A 3-year-old Missouri Fox Trotter from Dora won the open Futurity last Saturday night in the concluding class of the 2011 Spring Show and 3-Year-Old Futurity.
My Hard Time, shown by Garrett King for Brian and Tara Land, of Dora, claimed the garland of the Futurity champion in the open division.
Reserve champion in the open class was King’s Charming Duke, ridden by Steve Dampier for Larry and Linda Kilroy, of Bucyrus, Kan.
Futurity champion in the open amateur division was King James Version, ridden by Lee Hackler for Lee and Pat Hackler, of Alma Ark.
Reserve champion in the open amateur class was Patriot’s Grand Finale, shown by Mark Holifield for Lola and Ritchie Moberly, of Liberty, Mo.
Three-Year-Old Futurity champion in the amateur owned and trained class was Play Dixie For me, shown by Alan King for Alan and Ali King, of Harrison, Ark.
Reserve champion was Isabell’s Charm, shown by Anna Cantrell for Lisa and Anna Cantrell, of Conway.
My Hard Time won first place in the qualifying open Futurity Mares class on Thursday night.
King’s Charming Duke placed fourth in the open Futurity Stallion & Gelding class on Thursday night.
King James Version placed third on Thursday in the Futurity Stallion & Gelding Open Amateur class. Patriot’s Grand Finale took first in the Futurity Mares Open Amateur.
Play Dixie For Me took first place in the qualifying Amateur Owned & Trained Futurity Mares class on Thursday and Isabelle’s Charm placed second behind the winner in the same class on qualifying night.
Placement in the qualifying classes as well as ranking in the stake class on Saturday night determines the payback in the 3-Year-Old Futurity.
Attendance at the Spring Show was noticeably down this year, with several factors likely coming into play.
Show officials considered canceling the Spring Show after an outbreak of a very contagious EHV-1 virus in Utah. After consideration, a special meeting was held and the board of directors agreed to go ahead with the show, with strict restrictions on horses entering the grounds.
The severe weather of this spring, along with heavy rains and flooding probably came into play, as well, and of course the high price of fuel was a factor in the show’s low attendance.
With the Spring Show now history, the association headquarters office and show officials here will begin concentrating on the Show and Celebration coming up in September.
The 53rd annual Show and Celebration will open on Sept. 4 and run through Sept. 10 with more than 150 classes to show during the week.
