Ralls and Chicken Time Win Circle Y Ranch SRCHA Derby

Patty Ralls, of Gainesville, Texas, won the Circle Y Ranch Southwest Reined Cow Horse Association Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro Derby on her horse, Chicken Time. Ralls and the 4-year-old gelding, by A Chic In Time and out of Paula Bud Acre, marked 141 in the herd work, 148 in the rein work, and finished with a 148.5 in the cow work for a total paycheck of $5,781 at the 1st Community Federal Credit Union Spur Arena in San Angelo, Texas.

Chicken Time has a special place in Rall's heart. "My husband, Ron, rode A Chic In Time to win the World's Greatest Horseman in 2004. I also rode Chromium Cowboy, who is by A Chic In Time, to Non Pro Hackamore World Championships in 2004 and 2005."

Ralls noted she was pleased with her horse's performance throughout the event. "I stayed on the cow in the herd work too long," she admitted. "But he was really good. I only had one fault in the rein work - I weakened on the last stop."

It was only Chicken Time's third time to ever compete down the fence. "I was just trying to keep things straight and be smooth. Smooth beats wild and fast every time," she said.

Rall's parents, Jim and Elaine Pollard, purchased Chicken Time as a weanling from the NRHA Futurity Sale. Ralls plans to show Chicken Time next at the NRCHA Derby in Paso Robles, California, during a family vacation. "I grew up less than sixty miles from Paso Robles. It will be great to have a vacation where we get to show the horses," she laughed.

Former NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Intermediate Non Pro Champion Jerry Alvord piloted the horse he won that prestigious title with - Smartlight Dot Com - to both the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro Reserve Championships of the Circle Y Ranch SRCHA Derby. The pair earned a 434, and took home checks for $2,235 and $1,050 for the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro, respectively. Later in the day, Alvord, of Marietta, Oklahoma, was interviewed by San Angelo CBS Affiliate, KLST. "My wife's the smart one - she picked out this horse," he admitted during the interview. Smartlight Dot Com is by Ill Be Smart and out of Dotta Starlight.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, celebrating its 60th Anniversary in 2009, is the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today's equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.