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This October an amazing thing will
take place
in the non pro reining world....
Non Pro reiners
will get the
opportunity to compete for
$100,000 in 4 divisions*!
*as eligible
For only $500 per class or $750 for
all classes*, reiners attending the International Reining Festival & NRHA
Mountain Region Affiliate Championship Finals in Denver, CO, will make history
by participating in this unprecedented event!
*as eligible
As told by Gail Klapper, an organizer of the event.
TELL US EXACTLY WHAT
THE LOOT FOR THE GRASSROOTS IS
The Loot for the Grassroots is an exciting new opportunity for the 80% of non
pros who haven’t won more than $24,999 in NRHA lifetime earnings as
of January 1, 2008. This opportunity allows these non pros to compete for
$100,000 in 4 divisions (as eligible)!
We felt it was important to honor
and reward the non pro members of our industry who are truly the backbone of
reining. This Loot for the Grassroots class offers them an exceptional and
unusual cash reward for the hard work and energy they have put into the sport.
WHERE AND WHEN WILL
THE LOOT FOR THE GRASSROOTS BE HELD?
The Loot for the Grassroots will be held on October 14-19, 2008 at the National
Western Complex in Denver, Colorado, as part of the International Reining
Festival & NRHA Mountain Region Affiliate Championship Finals. The Loot for the
Grassroots is scheduled to run concurrently with regular non pro classes.
It is a non-approved event so earnings will not bump riders into a higher
category of NRHA competition. For only $500, riders may enter any one of 4
divisions, or $750 will enter all 4 divisions (as eligible). Payouts will
be made using NRHA schedule B, paying as deeply as 15th place. Regular
entry deadline is 9-1-08 but late entries are welcome with a small $100 penalty.
The 4 divisions and added money are as follows:
Non Pro $50,000
Int. Non Pro $35,000
Ltd. Non Pro $10,000
Prime Time NP $5,000
The International Reining
Festival has become a premier event in its own right with its full array of
classes, NRHA affiliate finals, 3 yr old Futurity, Mile Hi Derby, and Freestyle
event. We are confident that The Loot will add yet another exciting new element
to this already wonderful show.
WHO ARE YOU DEFINING AS
“GRASSROOTS” REINERS?
We thought that this class should
be for those non pros who represent the vast majority (80%) of the non pro field
that haven’t yet reached the top of the non pro ranks. These are the people who
come out week after week, work hard with their horse to improve, get nervous,
sometimes count 5 instead of 4 spins, but love the sport and faithfully invest
in its success. We want this event to be kind of a 'Thank You' to them for all
they do for the sport of reining—making it fun and laying a successful
foundation for the entire industry.
HOW DID YOU GET AROUND THE NRHA RULE REGARDING NRHA JUDGES’ ABILITY TO JUDGE
NON-APPROVED REINING EVENTS?
We have permission from the NRHA that expressly allows us to use NRHA judges
since this class does not “coincide with any NRHA category”.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO HAVE THE LOOT FOR THE GRASSROOTS
EARNINGS NOT BE RECORDED WITH NRHA?
This issue was discussed at length with NRHA President, Dr. Kim Sloan, who
helped us understand the importance of not pushing a non pro into a higher
category of NRHA earnings simply because of their success in this unique class.
The NRHA Executive Board agreed, so this will not be an NRHA approved class.
WHAT OR WHO INSPIRED THE IDEA
FOR THE LOOT FOR THE GRASSROOTS?
The idea was really advanced by non pro reiner, Bob Thompson (Canada) while he
was participating in the International Reining Festival in 2007. Bob owns the
Apex Ranch in Texas and is one of those reiners who makes the industry work. I
and my daughter*, Dana Cohen, loved the concept and
shared it with Brad Ettleman, manager of the International Reining Festival. The
rest is history….
*Dana and Gail
are owners of Colorado’s 6K Ranch and Tack
WHO ARE THE PEOPLE/BUSINESSES
MAKING THIS CONCEPT COME TO FRUITION?
In addition to Bob Thompson, myself, Dana Cohen, and Brad Ettleman, there are a
number of “Friends of the Loot” who are interested in making sure that this
event and the entire International Reining Festival & NRHA Mountain Region
Affiliate Championship Finals is a
rousing success. As those businesses and names are made public, we hope you will
thank them for this opportunity.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE RESULT OF THIS EVENT WILL BE?
We are hopeful that non pros and trainers alike will come to Denver in droves to
participate in The Loot, but also to ride in the fabulous array of classes
offered at the International Reining Festival & NRHA Mountain Region Affiliate
Championship Finals:
$30,000 Futurity
$10,000 Challengers Cup Freestyle
$11,000 Mile High Derby
NRHA Mountain Region Affiliate Championship Finals
Full slate of Ancillary classes
More than $10,000 for the regular Open and Non Pro slate classes
It is important to remember that
The Loot is an important new opportunity for non pros, but the International
Reining Festival & NRHA Mountain Region Affiliate Championship Finals is a
terrific show in itself with a large Trade Show; VIP Lounge; outstanding awards,
etc. It is our goal to make this show fun and rewarding for Open Riders and Non
Pros alike.
HOW CAN PEOPLE SUPPORT THIS EVENT?
We would greatly appreciate each and every one of you helping to make this
creative opportunity a success in its inaugural year. You can do that by
becoming a sponsor at whatever level makes you comfortable. See a
sponsorship sheet outlining the benefits of your sponsorship. We hope you feel,
as we do, that the most important benefit of sponsorship is showing your support
for our non pro riders.
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