On Friday, November 27, after nine days of first and second go-round trials, 76 horses qualified for the 2015 NCHA Futurity Open Semi-Finals, the final portal to the NCHA Futurity Open Finals. The Open Semi-Finals will be held on Friday, December 11; the Finals, with a winner’s purse of $200,000, begins at 6:00 pm, on Saturday, December 12.

Lindy Burch, the longest-standing past NCHA Futurity Open champion among this year’s Open Semi-Finals contenders, won the prestigious event 35 years ago aboard Mis Royal Mahogany. Tarin Rice, co-champion of the 2012 Futurity on He Bea Cat, is the group’s latest winner, while Ronnie Rice, Tarin’s uncle, is the only 2015 Open Semi-Finalist with more than one NCHA Futurity Open championship win. Ronnie won the 1998 Futurity riding Dainty Playgirl; in 2001, he claimed the win on San Tule Freckles; and in 2012, he was co-champion riding CR Tuff Hearted Cat.

Other past champions among 2015 Open Semi-Finalists include Gary Bellenfant, with Peptoboonsmal, in 1995; Paul Hansma in 1996, aboard Playboy McCrae; Tag Rice on Chiquita Pistol, in 2002; Wesley Galyean and Spots Hot, in 2004: Tommy Marvin with Highbrow Supercat, in 2005; Beau Galyean and Metallic Cat, in 2008; and Lloyd Cox with One Time Royalty, in 2010.

Sixteen riders each qualified two horses for the Open Semi-Finals:

LINDY BURCH
437 – Bet Shes Smooth – Oxbow Ranch
432 – Salsa Style – Oxbow Ranch

MATT GAINES
436 – Smooth Nu Cat – Gary and Shannon Barker, Madill, Okla.
431 – Special Nu Metallica – Jamie Hill, Bastrop, Tex

GEOFFREY SHEEHAN
435 – Cromed Out Cat – Beechfork Ranch, Millington, Tenn.
432 – Hellcat – Beechfork Ranch

GRANT SETNICKA
434.5 – Metallic Mistress – Texas Holy Cow Perf. Horses, Santa Ynez, Calif.
433.5 – Ichis My Choice –J Five Horse Ranch Mgmt., Weatherford, Tex.

PAUL HANSMA
434.5 – Play Purr View RG – Gary & Michelle Reichart, Frankton, Ind.
431 – Denvers Purdy – Jimmie Miller Smith, Geary, Okla.

KENNETH PLATT
433 – Smooth Flow – Robert Tregemba, Castle Rock, Colo.
432.5 – Moms Stylish Player – Robert Tregemba

ASCENCION BANUELOS
433 – Tassa Mia Cat 012 – rider, Fort Worth, Tex.
431.5 – Blues Hot – Rusty & Diane Leaver, Weatherford, Tex.

CLINT ALLEN
432.5 – CR Lucys Playboy – David & Stacie McDavid, Fort Worth, Tex.
430 – Aristocratic Rey – McDavids

GARY BELLENFANT
432.5 – One Super Cat – John & Hope Mitchell, Weatherford, Tex.
430 – Metallic Mike – Bellenfant,  DeLeon, Tex.

RONNIE RICE
432.5 – Papas Shadeaux – Center Ranch, Centerville, Tex.
432.5 – Ricci Ricardo – Ronnie & Theresa Rice, Centerville, Tex.

TOMMY MARVIN
432 – Kittys Got Faith – Michael & Emily Townsend, Edmond, Okla.
431.4 – Cryogenic – Marvins, Barnsdall, Okla.

BEAU GALYEAN
432 – Metallic Rebel – Thomas Guinn, Philadelphia, Miss.
431 – Chrome Catillac – Ellen Carter, Jackson, Wyo.

LLOYD COX
432 – Oklahoma Breykdown – Monty Johnson, Weatherford, Tex.
431 – Set Fire To The Reyn – Kathleen Moore, Madill, Okla.

CHRIS HANSON
431.5 Smooth Runnin Dually – Terri Brown, Nocona, Tex.
430 – ARC Reynin Cats – Terri Brown

SHAD PLATT
431 – Lone Star WR – Peter & Beth Spadoni, Wenatchee, Wash.
430 – Mayham – Spadoni

BOYD RICE
430.5 – SJR Smooth Gina – San Juan Ranch, Weatherford, Tex.
430 – Boonsmals Cowgirl – Kit & Charlie Moncrief, Fort Worth, Tex.