BIG PAYCHECK

SURE AM HOT WINS THE 2-YEAR-OLD WESTERN PLEASURE CHALLENGE AT THE REICHERT CELEBRATION.

BY CHRISTINE HAMILTON, JOURNAL FIELD EDITOR

It was the biggest $250,000 Equine Sports Medicine 2-year-old Western Pleasure Challenge yet at the 2008 Reichert Celebration.

In front of a packed Ford Livestock Arena at the Tulsa Expo Fair on August 16, Sure Am Hot, a gelding by Blazing Hot and out of Surely Sheza Zippo by Zippo Pine Bar, won hands down – first under all six judges’ cards.

Katy Jo Pickard of Lapeer, Michigan, rode him through the tough competition – 34 riders rode in two splits, with 15 coming back for a final go. The winner went home with a cool $100,000 check. The Dempze family of Wisconsin Rapids, Michigan, purchased the horse a short month ago: Gary, Susan and their daughter, Jenna.

The evening festivities featured what has now become standard Reichert fanfare: fireworks, laser show, a red carpet walk to center-arena seating and dinner for owners, judges arriving via stretch limousine, etc. This year the famed One-Armed Bandit even made an appearance with his wild horses and burros.

The Challenge is the showcase of what has now become a showcase event in the western pleasure world. The Reichert Celebration’s “Premier Signature,” aka “slot” classes have established a tradition of paying hefty cash awards and prizes. The 2007 Reichert paid $1.7 million in cash awards plus $300,000 in prizes; 2008 totals are unofficial as yet.

Founded by the Ron Reichert family and now in its 10th year, the Celebration has a long history of also raising money for charity – for example, a portion of all entry fees is donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Look for full Journal coverage and photos in the rail and pattern section of the October issue.