Tucson, AZ - March 29, 2005 - The National Reined Cow Horse Association Stakes begins Wednesday, March 30, as the industry’s elite 4- and 5-year-old horses compete for top prizes and titles in Tucson, Arizona. More than 100 horses will compete in the headline Stakes alone. But the event also offers a full slate of NRCHA Horse Show classes including an Open and Non Pro Bridle Spectacular. The NRCHA Stakes begins with the Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro and Amateur Stakes Herd Work Preliminaries on Wednesday and runs through Sunday, April 3, at the Pima County Fairgrounds.

Reined cow horses typically begin their careers as 3-year-olds in futurity competition. Those that are ready, travel to Reno, Nevada, in the fall for the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity – the association’s premier event. As 4- and 5-year-olds they compete in derbies, hackamore classes and the NRCHA Stakes. The Stakes is open to 4- and 5-year-olds, shown in a hackamore or a snaffle bit, which are sired by NRCHA-subscribed stallions. This year, those horses will be competing for $100,000 in added money for an estimated total purse worth $234,000.

Three former Snaffle Bit Futurity Champions are competing in this year’s Stakes, including 2003 Open Champion Chics Magic Potion ridden by Bob Avila, 2004 Open Champion Captain Starlight ridden by Brandon Staebler and 2004 Non Pro Champion Shiners Dulena ridden by Dema Paul. Other Futurity finalists will compete against those Champions, as well as horses that are just now maturing into competitive reined cow horses.

“It gives us a place to run at some pretty big money after the Futurity their 4- and 5-year-old year, which is really important for the trainers as well as the owners,” Ron Ralls said of the NRCHA Stakes’ significance.

Ron is a two-time NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman Champion and finished reserve in the 2003 NRCHA Open Futurity riding Chromium Cowboy. Ron dominated the 2004 Snaffle Bit Futurity Open preliminaries and finished seventh in the finals riding Spooks Starman for Jose Maria Gomez of Mexico. The trainer will be showing Spooks Starman, along with Rudys Wright and Shining Smartly, in the Open Stakes.

“The more money that we have a chance to run at and the more we can win on these young horses, the more valuable it makes them,” Ron added. “That helps the cow horse industry all the way around.”

The NRCHA Stakes moved from Scottsdale, Arizona, last year to its new location in Tucson for the 2005 event. Stakes competitors are just thankful that the event is in Arizona.

“The weather is beautiful. I live in Washington State where it is raining and miserable right now,” Amateur and Non Pro competitor Allison Trimble said. “The location seems to be really nice; I’m looking forward to it. I like having this show in Arizona this time of year just because I can get out of the wet.”

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the 56-year-old 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, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, EQ Solutions, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Gold and Silversmiths, Sundowner Trailers, National Ropers Supply, Quarter Horse News & Western Horseman magazine, the Reno Hilton, Dan Gamel's RV Centers, Farnam products Vetrolin Liniment and Farnam dewormers IverCare, ComboCare, LiquiCare P and Continuex, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Great American Insurance Company 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.