Ask any of the old timers: they don’t remember a show where two horses scored an accumulative 446 to lead the qualifiers into finals. That’s the equivalent of two scores of 223, and one score like that is difficult to achieve, much less two of them.
That’s exactly what Chula Dual and Crackerboy achieved, however, in the go-rounds this week of the NCHA Classic Challenge, a segment of the Summer Spectacular now being held in Fort Worth. Chula Dual, who is owned by Twin Willows Ranch and ridden by Jody Galyean marked 227 the first go-round and 219 the second go. Crackerboy, who is owned by Eddie Godfrey and ridden by Ronnie Rice marked 221 the first go-round and 225 the second go.
While those were the top scores, just to make the cut for the finals required a tough accumulative score of 437. That’s the equivalent of a 218 and 219, and 34 horses out of the 210 horses competing in the NCHA Classic/Challenge earned that accumulated score - or better. What’s more, when it comes to the finals, you can’t count any of those horses out. All previous scores are discarded, and everyone goes into the finals with a clean slate. It should be one tough cutting.
Past Futurity Champions Some Kinda Memories owned by the Shrontz Family Ltd Partnership and ridden by Mike Mowery and Dainty Playgirl, owned by Dr. Gary and Mickey Goodfried and ridden by Ronnie Rice made the cut. So did the multiple champion Shakin Flo owned and shown by Sandy Bonelli and Can you Handle It, owned by H. B. & Deborah Bartlett and shown by Boyd Rice. Then there are 28 more 5 & 6-year-old horses just as capable as those vying for the championship belt buckle and that winning check of $42,658. There’s no doubt about it: the open finals of the NCHA Classic/Challenge Tuesday afternoon, July 18 will be a scorching event.
The NCHA Open Classic-Challenge kicked off the 18-day NCHA Summer Spectacular now under way at the Fort Worth Will Rogers Coliseum. The first 5-year-old classic was born in 1981 as a place for competitors to exhibit 5-year-old horses. The 6-year-old Challenge followed in 1984. NCHA then combined the two divisions 5 years ago.
Besides the 5 & 6 year-old open upcoming finals, other divisions still to compete during the Summer Spectacular include the 5 & 6-year-old non-pro and amateur competition, the 4-year-old open, non-pro and amateur competition, the Sooner Trailer/NCHA Day Workoff, the youth finals and the Sponsors Cutting. Daily go-rounds are free beginning each morning at 8:00 a.m. The ticketed finals performances on July 29 and July 30 are only $5.00 for general admission and $8.00 for reserved seating.
For more information on the NCHA and The Summer Spectacular, call (817)244-6188 or visit the NCHA website at www.nchacutting.com.
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