NRHA Prospect Sale graduate, Dunnit By Chex, dominated the first go round of the 2003 NRHA Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro Derby.  Shown by owner Rachel S. Eady of Sisters, OR, the last horse and rider combination of the day scored a 220.5, closing the first day of competition with the leading score.  “I am absolutely thrilled and happy,” said 17-year-old Rachel who rides with past NRHA Futurity Open Champions, Andrea Fappani and Todd Bergen.  “My dad and I chose her at the NRHA Prospect Sale and she’s been great ever since.  I showed at the Derby for the first time here last year and we won both the Limited and Intermediate Non Pro divisions.” 

 

Dunnit By Chex is a five-year-old mare by Bueno Chexinic and out of Its Not All Dun, an own daughter of Hollywood Dun It.

 

Wind Her Up Shiner (Shining Spark x Wind Her Up Doc) shown by Jose Vazquez of Markum, IL and Lisa Cover of Ardmore, OK, showing Just Gotta Shine (Shining Spark x Zans Pretty Penny) tied for second place in the first go round of the Derby Non Pro division, a half point behind Eady.  Lisa, who rides with Oklahoma based trainer Troy Heikes, also placed second in the Intermediate Non Pro Division.  Mike Simmons of Long Grove, IL, rode Lil Ruf Jac, a five-ear-old stallion by Lil Ruf Peppy and out of Miss Jac Of Hearts (by Hollywood Jac 86), to third place with a score of 218.5.

 

Catherine J. Clark of Catlettsburg, KY, topped the first go round of the Limited Non Pro Derby riding Hollywood Knight Out (Hollywood Dun It x Sally Chex).  She scored a 217.5 with the five-year-old gelding owned by John F. Clark.  Second place in the first go round of this Division, with a score of 215.5, went to (Edwin) Andrew Pickett of Aubrey, TX, riding his four-year-old gelding USS Peppy (Lil Ruf Peppy x USS Enterprise).  Nancy Stancik riding Peppys Double Chant (Peppy A Poco x Chants Double Luck) and Tami Nelson, the 2002 Horse and Rider Rookie of the Year, showing Crackerjac Sailor (Cee Blair Sailor x Crome Plated Jackie) tied for third place with a score of 215.

 

The top twenty horses plus ties qualify for the NRHA Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro Derby finals and the top fifteen horses plus ties qualify for the NRHA Limited Non Pro Derby Finals.

 

The Finals of the $15,000 added Non Pro Derby will be held on Friday at 6 p.m. and will run concurrently with the $7,500 added Intermediate Non Pro Derby Finals.  The $5,000 added Limited Non Pro Derby Finals will take place on Friday at 2 p.m.

 

The tension and excitement run high as the first go round, first section, of the $80,000 added Open Derby, with a guaranteed first prize pay check of $50,000, takes place on Wednesday, May 15^th.  The best 4-, 5-, and 6--year-old reining horses shown by top NRHA riders will battle for the 2003 Open Derby titles.

 

The National Reining Horse Association is the worldwide governing body of reining, responsible for promoting the sport, working to insure the highest standards of competition.  With corporate support from Cinch, Saddlesmith, Profile Nutrition, Horse & Rider magazine, Markel Insurance, Pfizer Animal Health, Quarter Horse News, Kiser Arena Specialists, State Line Tack, Houston Embryo Transfer Center, Classic Equine, Bloomer Trailer Mfg., Cowboy Tack and John Vance Auto Group the NRHA continues to educate its members and the public about reining.