The National Reined Cow Horses Association (NRCHA) concluded the largest DT Horses Western Derby to date in Scottsdale, Arizona, paying over $850,000 in prize money. With over 1,400 entries and 186 horses in the Open divisions of the Derby, the 2022 event saw nearly a 30 percent increase in entries from the previous year.
In addition to the increase in entries, the event hosted the final The Run For A Million qualifier, welcomed the public to the CD Survivor Memorial Bridle Spectacular and the Holy Cow Performance Horse Super Spectacular Party, and raised over $16,000 for the National Reined Cow Horse Youth Association.
“The DT Horses Western Derby continues to thrive at WestWorld thanks to incredible support from our sponsors, facility partners and our members.” said Anna Morrison, NRCHA executive director. “To have such a family-friendly event at the same time that we are seeing some of the most amazing fence runs of the sport is a pretty special mix.”
The show started with record scores in the Derby prelims garnering much anticipation as the finalists headed into the Non Pro and Open Finals. Debbie Crafton of Ordway, Oregon, secured the Non Pro title aboard her 2017 gelding, Hesa Wee Bet (Bet Hesa Cat x Wee Quejana Gal x Quejanaisalena). In the finals, the pair marked 652 (H:213/ R:219.5/ C:219.5) and took a check for $10,000.
In his first premier event Open finals, Brendon Clark of Hollister, California, rode CR Hes A Tuff One (Woody Be Tuff x Cat Digs Lucinda x High Brow Cat) to a composite 662.5 (H:215.5/R:221/C:226). The 4-year-old stallion, owned by Jill Olerich, won the Open, Intermediate Open, and Limited Open titles, along with a check worth $66,250.72.
The next NRCHA premier is the Dom Conicelli Memorial Eastern Derby, presented by MARS Equestrian™, July 8-17 in Cordova, Tennessee. For information about upcoming events and the full results from the 2022 DT Horses Western Derby, visit nrcha.com.
