The American Quarter Horse Journal, December 12, 2007 – American Quarter Horses return to the small screen on January 12 for a national telecast on NBC Sports. The AQHA America’s Horse Championships presented by Ford Trucks is a special, one-hour broadcast of some of the most exciting action from the FedEx Open competition at the 2007 American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show in Oklahoma City. The show begins at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time/ 2 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on local NBC stations.
Two of the most popular events, cutting and reining, along with other features will be highlighted during the show. The junior cutting, for horses 5 years old and younger, will be shown, and top riders Jerry Bob Seago of Claremore, Oklahoma; Shannon Hall of Loco, Oklahoma; Randy Cherry of Whitt, Texas; and Bryan Jackson of Paradise, Texas, will be featured. Seago has earned more than $600,000 in National Cutting Horse Association competition; Hall is a past NCHA Futurity Champion; Cherry and Jackson each have more than $300,000 in NCHA earnings. All are seeking their first AQHA world championship.
Reining will highlight the senior competition for horses 6 years old and older. The exciting runs of top competitors Randy Paul of Scottsdale, Arizona; Tim McQuay of Tioga, Texas; and Cody Sapergia of Ardmore, Oklahoma, will be featured. Paul won the 2006 National Reining Horse Association Futurity and is a three-time AQHA reserve world champion; McQuay is NRHA’s first $2 million rider and three-time AQHA world champion; and Sapergia, an up-and-coming Canadian trainer, is a multiple NRHA Derby and Futurity finalist.
The program is presented by Ford Trucks and includes veteran sports announcer Tim Ryan and jockey-turned-reporter Donna Brothers along with analysis by AQHA Professional Horseman Robbie Boyce of Jacksboro, Texas.
“AQHA has always been a leader in the equine industry, and we continue to look for new ways to introduce people to horses,” AQHA Executive Vice President Bill Brewer said. “We believe that showcasing the talents of American Quarter Horses on NBC Sports is the perfect way to pique the interest of viewers and offer them a gateway into the marvelous world of American Quarter Horses.”
In addition to the action from Oklahoma City, Fort Dodge will give viewers an inside look at the recently renovated American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum. Ford Trucks will highlight the Junior Master Horseman program, and viewers will get a sneak peak at the World Equestrian Games featuring reining, which will be coming to Lexington, Kentucky, in 2010.
AQHA’s Web site also will have special information for those interested in the American Quarter Horse lifestyle. Be sure to check out aqha.com for more information just for NBC viewers including information about the Junior Master Horseman program and Hall of Fame & Museum, along with the history of the American Quarter Horse and AQHA information.
Mark your calendar and set your digital video recorder for January 12 at 5 p.m. EST for the AQHA America’s Horse Championships on NBC Sports!
AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines .