DECEMBER 1995 BACK ISSUE
Part of Horse Previews Magazine website. Posted on 12/1/95; 10:00:00 AM.
National Reining Horse Association Makes Historic Changes to its Futurity
Non Pro is SeparatedThe NRHA Board of Directors voted for significant & historic changes at its recent meeting September 19th. The 1996 NRHA Futurity will become two--the NRHA Futurity & the NRHA Non Pro Futurity. The Non Pro Futurity will become a separate event, both physically & financially. However, the Non Pro Futurity will remain a competition during Futurity week held in Oklahoma City, but will be run & judged independently.
The real winner in this change is the exhibitor & owner. Some of the obvious advantages resulting from these changes are an increase in added money from $10,000 to $20,000 in the Non Pro Futurity with the addition of a Limited Non Pro division. The added money will be divided $15,000 to the Non Pro & $5000 to the Limited Non Pro. Riders will automatically be eligible for the Limited Non Pro division without additional entry fees. The Non Pro will continue to pay the $1500 entry fee as in the past--with $1250 going to the Non Pro purse & $250 for those riders eligible, going toward the Limited Non Pro purse. Eligibility standards will be set using the previous three years' earnings in both Category I & II. The Top 25 Non Pros on this list will not be eligible to show in the new Limited Division.
The paybacks for the Non Pro Futurity & the Limited Non Pro division have been altered to suit the large purse distribution with improved percentages. The Non Pro Futurity will continue to be a two go round format & a Finals. The limited Non Pro will be paid based on two go rounds & a composite score, relieving the need for another Finals.
Futurity--Open & Limited
Open Changes
The NRHA Futurity entry fee will increase to $1250. This $250 is the first increase in 13 years. Riders eligible for the Limited Open will continue to pay the additional $500 to run for a separate & sizable purse. In addition, the NRHA Board of Directors expanded the added money from $60,000 to $80,000 in the Futurity, & from $10,000 to $15,000 in the Limited Open division. The payback schedule was also adjusted for more equitable distribution with $100,000 remaining as a 1st place guarantee; however, the guarantees from 16th to 30th places were increased in descending order from $7500 to $3000 respectively, replacing previous guarantees of $5000 for 16th-20th & $2500 for 21st-30th. Percentages for 2nd place through 15th place were also refined & improved.
Sire & Dam
The separation of the Futurity required decisions related to the NRHA's very successful Sire & Dam program. The Board voted to allow a Sire & Dam foal to be eligible for either Futurity paying the $200 eligibility fee & the $50 judge's fee. Cash sire awards, which consist of 20% of the sold Sire & Dam contracts plus any carryover from the previous year, will be paid in both Futurities with 75% of the award going to the Futurity & 25% going to the Non Pro Futurity. Previously, Sire & Dam foals were only eligible in the Open Futurity paying additional entry fees into the Non Pro division. Prior to the changes, cash awards were paid in the placings of only the Open category.
Overall
The entry fees for the Futurity have been divided equally into ten $125 payments due the 1st of each month. On November 1, the horses wishing to enter the Non Pro Futurity will pay the additional $250. Horses will be allowed to move from one Futurity to the other up until two days prior to the first go round with penalty. These horses will be included in a group prior to the regular draw. The Board wanted to offer as much flexibility as possible to exhibitors, while still maintaining the time for show management to handle the information professionally.
NRHA increased its commitment in added money to its Futurity by a total of $35,000. Along with changes in its Sire & Dam eligibility & the addition of the Limited Non Pro division, more people than ever will win--& win big--in NRHA's flagship event.
NRHA is the governing body of the sport of reining responsible for the standards of competition, the promotion of the sport & the education of its members & public as to the proper performance of the reining horse. NRHA sanctions over 200 approved events each year which pay out over 2 million dollars in competition purses.
