Many of the nation's top 4- and 5-year-old cow horses arrived in Waco, Texas, to compete in the Texas Star Bank Derby. As the cow work came to a close August 20, Fielding Rogers found himself in the winner's circle with two-time American Paint Horse Association Working Cow Horse World Champion One Smokin Chic. Fielding, better known as Bozo, won both the Open and Intermediate Open Derby divisions at The Big Show in Waco.
Bozo, from Lipan, Texas, and One Smokin Chic, a 5-year-old Paint mare by Freckle Face Smoke and out of Ms Peppy Olena, marked a 143 in the herd work and a 144 in the rein work. Coming into Sunday's cow work, One Smokin Chic was leading the Intermediate Open division and placing fourth in the Open. A 151 in the cow work clinched championships in both divisions along with $5,208 for the Open win and $1,470 for the Intermediate win.
"The cattle here were pretty tough and she's the type of mare that can handle a tough cow," Bozo commented. "She's so cowy and she stops so hard. She really took a hold of the cow strong on the end of the arena and dominated him there. He gave her a good run around the corner and then she just took control down the fence."
Steve and Michelle Anderson, from Victoria, Texas, own One Smokin Chic and Michelle showed the mare at the National Cutting Horse Association Non Pro Futurity two years ago. When the couple decided One Smokin Chic wasn't going to be a major cutter, they looked to Bozo to see if she could make it as a cow horse.
"Three months after I started working with her I won the Paint World on her," Bozo noted, referring to their 2005 APHA Working Cow Horse World Championship. They returned this year and reclaimed the title for 2006.
B.J. Avila, from Jacksboro, Texas, won the Limited Open Derby catch-riding Kalpowar Quarter Horses' Andyroani. B.J. and the 4-year-old palomino gelding, by NRCHA Open Futurity Champion Masteroani and out of Hardwood Annie, marked a 134 in both the herd and rein works and an impressive 148 down the fence to win the Limited Open and a check for $963.
In the Non Pro Derby, Michelle Cowan dominated the competition riding Chicy Long Legs Ð a 4-year-old bay mare by Smart Chic Olena and out of Boomerita. Michelle, from Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Chicy Long Legs made the Non Pro finals at last year's NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity and placed eight in the Intermediate Non Pro Futurity. In Waco, they won the Non Pro Bridle Championship and a check for $1,663 with a 142 out of the herd, a 141.5 in the rein work and a 148.5 down the fence.
"She just was really solid for me," Michelle said of her horse. "She's really solid in all three events. She's easy to show and she couldn't have been any better. I was real proud of her."
The Texas Start Bank Derby was one of several events at Southwest Reined Cow Horse Association's Big Show In Waco, which ran August 16-20 at the Heart O' Texas Arena in Waco, Texas. With more than $160,000 in the total payout, the event also featured the Kalpowar Futurity, Lyle Lovett Stallion Stakes and a full slate of NRCHA-approved horse show classes including the Arcese Quarter Horses' Bridle Spectacular. For more information on The Big Show, including results, please visit the SRCHA's official website at www.srcha.org.
