With Thanks and Gratitude the Eastern Derby Thrives
The Dom Conicelli Memorial Eastern Derby would like to recognize the foundation laid for this event by the East Coast Reined Cow Horse Classic. While the Eastern Derby is in its second year as a premier NRCHA event, it started as the East Coast Reined Cow Horse Classic, a show that annually brought reined cow horse competitors together on the east coast for 15 years. The event was originally founded Paul Bailey of Sparta, Tennessee; the late Dominic “Dom” Conicelli of Collegeville, Pennsylvania; and Dick Rosell of Rosell Trailer Sales in Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania.
The show’s namesake, Dom Conicelli, was well known for his support of the reined cow horse sport, especially on the East Coast. The owner of Kinda Silly Farms, who died in October 2018, was one of the founders of the Atlantic Reined Cow Horse Association. Just prior to his death, he was inducted into the NRCHA Hall of Merit. Since 2019, his friends and peers have recognized his contributions through this memorial event.
“Dom would be very happy with the growth of the Eastern Derby,” said Bailey, current NRCHA vice president. “His ultimate goal was for NRCHA to have a premier event in the Eastern part of the U.S.”
Current presenting sponsor MARS Equestrian™ joined as an event supporter in 2019. When the regional show became the fifth NRCHA premier event produced by the association, the East Coast Reined Cow Horse Classic provided financial and logistical support to help make the show a success. In 2021, there was a 33 percent increase in entries for the event that includes two slates of horse show classes, a $50,000-added Open Derby and a Pre-Futurity for 3-year-olds bound for the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®. And, the event will only continue to grow as reined cow horse continues to spread throughout the country.
Please join us in thanking the East Coast Reined Cow Horse founders for their continued commitment to this event’s success!
