Kathy Wilson & Sis Is Smart Top the NRCHA Derby Herd Work Non Pro Prelims

The National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby kicked off bright and early Tuesday morning, June 19, at the Paso Robles Event Center in Paso Robles, California, with the preliminary herd work competition. When it concluded, Kathy Wilson and Sis Is Smart (Ill Be Smart X Sis Royal Mahogany) led the field of 32 riders in the Non Pro division with a score of 219. That high score also topped the Intermediate Non Pro division.

Kathy and Sis Is Smart have had a successful year – already owning the 2007 NRCHA Stakes Intermediate Non Pro Championship. Wilson, of Clarksburg, California, is also a three-time NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Non Pro winner.

Another prominent Non Pro and multiple Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion finished the herd work in the Reserve Non Pro slot. Idahoan Anne Reynolds scored 216.5 on More Magic Please (Chic Please X Magical Lena).

Marc Bourdet, of Chiloquin, Oregon, placed second and third in the Intermediate Non Pro on CD Precious Peppy (CD Olena X Splash A Lil Cash) and Arc Tassa Me Please (Chic Please X Tassas Little Peppy), with scores of 215.5 and 215, respectively.

Lesley Day, of Bend, Oregon, won the Amateur herd work prelims when she marked a 212 on Smart Olena Day (Smart Zanolena X Olena Day). Robin Flournoy rode Annies Mister Rose to a score of 209 to earn the second place finish.

Herd work action continued through Tuesday evening with the Open, Intermediate Open, and Limited Open divisions and the show resumes on Wednesday with the $50,000 added Jack & Phoebe Cooke Bridle Spectacular. The second section of preliminary competition, the rein work, will follow.

Admission to the NRCHA Derby is free, but if you can’t make it to the show, you can still enjoy the action. Through a partnership with the NRCHA’s Official Videographer, Galloping Video, the entire event is being featured via live web cast. To access the event live, simply visit www.nrcha.com for a link, or go to www.gallopingvideo.com.

Helping to focus the eyes of the horse world on the Paso Robles Event Center, the NRCHA Derby will be profiled on Wide World of Horses, thanks to sponsors Bar 7R Ranch and Staebler Performance Horses. Wide World of Horses airs weekly on RFD-TV, and the Derby coverage will be featured August 13-14.

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 Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Gold and Silversmiths, Bloomer Trailer Mfg., Quarter Horse News & Performance Horse magazine, the Peppermill Hotel Resort, Farnam products Vetrolin Liniment and Farnam dewormers IverCare, ComboCare, LiquiCare P and Continuex, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD, Great American Insurance Company and the Silver Legacy Hotel, 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.