World's Greatest Horseman

Russell Dilday and Topsails Rien Maker claim World's Greatest Horseman title for record third time.

By Larri Jo Starkey
The American Quarter Horse Journal
February 7, 2011

Half a point.

After a long day with four grueling western events, half a point separated the top three exhibitors February 6 in the World’s Greatest Horseman competition in San Angelo, Texas.

Russell Dilday of Porterville, California, won a record-breaking third title on Topsails Rien Maker, the horse he owns with Kevin Cantrelle of Raymond, California.

Just half a point back, Ron Emmons of Ione, California, and AQHA Professional Horseman Todd Crawford of Blanchard, Oklahoma, were tied for second on Olena Oak and Play Dual Rey, the 2010 AQHA Farnam Superhorse, respectively.

The first event in the World’s Greatest, part of the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s Celebration of Champions, was the herd work, an event similar to cutting except that reining the horse is allowed during the cut.

“This morning, I knew I had to step my cutting up because in the prelims it was too low a score,” Russell said. “I thought he was as good in the cutting as I’ve ever been/felt. Of course, Todd has a great run, marks a 220, and he’s three points up (above our 217).”

Ron and Olena Oak were right behind Todd and “Raymond” with a 219. Next up was the reining, where Ron was making an adjustment.

“He was a 205 in the prelims, and he was really good down the fence and in the roping to get me back in, so I rode him a little different in the reining,” Ron said. “I didn’t push him as hard, just cruised along, made a good run and let the chips fall where they may.”

Todd and Raymond marked a 221 in the rein work, with Russell and “Slider” right behind at 218. Ron and Olena Oak were snug behind in fourth place with a 216.

“I’m first (draw) in the (steer stopping), so there’s no sense playing that safe,” Russell said of his game plan. “Everybody here ropes really good now, especially when you have people like (AQHA Professional Horseman) J.D. Yates showing up – holy cow!”

After the steer stopping, Todd was in first place by two points. Ron and Russell were tied behind him. The final placing would depend on the cow work. All three horsemen knew that going full-out was their only option to win.

“I got lucky and drew fourth, and Todd and Ronnie were both ahead of me, so I knew what they marked,” Russell said. “Of course, Todd’s really good again, then Ronnie ties him up and then I have to bump them. No safety – I just tried to go. My first turn, that cow was a little tricky. I wished I had got by a little sooner and maybe (the score) wouldn’t have been so close, but he just smoked the second turn and then the circles – who can run that hard and get those cattle like that?”

Russell knew he’d given everything he and the horse had, and he looked up at the scoreboard to see the results.

“Hoping beyond hope that (the score) will be a 19 and tie at least,” Russell said. “I don’t even know what I thought.”

Meanwhile, Todd and Ron had gathered at the end gate to watch Russell’s run.

“We knew Russell could be huge down the fence,” Ron said. “He’s proved it time and time again. We were just waiting to see what happened, and that’s what happened.”

The score was 219.5 – good for the win and the check for $30,000, a boost to 12-year-old Slider’s earnings.

“This put him over $300,000,” Russell said. “He should be the first one to break that threshold, and I really wanted to do that. For him and for the (sport of) cow horse, too, to see that horses can make money at this age. Unlike so many other horses that win a lot of money, he won next to nothing when he was young and I was young at the Snaffle Bit. To be able to go and win $300,000 after your 3-year-old year is really – it’s an accomplishment for him and our whole association, our whole industry.”

Russell praised his competitors.

“There’s not a bad horse in that herd,” he said, waving his hand at his fellow finalists. “There’s nothing in this herd of horses but some bad luck. That’s the only way they sort out the winner here. We just had less of it.”

AQHA Professional Horseman Casey Hinton, one of the Play Dual Rey partners who own Raymond and filled the stands to cheer him on, shared that sentiment.

“I think it was one of the best finals I’ve seen to come down where three horses were a half point from winning,” he said. “I thought it was a phenomenal class. It’s always good to come to the show when you’ve got one capable of winning – to get that close, you’ve got to be happy with your performance and the effort of your horse. Todd did a great job.”