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Russell Dilday and Topsails Rien Maker topped the World's Richest Stock Horse field, winning $10,000.

That sports cliche applies as much to cow horse as any other competition, and the National Stock Horse Association 2011 World’s Richest Stock Horse bridle event Aug. 20 at the Midstate Fairgounds stands as proof.

With defending champion Doug Williamson and Hes Wright On well ahead after thrilling herd and rein works, tough cows in his cow portion opened the door for Russell Dilday and Topsails Rien Maker to make a move. And they did — pulling the stops to mark an event-high 221 and edge Williamson for the title that paid $10,000 to the winner.

“I knew I had a shot,” Dilday said after his winning performance in front of a capacity crowd. “He [Williamson] was way ahead of me, but he had bad luck on a tough cow. You know you have to go in there and lay it all down cause he can be huge — as can all of the competitors. I didn’t even know what the scores were. I knew that Doug and Phillip [Ralls] were ahead of me.”

All told, Topsails Rien Maker and Dilday were a poster for consistency. They marked 217 in the herd, 217.5 in the rein work, and a second-place 221 in the fence work for a 655.5 winning total.

“When they got to stomping on the bleachers, it just felt like you had to make a big move when you get in there,” Dilday said. “That’s what the music does. When you have this great a horse, a crowd like that and music — you can’t ride in there and not give it everything you have, even if you’re behind.”

Topsails Rien Maker (Topsail Cody x Jameen Gay x Toby Gay Bar), a 12-year-old stallion owned by Dilday and Kevin Cantrelle, has now won the World’s Greatest Horseman three times.

Williamson and Hes Wright (Lenas Wright On x Shesa Lota Nic x Reminic), owned by Gardiner Quarter Horses, ended up winning the Reserve title with a 654 composite score.

NSHA World’s Richest Stock Horse
Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011 / Midstate Fairgrounds, Paso Robles
Money Place Horse Rider Score Owner
$10,000 1 Topsails Rien Maker Russell Dilday 655.50 Kevin Cantrelle/ Russell Dilday
$7,000 2 Hes Wright On Doug Williamson 654.00 Gardiner Quarter Horses
$6,000 3 BBR Mardi Gras Time Mark Luis 651.50 Mark Luis Training/Adam Rhodes
$4,000 4 Nics Black Diamond Phillip Ralls 650.00 Kelly Gowing
$3,000 5 That CD Rocks Ed Robertson 649.50 Robbie Humphrey
$2,000 6 The Big Day Corey Cushing 648.50 John E Taylor