Reno, NV - September 30, 2004 - Two-time World’s Greatest Horseman Ron Ralls rode Spooks Starman to a composite score of 657 (218, 220, 219) to win the Open Preliminaries, completed Wednesday at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity. Spooks Starman, a son of Grays Starlight out of Lynx Starlight, is owned by Jose Maria Gomez of Neza Hualcoyotl, Mexico.

Finishing second in the composite Open rankings with a 653 composite (218.5, 218.5, 216) was former Snaffle Bit Futurity Reserve Champion Todd Crawford on Instant Sandy (SR Instant Choice X Sandina) owned by Kalpowar Quarter Horses of Midland, Texas.

Two-time Futurity Champion Todd Bergen and Love Em N Lena topped the Open Cow Work Preliminaries with a score of 222. The daughter of Smart Little Lena out of Slide Me Again, is owned by Jim and Cam Essick, of Clements, California. For the cow work high score, Bergen earned a Skyline Gold & Silversmiths trophy buckle sponsored by Brian and Cynthia Holthouse and Walt and Sharon Wright, as well as a bronze sponsored by the Leavitt Family and a $1,500 paycheck.

The second highest score Open Cow Work – 221 - came from Boyd Rice on Talk Don’t Cry (Meradas Money Talks X Biggirlsdontcry) owned by Gary and Kathy Benton of Andover, Kansas.

The Intermediate Open and Limited Open Composite wins went to Lance Shields for a 651.5 composite on Trulena Light, (Grays Starlight X Trulena Deville) owned by Black Rock Ranch, LLC, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Non Pro Shawn Renshaw earned $1,000 for topping the Intermediate Open Cow Work with a score of 221 on Lectromotion, by Lectric Playboy out of Cielo Hope, a horse he owns with his wife, Kim.

The Limited Open Cow Work went to Glen Aspinol and Little Smart Babe (Smart Little Pepinic X Babes Nic), owned by Laura Ward of Tulare, California. Glen’s 220 score earned $1,000.

Twenty-six riders have qualified for the Sunday, October 3, Open Finals. Todd Bergen has three horses in the finals, and many-time champion Ted Robinson has qualified two. Other riders with two in the finals are Jon Roeser, Todd Crawford, Jake Gorrell and Sandy Collier.

In the Intermediate Open Finals, set for Friday, there are 24 finalists, with Jay McLaughlin of Missouri and Californian Glen Aspinol each qualifying two.

The Snaffle Bit Futurity continues on Thursday at 8 am in the Reno Livestock Events Center with Non Pro Finals.

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.