The 1986 NRHA Futurity The Move, The Mares And Hollywood Dun It! BY PAT FEUERSTEIN he first NRHA Futurity was held in Columbus, Ohio, in 1966. TWhen the All American Quarter Horse Congress began in 1967, the NRHA Futurity was held in conjunc- tion with that event through 1985. As NRHA, its Futurity, and ancillary class- es grew, so did the Congress. The Ohio State Fair show facility was literally bursting at the seams. Adequate prac- tice pens and warm-up areas were a rare commodity. It was interesting to watch reiners try to prepare their hors- es with halter horses being lunged, slow lopers hugging the rail, and an occa- sional driving class entry cruising around the make up pen. It was not unusual for the NRHA classes to run ‘round the clock. And, the financial reward to NRHA did not seem com- mensurate with the growth of our pre- mier event. A change of venue was “When we broke Sparkles Rosezana, we realized what a being discussed. great producer Diamonds Sparkle was going to be,” says In 1985, Dick Pieper was the NRHA Carol Rose. Sparkles Rosezana, ridden by Craig Johnson, President. Tim Bartlett, Jack Warne, won the 1985 NRHA Futurity. Bill Waterman, and Gary Feldmar were Elected Board members. Butch Shaver Snobelen, Steve Williams, and Bob Change is Good was the Executive Director and Kaye Loomis. When the Oklahoma Chamber “The only thing in our life that’s con- Potts was the Secretary. The Board was of Commerce made an offer to host the stant is change,” says Carol Rose. a good mix of NRHA veterans and fresh NRHA Futurity & Championship “When it’s a good change, it’s always faced newcomers: Leo Barbera, Bob Show, the NRHA Board decided this better. Looking back, the move to Evans, Tim Katona, Ben Mears, Lyn was an offer they could not refuse. In Oklahoma City was a very smart move. Sherer, Charlie Vaughan, Clayton 1986, the NRHA Futurity & More people could participate.” Tim Woosley, Clark Bradley, Butch Gardill, Championship Show moved to McQuay agrees. “It let the West Coast Tony Lomangino, Carol Rose, John Oklahoma City, Oklahoma! come to the Futurity without a big has- sle. It just opened up the industry in saw Bill at an NRHA meeting a few every way – training methods, breeders, weeks later, he told me that Doc’s Oak owners, buyers, everything.” was one of the most talented horses he “It was the smartest move this asso- ever rode.” Doc’s Oak sired the 1986 ciation ever made,” says Bob Loomis. “I NRHA Futurity Champion, Sophie don’t care if it’s business or property –it’s Oak. Sophie was equally impressive Year Inducted: Name: location, location, location.” And the on the bottom side of her pedigree. She location, right smack dab in the middle was out of Lifesaver, an own daughter 1986 Dale Wilkinson 1987 None of the country, seemed to be ideal. of Mr Gun Smoke. 1988 R.D. Baker Oklahoma City became the home of the Tom Lyons had Sophie Oak in train- Stretch Bradley NRHA Futurity & Championship Show. ing with his sights set on the NCHA Bill Garvey It was a huge success that set our asso- Futurity. “He called me in June of her Paul Horn ciation on course for tremendous three-year-old year,” says Loomis. “He Mickie Glenn growth. But some things never change. said she was the best minded horse he Continental King In 1986, Bob Loomis won his sixth ever rode and that she cowed, but didn’t 1989 C.T. Fuller NRHA Futurity. have a lot of flutter in the middle of the Kaye Potts Joe Cody You didn’t need a crystal ball to pen.” Lyons thought that Sophie Oak 1990 Guy Gauthier know the move to OKC would have a would make a reiner and offered to part- Paul Schuh huge, positive impact on NRHA and its ner on the mare with Loomis. Bob Clayton Woosley membership. But 18 years ago, no one picked her up in the middle of June and Enterprise Lady could have predicted the impact the with only a few short months before the Glenda Echols 1986 NRHA Futurity Open finalists NRHA Futurity admits, “I rode her on 1991 High Proof would have on an entire industry. The and off for two hours every day and 1992 Banker Bar Leo finalists were genetically loaded and everywhere I went, I took her with me. Mr Doin Good featured sons and daughters of NRHA She was one of the sweetest, best mind- Hollywood Smoke Bob Anthony Hall of Famers Topsail Cody, Be Aech ed horses I’d ever been around. She was Bill Horn Enterprise, Great Pine, Miss Cee Blair, so easy to train.” So much so, she was Bob Loomis and Glenda Echols. The top three hors- primed and ready to win in OKC, and Jim Willoughby es were Sophie Oak ridden by Bob she did. 1993 Cee Leo Step Loomis and owned by Loomis/Lyons, In 1987, Sophie Oak was purchased Hollywood Jac 86 Hollywood Dun It owned by Gwendy by Eleuterio Arcese for his daughter Miss White Trash Steif with Tim McQuay aboard, and Paola and moved to Italy, destined to Dick Pieper Zans Diamond Sun owned by Carol spark interest in our sport worldwide. 