Lyn Anderson & Smart Time Tuck win NRCHA Hackamore Classic

by Cheryl Magoteaux

Veteran champion Lyn Anderson claimed top honors at the National Reined Cow Horse Association 2002 Hackamore Classic on Smart Time Tuck. The event was held in Winnemucca, Nevada May 10-12.

Smart Time Tuck, owned by Kathryn Schaefer of Aromas, California, was solid throughout the event, marking 146.5 in the herd work, 147 in the rein work and 147.5 in the cow work to best the field of exhibitors and earn $6,659.

Anderson was pleased with the performance of the 5 year-old-gelding by Senors Lil Brudder and out of Smoke Time Tuck 1985. "His maturity level was so much higher at Winnemucca," she commented. She has ridden the horse to a string of wins and top finishes in recent months - including the Hackamore title at the 2001 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity and the Reserve Championship at the NRCHA Hackamore Stakes. But it was not until the Classic that he felt, in her words, "comfortable with the speed down the fence."

If it was a good show for Anderson, it was a great one for Tish Wilhite of Clovis, California, who trains with her. Wilhite won the Hackamore Classic Non Pro Championship on Tequila Slide, marking 142 in the herd, 142 in the rein work and 144 in the cow work. That netted $3,906 for Wilhite, who managed a clean sweep in the Non Pro divisions, earning another $951 for winning the $50,000 Non Pro title and $1620 for the Amateur win.

Eric Freitas became the Non Pro Reserve Champion on Shiners Hickory. Bubba Petty earned the $50,000 Non Pro Reserve title on Dual N Dolly, and Flo Huston rode her way to the Amateur Reserve Championship on A Rainy Day Plan.

The Limited Open title went to Kevin Stallings on NMSU Truckin Chex, owned by Craig Reay and Kevin Stallings. Their marks of 144 in the herd, 143 in the rein work and 146 in the cow work gave them a 433 total and earned $1,309.50. The Reserve title went to Jaime Beamer on Jean Yuen's Ginger Play Hickory, with a 432.5 total.

The Hackamore Classic Open Reserve Championship went to Jon Roeser on Smart As Jerry, owned by Irene Harris, with a total score of 437. Jon earned $5,470.55 for the top finish.

Roeser also earned the All Around Championship, collecting $1,650 on Chex Out This Remedy. On the way to the win, he marked 146.5 in the herd, 140 in the rein work and 141.5 in the cow work. He finished the competition with a second place finish in the roping, scoring 142, and that was enough to clinch the win.

The Reserve All Around title went to Peppys Hot Chic, ridden by Russell Dilday for Fredric Marrs.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association's Hackamore Classic is one of the organization's premiere events and this was it's first year to be held in Winnemucca, Nevada at the new Humboldt County Events Center, a $5 million facility that opened in late November.

Lyn Anderson praised both the facility and the community. "The arena was great, and so were the people. Winnemucca was one of the friendliest places we've ever been. The entire community seemed very supportive of our event."

Sponsors for the Hackamore Classic were the Winnemucca Convention & Visitors Authority, Bayer Corporation, Cinch, Inc., Flowmaster, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Purina Mills, Inc., Skyline Silversmiths, Sundowner Trailers, Winners Hotel of Winnemucca and the Humboldt County Events Center.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 530-886-3111 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.