Wednesday, December 5, Fort Worth, Tex.
2018 North Texas Chevy Dealers NCHA Futurity, presented by Great American Insurance
Bonnie Martin, Las Vegas, Nev., scored 219 points, on Wednesday, to win the Semi-Finals of the 2018 NCHA Futurity Unlimited Amateur. Ken Schultz, Sacramento, Calif., Barney Mac Smith, Maryneal, Tex., and Bobby Woods, Blanchard, Okla., tied with 214, the second-highest score of the Semi-Finals, where riders with 208 points or higher advanced to the Unlimited Amateur Finals, on Friday, December 7.
Bonnie Martin, the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame earner of $994,877, was riding Louellas Tomcat, a full brother, by High Brow Cat out of Louella Again, to Louellas Cat ($302,483), Cattalou ($295,057), and Louis The Cat ($254,458). The winner of more than 20 limited age event championships, including the 2010 NCHA Classic Challenge on  Rubys Royal CD ($248,400), Martin’s 2018 highlights include the 2018 PCCHA Futurity 5/6 Non-Pro and Limited Non-Pro championships on Reysin Kittens ($164,417).
Bobby Woods was an NCHA Futurity Unlimited Amateur finalist last year on Our Little Jack, by Cats Quixote Jack. This year he is riding Our Little Hottie, a Hottish daughter and a half-sister to Our Little Jack, out of Our Lucky Lil Peppy, by Boon A Little.
Barney Mac Smith and his Unlimited Amateur ride, Hellava Boon, by Once In A Blu Boon, had already earned a check ($8,133), earlier this week, as seventh-place finalists in the NCHA Futurity Limited Non-Pro. Smith was also a finalist (7th) in last year’s NCHA Futurity Unlimited Amateur on SJR Smooth Cowgirl ($26,895), who also carried him as a finalist in the NCHA Super Stakes Unlimited Amateur , and to also win the PCCHA Derby Non-Pro Intermediate.
In addition to qualifying for the NCHA Futurity Unlimited Amateur Finals, Ken Schultz and Rockin Those Tricks placed this week in the NCHA Futurity Limited Non-Pro Finals, where Schultz also showed Calvin Baloo to split 8/10 with himself and with Ali Good and Sabrina Boon.
The 2018 NCHA Futurity continues daily through Sunday, December 9; the NCHA Futurity Sales, held at Will Rogers Equestrian Center in conjunction with the NCHA Futurity, continue daily through December 8.