The National Reined Cow Horse Association is gearing up to host the largest NRCHA Stallion Stakes, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the event’s history. It is already a banner year for the reined cow horse industry!
Following the NRCHA Celebration of Champions, the next limited age event for 4- and 5-year-old reined cow horses is the NRCHA Stallion Stakes, which runs March 26 through April 3 at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center in Las Vegas. The show features a Derby, full slate of horse show classes, and three-event Bridle and Two Rein Spectaculars. Entries are up by 200 over the previous year’s show.
“Last year, the Stallion Stakes was moved to August due to the impact of COVID-19, and we still saw a large show. But this year, back in our usual March dates, the event entries really jumped up,” said Emily Konkel, premier event manager. “Our exhibitors want to show their reined cow horses, especially at this facility that did all they could to help us have a horse show last year on the west coast.”
2020 Stakes Champion Scooter Kat piloted by Justin Wright. (Photo by Primo Morales)
The Open division of the limited age event, 165 horse and rider teams vying for the title. In the Non Pro divisions, 50 4-and 5-year-old horses are entered. The Non Pro Limited, a fast-growing entry-level division where riders do not go down the fence but rather box the cow, 38 horse and rider pairs are in the hunt for the Stallion Stakes win.
The Stallion Stakes has $198,970 in added money for the events. Horses entered in the limited age event must be sired by stallions nominated into the NRCHA Subscribed Stallion program. Though the event is closed to the general public and only admitting cow horse participants, enthusiasts can watch the live, free webcast daily at www,nrcha.com.
The momentum from record entries in the Stallion Stakes is expected to carry over to the newly-christened Western Derby, held June 2 through 10 at WestWorld of Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is the second year for NRCHA to host the Derby at WestWorld. With a full slate of horse show classes, the Western Derby is set to be another huge event, especially with the $80,000 added to the Open 4- and 5-year-old Derby. The CD Survivor Open Bridle Spectacular, sponsored by Holy Cow Performance Horses, includes $25,000 in added-money to the top bridle horse at the event. In addition, $20,000 is added to the Non Pro division and $10,000 is added to the Non Pro Limited division for the Derby, as voted on by the NRCHA Board of Directors last year.
The show year continues in July with the Dom Conicelli Memorial Eastern Derby, sponsored by MARS Equestrian™, at the Agricenter International ShowPlace Arena in Cordova, Tennessee, where the Non Pro experience will be highlighted for those who are dipping a toe into the cow horse arena. The premier events wrap with the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® held in Fort Worth, Texas, in October.
For more information on these events and reined cow horse, visit www.nrcha.com.
