Celebrate West Coast Cow Horses

Posted on February 16, 2019 by Press Release
The Lucas Oil Dirt & Diamonds National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Derby kicked off the new year of competition with a bang! Held at the Murieta Equestrian Center in Rancho Murieta, California, the three-day event drew many exhibitors from a large variety of Western states and Canada. Professionally managed by Total Equine Event Management (TEEM), the annual event had a great slate of exhibitors ready to rock the house and entertain the spectators.
Year after year, this creative group brings new ideas, launches exciting changes and provides a fresh approach to holding a competitive, yet fun horse show. With exhibitors coming from so many places, the news about the very low entry fees and high payouts has certainly spread.

“[The] NRCHA World Championships moved their dates and now start the week after our event ends,” said Jerry Alvord, show manager. “It’s the perfect stop for West Coast exhibitors heading to Fort Worth. There are also some people & trainers who don’t want to drive that far, and this gives them a great option that’s closer to home and less expensive on the bank account.”

In just the last seven years, this American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA)/National Snaffle Bit Association/Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Association/NRCHA-approved five- day circuit has become the biggest show on the West Coast to start off each show year. It also offers some good ‘ol hospitality for exhibitors, and their family and friends.

“We try to create a schedule that makes time for people to get together, relax and have fun outside of the intense competition of the show,” Alvord said. “However, we’ve grown in size every year the past seven years, and this year the show was huge — we almost didn’t have enough time in a 24-hour day!

“Our class schedule creates an opportunity for trainers & exhibitors that are showing derby horses to also show in some AQHA classes,” he added. “If they have a good go, there are a lot of AQHA points available at such a big show, and if not, they get an opportunity to work on some things before their Derby runs. On Thursday night, we had a first-class Exhibitors Welcome Party hosted by Lucas Oil/Protect the Harvest with wonderful wine provided by C5 Ranch & Vineyards.”
The Lucas Oil Dirt & Diamonds NRCHA Derby portion of the show continued to draw increased attention due to its very low entry fees and high payouts. Lucas Oil Products Inc. and Protect the Harvest are the title sponsors and are very supportive of the equine sport industry as a whole.

In addition, since its inception, the derby has been supported by Dan Perez and his talented stallion Brother Jackson. Total payout for the Derby Open division was $12,900; the Non-Pro payout was $4,250; and the Non-Pro Limited division of the Derby had $860.

It was a tight race right up until the fence runs on Friday night. Composite scores were on the watch for Ken Wold, Cayley Wilson, Tucker Robinson, Les Oswald, Holly Marsh and Ron Emmons.

Coming out on top of a very tough field of Open riders was Cayley Wilson riding Remember The Magic (Very Smart Remedy x Magical Lena x Little Lenas Legend) for owner Joyce Pearson. The duo took home a custom trophy from Protect the Harvest/Lucas Oil and a check for $3,225.

The Reserve Champion was Cat Magical, ridden by Tucker Robinson for Dan and Linda Macedo. The mare (WR This Cats Smart x Smoke N My Wranglers x Wranglers Starlight) and Robinson received a custom chest from Protect the Harvest/Lucas Oil, plus a check for $2,580.