Nelle Murphy Maintains Leads After Non Pro Rein Work

Reno, NV - September 22, 2004 - Nelle Murphy maintained a red-hot pace in Snaffle Bit Futurity Non Pro competition on Wednesday, putting together a scorching 221 run that boosted her to a 439.5 composite in Non Pro Preliminary competition on Stylish Rey Gay, by Playin Stylish out of Tari Rey Gay.

Murphy, who won the herd work on Tuesday, topped the rein work as well, to earn another Skyline trophy buckle – for high Non Pro Rein Work Preliminary score – sponsored by Skeets Peppy/Vaughn Zimmerman of Springfield, Missouri.

From Valley View, Texas, Murphy is a former Snaffle Bit Futurity Non Pro Reserve Champion, $50K Non Pro Futurity Champion and Amateur Champion who has also won the prestigious National Reining Horse Association Non Pro Futurity and owns multiple AQHA world titles. Murphy’s win of the Non Pro Rein Work earned her $1500 plus another $1000 for the $50K division win.

In the Amateur division, Doug Koontz posted the top score, 217.5, on Young Widower, moving to the composite lead with a 431. That division championship will be decided with the completion of the Cow Work on Thursday.

In the Ladies Division, former Futurity Champion JoAnne Carollo maintained the lead with a composite score of 426.5 on To The Top With a Plan.

In Tuesday night’s competition, Polly Bremel of Kingsburg, California, rode Uno Smart Starlight (Smart Little Pepinic X Shotgun Lizzy by Badger Starlight) to win the NRCHA Non Pro Hackamore Class with a score of 290.5 (145.5, 145).

This may have been Polly’s first win with the pretty bay mare, but Uno Smart Starlight has an impressive resume. Last year the mare was just one point out of the Futurity Finals, won the Limited Open at the Idaho Futurity and was Amateur Reserve Champion NRCHA Stakes, tied for the Amateur Reserve title at the Hackamore Classic and was fifth at the NRCHA Derby. Those placings brought the mare’s earnings past the $15,000.00 mark.

The big smile on Polly’s face the next day gave an idea of the sheer delight she felt with her win on her home-raised horse. She explains, “While I was warming up, I got a much-needed and appreciated pep talk from Jon Roeser. I entered the arena, believing I really might win this thing, and then, everything just went right. I drew a real tough cow, but my mare just handled it.” Polly was proudly showing her buckle to anyone that crossed her path on Wednesday and was heard joking about sleeping with her new Bob’s Custom trophy saddle and the C.R. Morrison NRCHA Bronze she received for the win.

The action at the Reno Livestock Events Center continues on Thursday morning at 8 am with the Non Pro Futurity Cow Work.

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 Gold & Silversmiths, Sundowner Trailers, National Ropers Supply, Quarter Horse News & Western Horseman magazine, the Reno Hilton, Dan Gamel's RV Centers and Fleetwood RV's, horsecentral.com, Farnam products Vetrolin Liniment and Farnam dewormers IverCare, ComboCare, LiquiCare P and Continuex, Rios of Mercedes and the Silver Legacy, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.