Horsesdaily News: Dell Hendricks is Two For Two in Fall Futurity Action

Dell Hendricks is Two For Two in Fall Futurity Action

Dell Hendricks September 15, 2004 - In the early futurities where 3-year-old reining horses are shown before the National Reining Horse Association Futurity, one name stands out in 2004.

Dell Hendricks scored 219 on BC Chexmate to win the Sandhills Slide Futurity in Broken Bow, Nebraska August 12-15. BC Chexmate, a son of Bueno Chexinic out of Tissy Chex by Topsail Cody, is owned by Jimmy Pierce of Surf City, North Carolina.

The Nebraska event marked the stallion’s first outing and his trainer was pleased with his performance. “He showed a lot of style,” Dell noted of the gritty brown horse. “He can really turn around fast and has a real arena presence.”

BC Chexmate was started by Linda Adlof of Sherman, Texas, and moved to Dell’s Tioga, Texas ranch early in January 2004. Dell was quick to compliment Adlof. “The colt was started great.”

The youngster showed talent early, but he was temporarily sidelined by surgery to remove a bone chip from a hind fetlock. Such an interruption in training in a futurity year can be devastating, but in this instance, the recovery was rapid.

“I really think that using Cosequin helped speed his recovery from the surgery,” Dell noted. “Plus, it’s helped the condition of the joint since then.” BC Chexmate will likely be shown next at the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity in October.

Dell also won third on Dun It By Starlight (by National Reining Breeders Classic Champion Starlights Wrangler and out of Okie Dokie Dun It by Hollywood Dun It).

The Broken Bow event brought smiles all around, but not just for the results of the Open Futurity. It became a family affair when Dell’s father, James Hendricks, piloted his mare Mega Starlight, to win the Non Pro Futurity. Mega Starlight is by Starlights Wrangler and out of Mega Tucker.

Just a week later, the futurity action moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for The Jim Glover Chevrolet Tulsa Reining Classic The location was different but the result was the same, with Dell riding Memorable Affair to the Futurity Championship.

Owned by Bob Stinner of Aubrey, Texas, Memorable Affair is by Major Vaquero, a stallion Hendricks owns with partner, Tom McCutcheon. And the mare's "whoa" is reminiscent of her sire's memorable style.

“She’s a huge stopper,” enthused Hendricks, shortly after the win. He noted that the mare will be shown next at the Congress Futurity, then at Oklahoma City. "She wants to be a show horse. You can call on her and she can take the pressure!"

The Hendricks crew was more than pleased with the results of the two futurities, as the wins have moved him to within $30,000 of becoming the National Reining Horse Association’s next Million Dollar Reiner.

That laurel, when it’s reached, will be the latest in a sterling string of accomplishments for the Tioga, Texas reining trainer who has won the NRHA Futurity and been a part of the Gold Medal Reining Team USA that represents the United States in International competition. In addition, he is the only four-time National Reining Breeders Classic champion, with his latest NRBC win coming in 2004 on Reminic N Dunit, owned by Colleen and Tim McQuay and David and Bonnie Silva.

Dell and his wife, Terri, operate Hendricks Reining Horses, a state-of-the-art breeding and training facility in Tioga, Texas where they stand NRBC Champion Starlights Wrangler and AHQA Reserve World Champion Dunnit In Hollywood. For information on Hendricks, visit the web site at www.hendricksreininghorses.com or email to dell@hendricksreininghorses.com