Jon Roeser, Todd Crawford Lead Open Finals Field

October 2, 2003 - With the preliminaries over and the 25 finalists determined, the stage is set for an exciting NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Finals to take place on Sunday, October 5. The winner will pocket $100,000 at the end of the triathlon finals.

Former Champion Jon Roeser on Heart of A Fox (As Smart As The Fox X Tivios Reminic), owned by Twisselman and Roeser and former Reserve Champion Todd Crawford on The Love Man (Meradas Money Talks X Lovie Lena), owned by Gary and Kathy Benton, both ended up with a 652.5 aggregate to lead the field of finalist qualifiers. It took a 643 to get an invitation to the finals dance.

Robbie Boyce on Shiney Tari (Shining Spark X Tarizana), owned by Richie Bell, Todd Bergen on Sanjos Lil Angel (Sanjo Lena X Colonel Lil Pistol), owned by Ted and Keri Eady and Robbie Boyce on Shiney Missy (Shining Spark X Missy Lena), owned by Lyle Lovett, rounded out the top five with a 648.5 score.

In the Intermediate Open Category, Russell Dilday led the pack, with 645.5 on Pepinic Chex (Smart Little Peppynic X Freckles Corrina) owned by Victoria Lingua. Randy Paul was just behind with 645 on Travalenas LuckyLegs (Travalena X Cats Okey Dokey) owned by Emiliano Ferro.

The top finisher in the Limited Open category was Robert Chavez on Taris Partee (San Par X Taris Sug) owned by Robert and Elisa Chavez with a 643 composite. Second at 637.5 was Glenn Aspinol on Babes Ribbon (Smart Little Peppinic X Babes Blue Ribbon) owned by Laura Ward of Kingsburg, California.

The Intermediate and Limited Open Finals will begin at 8 am on Friday, October 3, with the herd work.

The Open Cow Work Preliminaries, completed on Wednesday, ended up with a three-way tie for first between Robbie Boyce on Richie Bell's Shiney Tari, Robbie Boyce on Lyle Lovett's Shiney Missy, and Lance Johnston on Montana Starlite Bay (Junior Starlight X Montana Silk) owned by Mary Stroud. Each scored a 223.

Action continues at the Reno Livestock Events Center on Thursday with the Youth Limited Class set to begin at an eye-opening 7 am. At ten, the Open Futurity Horse Sale begins and the anticipation is high as the sale is hosting the Bobby Ingersoll Collection auction, as well. Ingersoll’s private collection of Spanish Bits and Braided Rawhide will be sold at auction during the Open Futurity Sale in the Pavilion Arena of the Reno Livestock Events Center. Almost 50 Spanish Bits, some with silver headstalls, and 20 braided Rawhide pieces including Hackamores, Bosals, Mecates and Riatas will be offered to the public.

Made by famous makers such as Ortega, Blind Bob and Garcia, these pieces are either unused or were used on some of the most famous and winning reined cow horses of our time. All items will be sold with personal letters of authenticity and history from Bobby Ingersoll.

On Thursday evening the action shifts to the NRCHA Host and Headquarters Hotel for the annual NRCHA Hall of Fame Banquet. The newest Hall of Fame inductees will be presented and another don’t-miss activity is the Silent Auction and Calcutta.

For a complete list of finalists in all divisions, visit the NRCHA Web Site at www.nrcha.com.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Bayer Corporation, Bailey Hat Company, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, EQ Solutions, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Silversmiths, Sundowner Trailers, National Ropers Supply, Quarter Horse News & Western Horseman magazine, the Reno Hilton, Dan Gamel's RV Centers and Coachmen RV's, horsecentral.com, Rios of Mercedes and the Silver Legacy, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry.