Jewel Bars Cat (High Brow Cat x Sprats Dualin Jewel x Lenas Jewel Bars), a gelding owned by Center Ranch, Centerville, Texas, and shown by two-time NCHA Futurity Open Champion Ronnie Rice, Centerville, Texas, set the bar high from the opening run by marking a first-set, first draw 225

That held up for a Reserve Championship finish to earn $121,082 and extended Rice’s all-time career earnings solely at the NCHA Futurity to more than $1.5 million, according to Equi-Stat records. That’s more money than any other rider has earned at the Borden Milk/NCHA Futurity which started in 1962.

“I’d have loved to have won it but it is what it is. That’s why we’ve got the training on these judges. That’s what they seen and I accept it,” Rice said. “I’ve got the two best cow pickers in the business, my son [Tag Rice] and Eddie Flynn, and it couldn’t have worked out any better. They were right where we needed them. I came cutting tonight, drove up out of there and showed my horse. And he is a good little horse. I want to thank Ed and Tag for knowing those cattle.”

Ronnie Rice, a veteran of the sport, said he didn’t mind cutting first. The draw doesn’t matter when you make it to the finals, he said.

“You can set the bar and if they beat you, they beat you. I’ve drawn everywhere you can draw in here and it don’t bother me. I’m just proud to get my horse showed.”

Jewel Bars Cat will take time off until the Bonanza cutting in February and then head to the NCHA Super Stakes and Breeders Classic during the spring.

Jae Bar One Time (One Time Pepto x Jae Bars Fancy Cat x High Brow Cat), ridden by Michael Cooper, Bucyrus, Kan., and owned by James Hooper, Decatur, Ala., finished third with a 224 to earn $104,170. Cooper also tied for fourth with a 218 aboard Im Smart And Smooth (Smooth As A Cat x Chiquita Shorty x Shorty Lena), a gelding owned by Rose Valley Ranch, Vail, Colo. That horse earned $70,349, and he gave Cooper combined show earnings totaling $174,519.  Thank you Quarter Horse News for your coverage

CR Smart Brow April marked a 215, 218.5 - totaling 433.5, ridden by Boyd Rice,

Jewels Bar Cat marked a 217, 216.5 - totaling 433.5 ridden by Ronnie Rice,

CR Sun Reys marked a 217, 214 totaling 431 ridden by Boyd Rice.

All three Center Ranch horses are advancing to the Semi-Finals Open! We can't wait to see how you'll do Friday, December 9.

Center Ranch is wishing all of our cutting friends good luck in the coming days. We've got three horses - Jewel Bars Cat (marked a 217, ridden by Ronnie Rice), CR Sun Reys (marked a 217, ridden by Boyd Rice) and CR Smart Brow April (marked a 215, ridden by Boyd Rice) that are all advancing to the 2nd round of the Open! Keep it up guys! We'll be cheering you on.

CVRS is proud to expand their already state-of-the-art facility to include a small animal clinic to serve the East Central Texas Area. Adjacent to the horse clinic, Dr. vanReenan and Dr. Loncosky will be guiding this operation by providing the best service in general wellness, diagnosis, therapy, surgery, and radiology as well as emergency care.

The grand opening of this new clinic is scheduled for September 24th from 10am to 2pm - and will include pet-friendly tours of the new facility, an opportunity to meet the new vets, new client registration, door prizes, and pet portraits. Local personalities from KIVY and KMVL radio stations will be present to promote the event and lunch will be served at noon. We expect to see many of our loyal customers and look forward to meeting new clients from the surrounding areas.