IMPORTANT FUTURITY and DERBY CHANGES  

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NRHA PRESS RELEASE 12-7-07

2009, 2010 and 2011 NRHA Futurity and Derby Nominations and Entry Payments to be Reviewed

The National Reining Horse Association Board of Directors has voted to delay 2009, 2010, and 2011 NRHA Futurity and Derby nomination and entry payments to give the membership time to voice their opinion on the best way to implement the board-approved nomination program.  In addition, the Board wishes to allow the Aged Events Committee time to ensure that the best possible plan is in place. Under scrutiny will be payment frequency, payment amounts, deadlines, past due fees, etc. 

Simply stated, the board is in full support of a nomination program but wants to allow the membership the opportunity to voice their opinion on its implementation. In an effort to obtain information, the board is requesting your suggestions and comments be submitted in writing to the NRHA office before January 7, 2008. The committee will review all submissions. Then at the 2008 NRHA Convention, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (January 28-February 2), a forum will be held to review the submissions.  At the March Board of Directors meeting, the Aged Events Committee will present their recommended revisions, if any, for approval.

All payments for the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Futurity and Derby are being delayed until after the March Board meeting.

No changes have been made to the 2008 Futurity or Derby conditions.  Please make all scheduled payments for the 2008 Futurity and Derby

see this link:  http://www.nrha.com/conditions.php

A brand new plan has been initiated which will generate projected income of $1 to $1.2 million dollars to support the NRHA Futurity and Derby.  It seems ideal - only those who play the Futurity Game will foot the bill!  According to NRHA, it is modeled after successful programs like NRBC and AQHA's Incentive Fund. 

SOUNDS GREAT, RIGHT?  Read on....

THE PLAN

• BEGINNING 2007 YEAR, THE FOLLOWING CHANGES IN FUTURITY NOMINATIONS WILL BE ENFORCED:
  • foals of 2005 nomination fees begin Dec 07 for the 2008 Futurity
  • foals of 2006 nomination fees begin  Feb 08 for the 2009 Futurity
  • foals of 2007 nomination fees begin June 08 for the 2010 Futurity
  • foals of 2008 nomination fees begin Nov 08 for the 2011 Futurity
  • foals of 2009 nomination fees begin Nov 09 for the 2012 Futurity

QUOTES FROM NRHA BOARD ON THE FUTURITY AND DERBY CHANGES...

IN A RECENT QUARTER HORSE NEWS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY PAT FEUERSTEIN,

• Frank Costantini said --

  • "without the Futurity and Derby, there would be no need for members, affiliates or professionals who make their livelihood training horses for those who want to enjoy the sport"

  • "All that we do as reiners grows from our Futurity. I really feel the new fee structure will do nothing but strengthen our aged-event program. It will allow money to come to the situation earlier and give these monies an opportunity to earn interest. It will have more people committed to the event and encourage participation at all levels, not only in the Futurity but in the Derby as well. I think its a realistic way to sustain the financial strength of our Futurity and Derby over the next five, 10, 15 years".

  • "There were approximately 100 large breeders contacted by Bob Hamilton before this was voted on. This has been discussed for a couple of years by various members and board of directors. There were probably five Aged Events Committee meetings where the concept was discusses, and a task force was formed by t he committee and charged with researching the structure."

  • "More than 200 emails were also send to major breeders and individuals for their input about the new proposal."

  • "I think any breeder who takes a step back will say look - I wasn't sure about the NRBC program, but that's working. I'm saying give this a chance. It wasn't done to create a hardship on any one segment of the industry. What we've done is try to solidify the industry and not have it cost anyone any more money as long as the horses are nominated and paid up to date. In my mind, its a win/win situation for everybody."
    
     

• Bob Hamilton, original author of the plan, said --

  • "When the 2011 Futurity is held, it will be the first time the payment program has included the weanling, yearling, 2yr old and 3 yr old payments. It is our belief that the Futurity will pay out over $2 million. This carry-over and the entry fees to the Derby should result in a payout of $500,000 to $1 million."

  • "There are approximately 7,000 foals born each year that are sired by our reining horse stallions. Most of the owners have the intention of entering and showing these foals in the Futurity. Only 750 to 800 of these foals enter and make the first payment into t he Futurity. This is a small percentage of nominations. The foal nominations into the NRBC program annually is approximately 2,500 to 2,800. If we attain this number of entries in the Futurity as weanlings, it will be rather easy to attain our goals."

NOTES ON THE FUTURITY AND DERBY CHANGES...

• This plan was unanimously Board-approved at the August 2007 Board Meeting, reviewed after the Congress Meeting, and is FACT.

• After the Annual General Membership Meeting held at Congress, due to NRHA members' "questions, suggestions, and serious concerns", Mike Boyle was reported to have asked the Aged Events Committee to review the plan's details.  As of October 30, the Board had decided to go forward with the plan AS IS, with no revisions.

• As of December, 2007, The Dedicated Members and Breeders Committee is proposing an alternate Futurity and Derby Plan.  See details here.