1994 John Snobelen Clark Bradley Rose and Dick Steward and ridden by In the late 1980s, “Dick Pieper and I 1995 Cee Blair Sailor Craig Johnson. You can’t get any better were asked to do a demonstration at the Great Pine than that! Equine Worlds Fair in Germany,” recalls 1996 Diamonds Sparkle Loomis. He asked Mr. Arcese if he Topsail Cody Sophie Oak could use Sophie Oak and her stable Trashadeous As Bob Loomis tells it, “I probably mate, Spirit Of Five, who in 1987 won 1997 Be Aech Enterprise rode ten or 12 direct sons of Doc Bar. the Futurity with Bill Horn, for the Nifty Jodieann They were all extremely talented. Put a demonstrations. Arcese agreed. “I rode 1998 Great Simon Sez Mr Feelin Good cow in front of them and they were big Sophie and Dick rode Spirit Of Five,” 1999 None says Loomis. “We gave two perform- time.” While Bob wasn’t always 2000 Dr. Tim Bartlett impressed with their mental suitability ances a day – for ten days in a row. Richard Greenberg for Reining, there were exceptions. We’d work together in the ring. We’d Tim McQuay “There were two Doc Bar sons who spin, run circles, run and stop, roll Hollywood Dun It were great athletes. They were good back, and we did the last two thirds of 2001 Frank Costantini, Jr. minded and they would have been as each demonstration bridleless. Those 2002 Miss Cee Blair good at Reining as they were at cut- two mares were wonderful. They were 2003 Linda Matthews ting,” says Bob. “And they were full just as good in their last performance as Dodsons Little Star they were in the first. It got a lot of peo- Gunner brothers: Doc’s Oak and Doc’s Solano.” Topsail Whiz ple looking at our sport.” Both stallions are by Doc Bar and out of 2004 Eleuterio Arcese the Poco Tivio mare Susie’s Bay. NRHA records show that Sophie Pat Feuerstein “Tom Lyons rode Doc’s Oak in the Oak has 15 offspring with three NRHA Charles Smith Snaffle Bit and Cutting Futurity,” says money earners totaling $93,177.95 in Dick & Barb Bob. “He asked Bill Horn to come out NRHA paychecks. But that’s not the Waltenberry and help with the dry work. When I whole story. Though unfortunately Smart Chic Olena Cover Photo by Pat Hall (L) Sophie Oak, ridden by Bob Loomis, won the 1986 NRHA Futurity – the first to be held in OKC; (R) Hollywood Dun It, shown by Tim McQuay, was second in the 1986 Futurity, then won the NRHA Derby and Superstakes in 1987. much of her offsprings’ earnings cannot will be NRHA’s 2004 Open World heritage – and then some. Ridden by be substantiated by NRHA records, Champion. ARC Oak Enterprise is a Tim McQuay, Hollywood Dun It was since they were not earned at NRHA stallion. Sophie Oak’s legacy continues. the 1986 NRHA Futurity Reserve approved events, Sophie Oak’s off- Champion and the 1987 NRHA Derby spring have very impressive show Hollywood Dun It and Superstakes Champion. He records in Europe-both in NRHA and When Gwendy Steif decided to became an NRHA Million Dollar Sire in non-NRHA events. ARC Sophies breed her mare, Blossom Berry, to 1997 and was inducted into the NRHA Snapshot (Snapper Cal Bar), ARC Hollywood Jac 86 in 1982, it was a Hall of Fame in 2000. To date, his Blueyed Redskin (Genuine Redskin), good decision. Blossom Berry was a NRHA get records number 18 pages ARC Joy Surprise (Surprise Enterprise), proven NRHA performer and was with 451 out of 722 offspring listed as ARC Genuine Oak (Genuine Redskin), showing signs of being a producer. Her NRHA money earners amassing a total ARC Just Like Oak (Surprise final record as a broodmare proved she of $3,946,749.17 – a figure that is obvi- Enterprise), and ARC Playsophie was: 7 of her 11 babies are NRHA ously very close to the $4,000,000 (Playing It Out) have all made their money earners. Hollywood Jac 86 was mark.. mark in Italian Reining Horse an NRHA record maker in the show In 1987, Cliff and Gwendy Steif Association futurities, derbies, and Top pen and was building a reputation as an decided to sell the stallion and there Ten tallies as well as AQHA events, NRHA foundation sire.