Reno, NV - September 27, 2004 - Three-time Futurity Champion Bob Avila rode Leitachic, owned by George Heckman, Jim Babcock and Brad Bartlett, of Valley View, Texas to a score of 220.5 to top the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Rein Work Preliminaries. Leitachic is by Smart Chic Olena and out of Colonelita.

The reining high preliminary score earned a Skyline Gold and Silversmiths buckle from Bill and Michelle Cowan of Ardmore, Oklahoma, as well as a Mehl Lawson Bronze from the National Reining Horse Association.

In the reserve slot, there was a five-way tie at 220. Former Futurity Champion Todd Bergen on Smart Camolena (Ill Be Smart X Camolena Badger), owned by Kurt and Sally Billingsley of Danville, California and on Arc Please Be A Chic (Chic Please X Hickorys Holly Cee) owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA of Clements, California; another former Futurity champion, Sandy Collier, on CD Survivor (CD Olena X Have A Lil Lena), owned by Nancy Crawford-Hall of Santa Ynez, California; yet another past champion - John Ward on Spatnic (Colonel Spats X Saunic), owned by Troy Ford; and World’s Greatest Horseman Ron Ralls on Spooks Starman (Grays Starlight X Lynx Starlight) owned by Jose Maria Gomez, of Neza Hualcoyotl, Mexico. Ralls and Spooks Starman are also leading in the composite race with a score of 438.

In the Intermediate Open division, there was a two-way tie with two horse and rider combinations posting a 219.5 score. Shadd Parkinson marked that score on Spursuasion (Ray Gay Quixote X Mist N Smoke) owned by Debra and Dorn Parkinson of Prescott, Arizona. Former Futurity Champion Les Vogt earned an identical score on Plan Smart (Smart Plan X Kace Dox) owned by Les Vogt of Santa Maria, California.

Eduardo Ribeiro won the Limited Open Rein Work Preliminaries with a score of 217.5 on Doc A Diamond (Like A Diamond X Doc A Freckles) owned by Gordon Galarneau, of Joliet, Montana.

Lance Shields is leading both the Intermediate and Limited Composite roster with a score of 434.5 on Trulena Light. The daughter of Grays Starlight out of Trulena Deville is owned by Black Rock Ranch, LLC, or Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho.

The Snaffle Bit Futurity continues on Tuesday at 8 am in the Reno Livestock Events Center with the beginning of the Open Cow Work Preliminaries.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Bayer Corporation, Bailey Hat Company, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, EQ Solutions, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Gold & Silversmiths, Sundowner Trailers, National Ropers Supply, Quarter Horse News & Western Horseman magazine, the Reno Hilton, Dan Gamel's RV Centers and Fleetwood RV's, horsecentral.com, Farnam products Vetrolin Liniment and Farnam dewormers IverCare, ComboCare, LiquiCare P and Continuex, Rios of Mercedes and the Silver Legacy, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.