Almost six years to the day of winning his first event on Chics Magic Potion, Bob Avila strikes the champion's pose on the stallion for the final time after winning the 2009 NSHA World's Richest Stock Horse competition.
There, Avila and the horse stood, awaiting their queue to return to the arena for a line-up trophy photograph. Then quietly, casually he said this would be the “Magic’s” final competition.
“He’s been a great winner, and I want him to go out a great winner,” said Avila, whose last win on the 9-year-old stallion came six years almost to the day of his first one — the 2003 NRCHA Cow Horse Classic. “He’s done so much for me. I’ve had him since he was a 2-year old. I want him to retire when he’s on top.”
And that’s where Chics Magic Potion (Smart Chic Olena x Remedys Magic Potion x Remedys Reply) resides. He goes out the reined cow horse industry’s top-earner — and the first horse to pierce the $300,000 plateau in earnings. His career wins read like an index of the sport’s top competitions, including:
While maybe not the biggest win on this horse’s resume, the 2009 World’s Richest competition will be an indelible one — as much for the horse’s performance on that August night as the fact it was his finale.
Jake Telford and Shady Lil Starlight earn the 2009 World's Richest Stock Horse competition reserve title.
As he had done countless times before, Chics Magic Potion answered the call and delivered in crunch time. His 671 composite score outdid by 4.5 points Reserve Champion Telford, who also took PG Dry Fire, owned by Dave and Loke Allen, to a third-fourth place tie with Dilday and Topsails Rien Maker.
“He rose the occasion,” said Ted Robinson. “Bobby got an early draw and had to go for it. But that’s what that horse does. He’s got the mind of a champion.”
So does Avila, who — at festivities the night prior to the event — calmly turned over a wine glass and saw “No. 1” on the bottom in the NSHA’s traditional order-of-go selection process.
“When you draw first, you get what you deserve,” he said. “And you get the benefit of the doubt — if there is any doubt. If you jump out there and surprise them, sometimes it goes in your favor.”
The 225 cow work set an unmatchable pace. Still, there wasn’t an early celebration — especially against this field.
“You’re never too far ahead in this,” he said of his comfortable lead. “There are so many great horses and great riders in it. The best of the best are here — riders and horses.”
Next year, one of the best will be missing from the World’s Richest line-up.
Russell and Tanna Dilday are among the NSHA board members and show organizers. Click on the photo above for more photos.
“I don’t know if he’s going to like not getting into the horse trailer with me, though,” Avila added. “He loves people. I don’t know who’s going to miss who more.”
RUSSELL DILDAY remembers ‘Magic’:
“That horse was a great all-around horse. There is no event that he couldn’t come and get you in. If something went wrong in the first three events, Bob was going to lay it all out in the next one. Which isn’t as impressive in itself. The number of times that the two of them would pull it out is impressive. He was a huge stopper — probably the most important manuever that you can ask a horse to do naturally. The biggest thing that I will remember is him having bad luck in the herd at the 2009 World’s Greatest and coming back in the next three events to make the finals in what may have been the toughest field yet. He was a great show horse and will be great sire.”
TED ROBINSON remembers ‘Magic’:
“The thing people are going to remember about him is that he’s the first horse to win over $300,000. That really stands out. The thing about that horse is that he was the same — every trip. All his runs were the same. There wasn’t any one show that he just was outstanding, and then others that were any less. He was always an individual that you’d stand up and watch. He had greatness every time he went into the pen. He wasn’t great at any individual thing — he was extremely good at everything. I don’t think he was a real come-from-behind horse to beat you, but he starts off in first or second place, and that’s where he ends. As far as show horses go, he’s got a mind of a champion. That’s why Bobby could show him so long and win so much money on him. He knows how to rise to the occasion.”
JAKE GORRELL remembers ‘Magic’:
“He’s just an exceptional individual. He won the Pre-Futurity, he won the Snaffle Bit Futurity … seems like he won every major event. Is there another horse in history that has won that same line-up of major victories? I can’t think of one. He’s by far the best, and in such a short amount of time, the most exceptional horse, competition-wise. When he won the Derby as a 4-year-old, that was a great feat in itself. I mean, I’m glad he’s not going to be beating on us anymore. I was glad to see him kick out in the lead change in the Derby when he was 5 because I won it that year. But, seriously, consistency is his biggest deal. He would consistently come out and do the same runs, over and over again, mark 74s, 75s, wherever he was. He was one of those horses that is really hard to beat.”
For complete show results, go to: http://bit.ly/nsha09
See Horsetrader’s Daily Blog from more photos and news from the NSHA Futurity at:
http://bit.ly/HTblog
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