Featured picture – Gwen Hatch of Aces N Eights Equine station. Picture courtesy of PixelWorx
Although over 400 runners from 8 dif- ferent states stopped the clock on the first day of the 5th annual Christmas Ca$h barrel race in Amarillo, Texas, it was a young Colorado cowgirl that was the one to watch for the entire weekend. Kenzie Huffman and her borrowed horse, Twice the Lace, won everything they competed in during the De- cember 5-6, 2009 weekend at the Amarillo National Center arena. The pair took home over $4000 in prize money, a saddle, saddle rack, buckle and bragging rights for winning 3 of the 4 races offered. Possibly the only reason she didn’t win 100% of the races was because she decided not to run in round #2 on Sunday, but instead to save her horse for the Sunday afternoon short-go.
CBT Productions awarded over $46,500 in total payout, including the CBT Challenge Race which drew 26 entries from 6 states. The weekend’s prize list included saddles to the average winners and buckles & saddle racks to the short-go division winners, as well as product from Tandem Oral to those that hit the 2nd barrel in the first round!
The unique format of the BBR-approved Christmas Ca$h race gave contestants 2 chances to qualify for the $500 added Ranchers Supply Bonus Round. Each qualifying round featured $1000 added cash. The top 8 from each division, each day (on a 5D scale) qualified for the bonus round. It is this popular bonus round where the prize winners evolve.
Topping the results sheet for the Tandem Oral Saturday Round #1, was Huffman aboard Lace winning $1059.75. Her 15.168, the fastest time of the weekend, set the
pace for other division winners to be Kellie Collier and TJ (2D-$915.14), Jessica Higa and Bonitas Mac Daddy (3D-$625.93) and Lee Ann Ballew and Poncho’s Cash (4D- $481.32).
Huffman’s time was a carry over from the CBT Challenge Race (similar to the popular slot races). This win allowed her to take home an additional $2136.33. Other
Challenge Race money winners were Delo- res Toole ($1768), Kris Burden ($1399.67), Amy Turner ($957.67), Krista Irlbeck ($663) and Romany Gordon ($442). The Challenge Race was a $300 entry fee, fastest times win race, with 94.4% payback!
Sunday’s Round #2, sponsored by West Texas Western Store and Panhandle Trac- tors, crowned three new division winners and a lucky repeat. Ashley Wright and Franny’s Special Edition topped the 1D with a 15.178, winning $1014.98 and setting the pace for repeat winner, Kellie Collier and TJ (2D-$876.77), Nancy Riley and CD Colonel Bobcat (3D-$600.35) and Beverly Griswold and Mac (4D-$462.14) to be division win- ners.
As always, the short-go, ran from slowest qualifying time to fastest, got more excit- ing as the end of the 80-runner event drew near. As the final runner, it was Huffman and Lace that clocked a 15.313, to win her a buckle, saddle rack and $1042.22. Other di- vision winners in the short-go were: Wright and Franny (2D–$900.48), Amber Cowan and Miss Snazzinic (3D-$616.98) and Bai- ley Renslow and Skunk (4D-$475.24).
With average times determined by your qualifying time and short go time, the 4 saddle winners were determined. Aver- age winners were: 1D-Huffman, 2D-Gwen Hatch and Munch, 3D-Nicole Odell and Sugar and 4D-Renslow.
CBT Productions would like to con- gratulate all winners and thank everyone who continues to make this event possible: the prize and added money sponsors, the workers that keep things running smoothly all weekend long, the vendors for support- ing the growing event and especially the contestants.
Round sponsors were: Tandem Oral, West Texas Western Store, Panhandle Trac- tors and Ranchers Supply/well-shod.com. Buckle and saddle rack sponsors are: Dr. JD Norris, DVM–Equine Dentist, Ray Bach Horseshoeing of Canyon, Coyote Bluff,
Chicken Express at I-40 & Grand and Tandem Oral. Webcast sponsor for the 2009 race was Arthro Dynamic Technologies, Inc.
Event promoters include: Happy State Bank, American Quarter Horse Association, Young Trailer Sales, TeePee Trailer Sales & Green Chile Willy’s. Visit www.CBTProductions.com for complete race results and a list of our 2010 schedule. See ya’ll December 4-5, 2010 for the 6th annual Christmas Ca$h weekend!
