News from NCHA, December 10, 2000

World Championship Futurity

 

 

KATHY DAUGHN SCORES RECORD SETTING 229,

ROYAL FLETCH WINS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FUTURITY

 

 

Fort Worth, Texas --- Records are made to be broken. Kathy Daughn didn't plan to set a record when she rode into the arena aboard Royal Fletch during the prestigious Open Finals of the National Cutting Horse Association World Championship Futurity, but she did. Daughn and Royal Fletch, owned by Royal Fletch Partners of Fort Worth, Texas needed tobeat a 224.5 mark set by Faron Hightower aboard Justa Smart Peanut to claim the $200,000 winners share and this Open Futurity Championship crown. Daughn coolly cut three cows, and when a score of 229 appeared on the leader board, bedlam broke loose before a sell-out crowd at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum.

            A 229 would be hard to beat, and it set the all-time record for the highest score ever in Futurity competition.  Gary Gonsalves riding Spookys Cash might have a chance and he was yet to work. Gonsalves and Spookys Cash, owned by Jeff Barnes of Wilton, California, had marked the highest score in the semi-final round the night before, a 223, to qualify for the finals, but a 222 was the best the pair could do with the big prize on the line.

            Daughn, from Weatherford, Texas, and Royal Fletch won this year's NCHA World Championship Futurity crown, and life will be changed forever for this three-year-old stallion by Jae Bar Fletch and out of Royal Blue Dually. Daughn, who is part of the team owning Royal Fletch along with Kit and Mike Moncrief of Fort Worth, Texas, knew the horse was capable, but the Futurity is a grueling time for some horses, and anything can happen in the finals.

The Reserve Championship honors went to Hightower and Justa Smart Peanut, owned by Dean Sanders of Anderson, Texas, who had marked a 221 in the semi-finals the night before.

This year's NCHA World Championship Futurity was the richest ever with a gross purse of $2.8 million. This marked the 39th annual Futurity event, which has been held in Fort Worth since 1967.

For complete results, visit the NCHA website at www.nchacutting.com or call NCHA at 817-244-6188.

 

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