New to the Ariat Tulsa Reining Classic this year are the$10,000 Dun Gotta Gun Novice Open Derby and$2,000 Novice Non Pro Derby. Scheduled to run concurrently with the Mister Nicadual Open and SmartPak Non Pro Derbies, respectively, these new opportunities were designed to highlight talented, derby-aged horses that have not yet won $25,000. Jerry Kimmel, sponsor of both the Open Derby and Novice Open Derby, said, “I like the concept of giving all of the horses a chance to excel, and offering this Novice section does just that. I hope that it continues to bring added value to the Derby horses, boosting the whole industry.”The similarly designed $20,000 Darling 888 Ranch Developing Horse Futurity was created by the Global Reining Sport Group in 2011 to highlight up-and-coming three year olds who haven’t yet reached their peak. Already a smashing success, this concept has brought great horses out of the woodwork, and an even greater turnout is expected in 2013. “Horses peak at different times of the year, and showing your horse at the right level during the show season is definitely an art,” reports NRHA $3 Million rider Tim McQuay, “I love having a place for horses that aren’t quite ready for too much pressure. If you manage them through their show careers correctly, they sometimes can end up as some of the best ones later on.”Special conditions are what make these events truly unique and useful to the Reining industry. In order to compete in the Dun Gotta Gun Novice Open Derby, horses are required to be entered in the concurrent Mister Nicadual Open Derby. Likewise, in order to compete in the Novice Non Pro Derby, horses are required to be entered in the concurrent SmartPak Non Pro Derby. Please see ATRC Derby Conditions for further details. Horses shown in the Darling 888 Ranch Developing Horse Futurity will be eligible to compete in the Turnabout Farm Non Pro Futurityat the Ariat Tulsa Reining Classic, but will not be allowed to enter the Hollywoodstinseltown Open Futurity. Please see ATRC Developing Horse Futurity Conditions for details.
We are grateful for the support of these sponsors who make it possible to offer the best show opportunities available for our horses.
