The Great Whiz, by Topsail Whiz and out of Pines BH (AQHA Shirleys Folly), is owned by Lance Griffin, Dewinton, AB, Canada. He earned the guaranteed first place pay check of $175,000 and, as the first gelding to win the event since 1983, won the NRHA Gelding Incentive Award for $13,304.38 as well as day money. Duane and The Great Whiz had the highest composite score of 452.5 heading to the Futurity Finals on Saturday evening December 6th.

It couldn't get any better for NRHA Hall of Famer Bob Loomis. The evening began with a tribute to Topsail Whiz, NRHA's newest Two Million Dollar Sire, owned by Bob Loomis Quarter Horses Marietta, Oklahoma. After his Futurity win, Latimer, who works for Loomis, became NRHA's fourth Million Dollar Rider - on a son of Topsail Whiz. What a great tribute to six time Futurity Champion Bob Loomis and his wonderful NRHA Hall of Fame stallion, Topsail Whiz.

2001 Futurity Champion Andrea Fappani, Temecula, California, was the Futurity Reserve Champion on Juston Palmer's NQH Little Jac (Jac Daniels Neat x Annies Little Squaw) and tied for third on Command With Me (Lean With Me x Chloe Doc Command) owned by Liat and Yoni Serrouya of Israel.

Intermediate Open Futurity

Van Luse, Marysville, Ohio, tied for third in the Open Division with Fappani and won the Intermediate Open Futurity on Barbara Hunter's Dunnies Prescription. This three-year-old filly is by Dun It With A Twist and out of Chics Sompen. Plans are for Van's wife, Cathy Woosley-Luse, to ride Dunnies Prescription in NRHA aged events in 2004.

Steve Archer was the Reserve Champion on David Archer's Holymasterwhiz (Topsail Whiz x Holly O Jay). Thiago Boechat brought his entry, David Zimmerman's Rooster's Tru Luck, from his native Brazil and placed third in the Intermediate Open and seventh in the Open! Boechat came to OKC with zero NRHA monies earned - and went home over $50,000 richer!

Duane Latimer, the Futurity Open Division Champion, will leave OKC with the use for one year of a Peterbilt truck courtesy of Dallas/Peterbilt - pulling a gorgeous Bloomer horse trailer provided by Bloomer Trailers as well as a truckload of wonderful prizes made possible by NRHA's generous sponsors.

The 38th NRHA Futurity & Championship Show is history. While many reiners went home with bragging rights for their achievements in OKC, others went home looking forward to riding their two-year-olds in preparation for the 2004 NRHA Futurity & Championship Show in Oklahoma City. It will be another great show!