Forty-three years ago, the first-ever National Reining Horse Association Derby was held. Then it was called the NRHA Maturity, and over the years, the event has been rehomed, grown, and changed names.

Now known as the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, the event is the second-largest reining show in the world and has become a must-attend for reining enthusiasts from across the globe. The Open preliminary round begins at 8 a.m. Friday, June 16, with the more than 300 entries divided over the first three days of competition in the historic Jim Norick Coliseum.
There are 158 individual riders representing 13 different countries vying for a coveted spot in the clean-slate Finals on Saturday, June 25, with only the top 30 finishers (plus ties) in Levels 1 – 4 advancing from the first round. There, the Level 4 Open Champion will win, for the first time ever, a Derby Championship check for $100,000! That’s not all, as the Level 3 Open champion will take home $35,000, the Level 2 Open winner will win $20,000, and the Level 1 Open champion will pocket $10,000.

The preliminary round not only decides the finalists but also determines the champions of the $110,000-added Tamarack Ranch Open Stakes and the $15,000-added Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Open Derby.

The competition isn’t limited to just the Norick Coliseum, as the Adequan® Arena hosts two full slates of NRHA-approved classes, with the first slate of the Non Pro and Classic Equine Green Reiner kicking off Friday morning.

Reining fans who can’t make it to Oklahoma City to watch the action in person can still enjoy the live webcast by visiting nrhaderby.com/live.
The 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel is held June 15 – 25 at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. To keep up with the latest news, schedule, and more, visit NRHADerby.com.

About the National Reining Horse Association:
Founded in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of the reining horse in a fun-filled, family atmosphere. NRHA’s mission is to promote the reining horse worldwide while celebrating and advancing the finest traditions of Western horsemanship. To learn more about NRHA, how to join, or to become a fan, visit nrha.com.