankee x Rambos Smart N Smoke) marked a 219.5 to win the Adequan NAAC Limited Non Pro championship. The pair recently won the level 3 open division in the 7 & Up Derby at the 2011 NRHA Derby. Van Der Schaaf has nearly $40,000 in NRHA LTE and Hes At Bat has more than $54,000 in NRHA LTE.

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.