Montanans Shine at NRHA Futurity
Author: Chandra Morris
Date published: Dec 10 2008
There is a distinct advantage to being a newcomer to the NRHA Futurity and North American Affiliate Finals – everyone is willing to share something with you about the facilities and the events – and there is much to share. From the moment you enter the massive 9,000-seat coliseum and watch a rider come through the Gateway of Champions, you realize that this is the big time. And then you go on to the barns and chat with trainers in the enclaves of the world’s top riders, visit a hundred or so vendor booths, preview the sales horses and follow the auctions in the sales barn and you realize why you strive all year to make the affiliate finals: so you have a chance at the big time.
State Fair Park, where the finals are held, sits on Oklahoma City’s southwest side and is fed by Interstates 35, 40 and 44 and the Will Rogers World Airport, less than 10 miles away. In November and December, daytime temperatures hover in the 50s. Leaving Montana’s frigid temps and mantle of snow for Oklahoma City’s balmy clime was a great idea, but we reining enthusiasts were in for a much bigger treat than the weather.
This was the year for Montanans at the finals and several of them took advantage of their opportunities. Making the big time – the Open finals – was Jarvis Anderson of Wilsall, whose two nice runs on Pretty Peppy Chec, owned by Vicky King of Burley, Idaho, gave him a composite score of 435.5, the cut-off that separated the Open riders from everyone else. Anderson did not disappoint – he distinguished himself. Riding the handsome 2005 bay stallion to a 218 on pattern 10, Anderson tied for 2nd and the Reserve Championship in the Intermediate Open and placed 13th overall in the Open, an NRHA history-making achievement for Montana reiners. His combined paycheck was over $40,000 with day money in the Intermediate division, where he placed 7th in the first go and 4th in the second. More money, in the form of a $700 paycheck, resulted from his Open rides in the ancillary and affiliate finals on Hercs Midnite Roost, the 2001 stalwart brown stallion owned by Brackett Creek Quarter Horses, Wilsall.
Four other Montanans made the big time in their respective classes at the finals, too. Cameron Meissner of Manhattan and Jared “JR” Winter of Livingston, both riding mares, tied for 1st and the Championship in the Affiliate Rookie Professional class and were in a three-way tie for 2nd in the ancillary. Meissner rode the elegant chestnut mare, Breezin Wright On, owned by Anne Kent of Billings, to a 212, while Winter rode the comely palomino mare, Pay Chex Gold, owned by Kristy Wheeler of Cody, Wyoming, to the same score. Payouts for 1st in the affiliate were $256 and for 2nd in the ancillary, $175.
In the ancillary Intermediate Non Pro class, it was Stephanie Anderson of Wilsall, who became Reserve Champion with a riveting ride on her superb sorrel gelding, A Girls Best Friend, for a score of 215.5. Only half a point separated Stephanie and the winner. Her earnings as Reserve Champion topped $980. And to think that just last year Stephanie was competing for NRHA Rookie of the Year! 
Making the Top Ten in the Collegiate Judging Contest was Gwynn Mathews of Rocky Mountain College in Billings, who placed 9th in both the individual and team judging contests. Had the results of the NRHA Freestyle class, which was judged by the collegiate teams, been announced, it’s my belief that Jay Dee Anderson, riding McMega Mac, owned by the Double D Ranch of Clyde Park, would have won for best costume and antics. Dressed in black shorts, mesh stockings and hot pink top with an overabundance of attributes, an unruly shock of long blonde hair, black lipstick and red cheek rouge, Jay Dee was a real hottie as a roller derby queen!
Several events made NRHA history during the 2008 futurity. A father and daughter pair won the Open and Non Pro championship titles, the first to win these titles at an NRHA futurity. Tim McQuay won his first Open since 1988 while his daughter, Mandy McCutcheon, won the Non Pro Championship for the 5th time. The purse for the Open was a little larger than expected, paying $150,000 to the champion. $2 million rider Shawn Flarida became the NRHA’s first $3 million rider following his two runs in the Open. Smart Like Juice was officially named the 16th stallion to achieve the title of NRHA Million Dollar Sire, while Wimpys Little Step unofficially became a Million Dollar Sire. In the Futurity prospect sale, hip 3023, Peppy Superboom, was purchased by The Bucket List Syndicate for $240,000, the largest purchase price ever witnessed at an NRHA sale.
Following the Open finals and Champion Tim McQuay’s spotlight ride to Run for the Roses, the Open riders and fans gathered for a reception in the warm-up arena. It was here we celebrated the triumphs that capped a full season of competition, said good-bye to friends, and began to plot how we would return next year. For this newcomer, the NRHA Futurity and North American Affiliate Finals was a milepost, a source of new goals and aspirations.
Pictured top: Stephanie Anderson sliding to a stop aboard A Girls Best Friend.
Pictured bottom: JR Winter and Cameron Meissner with the Lawson bronze and saddle from their win.