$13,000-added Open Derby highlights WCRHA Star Spangled Slide

By Eilene Maxinoski/ for the Horsetrader

ELK GROVE—The Star Spangled Slide slid into action on July 4-7 at the West Coast Reining Horse Association last affiliate show of the year. Red, white, and blue decorated the grounds of the Brookside Show Park, from the U.S. flags that greeted exhibitors as they arrived, to patriotically-colored awards, to the giant U.S. flag that was unfurled in the arena before the derbies.

Many exhibitors use this show as a “showcation” for the family, as there are plenty of after-show activities to keep everyone busy. On-site meals were available every evening, preceded by libations and munchies beforehand at the Wine Down Bar, conveniently located next to the warm-up arena. Many families enjoyed the pool between and after classes.

Saturday was a busy day for WCRHA youth, with youth reining classes running all morning, followed by—not one, but two—fund-raisers involving both the youth riders and non-riders. During the day, busy kids kids were at the wash rack, holding their annual Youth Horse Wash, using groom products generously sponsored by Farnam.

Saturday night, the kids held a dessert auction during a potluck celebration in honor of Delbert Tullos, a past WCRHA president and loyal supporter of the WCRHA youth. The evening proved entertaining, with Ollie Galligan serving as WCRHA in-house auctioneer alongside spotters Mike Boyle, David Hanson, and Jason Richards. To boost the bids on the last couple of items, Auctioneer Galligan offered to perform his dancing best, and bidders met his challenge. Enthusiastically, he responded with his native country’s Irish jig, helping to push the proceeds to more than $2,500. Proceeds will go toward WCRHA year-end youth award saddles.

In the arena, the highlight of the show was the $13,000-added Open Derby. evening. A standing-room only crowd encouraged each rider in the classes. In the $10,000-added 7M Ranch Level 4, Jordan Larson took Champion and Reserve with two horses owned by Tzvika Knaani who resides in Israel. Gunnashine Ya, with a 148, and Rio Killer Gun, with a 147, earned $10,000 for their efforts. Tied in third place with 144.5 were Reddy Aim Shine On, ridden by Ollie Galligan for owner Elizabeth Atkins, and The P I Guy shown by Chuy Chavez for owner Linda Barsalou. Fifth place went to Mister Smartypants, exhibited by Gabe Davide and owned by Eileen Maxinoski.

In the $3,000-added Level 1, Ollie Galligan emerged the champion on Reddy Aim Shine On. Reserve was Sam Kawanishi’s The Prima Ballerina with John Irish showing, scoring 143.5. Tieing for third and fourth with scores of 143 were Thad Carr on his own Heza Mega Watt, and Mister Smartypants shown by Gabe Davide. Fifth place awards went to Mob Dolled Up, ridden by John Irish for owner Deborah Walker, and Whizky Drinkn Princess, shown for the McLeod Family Farms by Kelly Keenan.

Non Pros came to play, too, in their $7,500-added Carr Performance Horses/Boyle Ranch Non Pro Derby. Nine hopefuls laid out their best efforts to claim money and prizes. In the $5,000-added Level 4, Brooke Boyle scored a 145.5 to win on Sunset Nite, owned by her dad, Mike Boyle. Close behind in reserve with a 145 was Cam Essick on her home-bred and raised Loveya. With 140s in a 3-4 split were Lady Bang Bang, owned and shown by Britta Jacobson, and Whizky Drinkn Princess, shown by Campbell McLeod and owned by the McLeod Family Farms. In Fifth place were Nicole Cox piloting her own Gotta Smart Whiz to a score of 138.5.

In Level 1, Britta scored the championship win, and to Nicole Cox was reserve. With a score of 137, Derek Brummett came in third on Ima Shiny Mister, owned by himself and his wife, Kelli. Rica Macalvey was fourth on Doree Sims’ Got Guns A Blazin. Essick was Prime Time Champion with Britta coming in Reserve. Brummet took third-place honors, with Vicki Dias coming in fourth on her own ARC Dun With Ya.

Sponsors for the open and non pro derbies included 7M Ranch, Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Carr Performance Horses, Boyle Ranch, Galligan Performance Horses, Dr. Bo Felix, Dr. Marty Gardner, Larson Performance Horses, Hanson Performance Horses, Gilson Performance Horses, GD Performance Horses, Padilla Performance Horses, 55 Performance Horses, Chavez Performance Horses, and Walden Performance Horses. Aged Event Buckles were sponsored by Dave and Lisa Dentoni, Ed and Connie Glavis, Dave and Anne Driscoll, Geir and Jill Ramleth, Candice Thompson, Debbie Avila, Gretchen Vogelsang and Peterson Wealth Management.

Other exhibitors had great results with their reining steeds in the NRHA Affiliate and WCRHA classes as well as an assortment of AQHA approved classes. This was the last opportunity for WCRHA riders to qualify for the NRHA Regional Affiliate Finals to be held in October at the Idaho Horse Park.

All in all, the four day Star Spangled Slide, with $33,500-added money, provided great show conditions for the reining horses and their riders and exciting viewing for the spectators.

The next and last WCRHA show will be the Year End show on Aug. 22–25.

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