The field of DT Horses and Hashtags World’s Greatest Horseman finalists became official on Thursday, February 21 at the Celebration of Champions in Fort Worth, Texas. Reined cow horse action was non-stop throughout the day with NRCHA World Champions being named in the Novice Non Pro Bridle and $5,000 Non Pro Limited. The Non Pro Bridle preliminaries kicked off the day’s action in John Justin Arena followed by the Youth Bridle preliminaries, which was run concurrent with the Texas Lighting World’s Greatest Youth Horseman. The Texas Lighting World’s Greatest Youth Horseman steer stopping followed by the DT Horses and Hashtags World’s Greatest Horseman steer stopping and cow work wrapped up an exciting day in the John Justin Arena. Preliminaries for the $1,000 Non Pro Limited and Youth Limited took place in Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum.
| DT Horses/Hashtags’ World’s Greatest Horseman With preliminary go rounds complete in each of the four phases of the World’s Greatest Horseman competition, reined cow horse fans can look forward to the best bridle horses in the business competing in the finals on Saturday, February 24 beginning at 4 p.m. in Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum with cutting. Leading the competition going into the Finals is Sparktilion (Shining Spark x Cattilion) ridden by Jake Telford for owner Michelle Cannon with a 877.5 composite (216.5 herd/221.5 rein/217.5 cow/222 steer). Thursday’s steer stopping round went to Honey Bees (Peptoboonsmal x Savannah Hickory) ridden by Brad Lund for Honeybee Partners with a 224. In the cow work it was Luke Jones riding Wranglered (Starlights Wrangler x Snow White Dun It) for owners Dell and Terri Hendricks to a 227 for top honors in the round. |
| World’s Greatest Youth Horseman presented by Texas Lighting LLC. Leading the Texas Lighting World’s Greatest Youth Horseman is young California horseman Pierce Wold riding Ken and Ramona Wold’s Real Smooth Cat. Wold earned a 439 composite thanks to his 142.5 in the reined work and his fence score of 151, which was the highest of the round. Wold scored 145.5 points in the steer stopping. The top score in the World’s Greatest Youth Horseman reined work was a 144 earned by Kate Buchanan riding Lucky Cee Blair (Dun It Gotta Gun x Cee Blair Lady). Josh Briggs and Cutter McLaughlin earned identical scores of 147 to split the round in the steer stopping. Briggs rode SV Whiskey Whiz (Paddys Irish Whiskey x Sure Enough Whiz) and McLaughlin rode DT Whiskey Shine (Paddys Irish Whiskey x Smart Shinealo). |
| Novice Non Pro Bridle World Champion Novice Non Pro Bridle World Champion honors went to Lannie-Jo Lisac and Soulanova (Soula Jule Star x Round Oak Annie) with a composite score of 443.5 thanks to a 213.5 in the reined work and 220 on the cow, which earned Lisac $3,150. |
| $5,000 Non Pro Limited World Champion Douglas Allan McDaniel, Jr. and CR Tuffs Magic Tonic (Woody be Tuff x Miss Oak Tonic) had a successful day in both arenas. Not only did they top of the Youth Limited prelims, but also earned the $5,000 Non Pro Limited World Championship and $2,910 thanks to a score of 442 (210 rein/212 cow). “It feels great,” said McDaniel of being a first-time NRCHA World Champion. “I didn’t have the best cow at first so they whistled me a new one then I had a runner that took a while to get used to, but I got it done.” McDaniel started showing in reined cow horse shows two years, which is as long as he has been partnered with CR Tuffs Magic Tonic. “I’d like to thank my trainer Cayley Wilson and his family, Katie Wilson, Riley Wilson, and Gracie Wilson, as well as Kendal Page and my parents,” said McDaniel. |
Derby Non Pro Champion
| NRCHA World Championship Preliminaries |
| Non Pro Bridle PreliminariesLeading the field of Non Pro Bridle finalists with the high mark of the prelims was Sonya Distefano riding Reys Stylish Bell (Dual Rey x Blues Stylish Bell) to a 291.5 (142.5 rein/149 cow). Youth Bridle Preliminaries Pierce Wold leads the Youth Bridle finalists with a cumulative score of 293.5 (142.5 rein/151 cow) riding Ken and Ramona Wold’s Real Smooth Cat (Smooth As A Cat x Real Plain Jane). $1,000 Non Pro Limited PreliminariesTopping the Non Pro Limited prelims was Jennifer Woodmansee riding Chicody Leo (Smart Chic Olean x Miss Topsails Okie) to a 286 composite (142 rein/144 cow). Youth Limited PreliminariesDouglas Allan McDaniel Jr. rode CR Tuffs Magic Tonic (Woody be Tuff x Miss Oak Tonic) to the top of the Youth Limited prelims with scores of 142.5 in the rein and 145 on the cow for a total on two of 287.5. |
| Celebration of Champions Activities |
| Don’t forget to stop by the Sponsor Showcase where NRCHA sponsors feature their vendor wares. On Thursday, February 21, make plans to attend the SDP Buffalo Ranch meet and greet and see the leading breeder’s stallions on-site at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. Meet Smooth As A Cat on Saturday, February 23 when Manion Ranch brings the leading sire to town. |
Visit www.NRCHA.com for the latest results, event schedule and free, live broadcast provided by NRCHA Official Videographer Equine Promotion. All photos are provided by NRCHA Official Photographer Primo Morales.
