The Road to the Horse Wild Card Challenge was held September 22-25 at the Cowtown Coliseum in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. The event featured six competitors, colts from the legendary 6666 Ranch and a cash purse of over $25,000. It was Wild Card JR Robles, who finished on top, sweeping wins across all three rounds, and earning his invitation to compete at Road to the Horse 2023.
“The horse (BAMA CROWN) was absolutely amazing, he was with me every step of the way” stated Wild Card Challenge Champion, JR Robles. It was a fairytale ending for the self-proclaimed underdog, who only began training horses twelve years ago. “The ending (of the event) was a culmination of all the hard work from my assistants to people back home, to family, friends, and the horse. The way God just put the whole finish together was unforgettable.”
“Watching such a diverse group of Wild Cards compete at the Wild Card Challenge was such a valuable educational experience for everyone. All six Wild Cards displayed amazing courage and horsemanship” stated Morris Equine Group President Tina Battock. “We’re excited to extend an invitation to JR Robles, as our Wild Card Champion, to compete at the World Championships of Colt Starting in Lexington, Kentucky.”
JR Robles earned $1,000 bonus money for receiving the top score in each round, in addition to the $10,000 Wild Card Champion prizemoney (total earnings of $13,000). Nate Eicher’s strong finish in Round Three allowed him to capture the Reserve Championship (earning $7,500), with Kelsey Love Thomas rounding out the Top Three (receiving $5,000).
Final scores and 6666 Ranch colt picks for the Wild Card Challenge:
- Champion (1090 Points) JR Robles: #6 BAMA CROWN (Bamacat x Playboys Crown, by Playboys Buck Fever)
- Reserve Champion (888 Points) Nate Eicher: #1 BAMAS RED CAT (Bamacat x Red Ridinghood, by Triage)
- Third place (881.5 Points) Kelsey Love Thomas: #3 BAMAS TURN TO PLAY (Bamacat x Your Turn To Play, by Playin Stylish)
- Fourth Place (877 Points) Lee Hart: #5 HOLD UP COWBOY (Bet Hesa Cat x Cowgirl From Heaven, by Seven From Heaven)
- Fifth Place (765 Points) Amanda Wilson: #4 BAMA ATTRACTION (Bamacat x Paddys Attraction, by Playin Attraction)
- Sixth place (347.5) Daniel Oliveira: #2 CANYON BOTTOM (Natural Bottom x Genuine Canyon, by Genuine Masterpiece)
Complete Wild Card Challenge scores are available at www.RoadtotheHorse.com. Road to the Horse 2023 takes place at the Kentucky Horse Park on March 23-26, 2023. Tickets are available at www.RoadtotheHorse.com or by calling 800-514-3849. Follow Road to the Horse on Facebook for the latest information.
About Road to the Horse
Founded in 2003, Road to the Horse strives to inspire people to reach a higher level of horsemanship and develop unity with a horse based on trust and not fear. We believe that through education and entertainment, we can change people’s ideas and create a better world for the horse. The purpose of Road to the Horse is to identify the superior colt starter who accumulates the highest score throughout the competition. Judging focuses on the competitor and the effectiveness of their horsemanship methodology to communicate, educate, and build a partnership with their colt based on trust. Fans witness the entire journey, from colt selection to the final obstacle challenge. Purchase tickets and see the event schedule at www.RoadtotheHorse.com.
About Morris Equine Group
Morris Equine Group consists of some of the industry’s most recognized brands, including Western Horseman, Quarter Horse News and Barrel Horse News. The group also includes business-to-business publication Western Lifestyle Retailer and EquiStat, a statistical service offering detailed information and earnings for the performance horse industry. Morris Equine Group is also home to the Nashville Stampede, the National Barrel Horse Association, the West Coast Barrel Racing Association and the World Championship of Colt Starting, Road to the Horse.
For more info contact:
Road to the Horse
tammy@roadtothehorse.com
(D): 940-859-6512
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