Ephrata rider places fifth in amateur futurity

MOSES LAKE - First Sue Smith set a new time record, then Theresa Walter did it faster to set the record a second time in the same day.

Smith, a racer from Blackfoot, Idaho, rode her 5-year-old gelding Willie B Rockin around the trio of barrels in 16.647 second on April 19, event chair Karen Reffett told the Columbia Basin Herald Wednesday.

Later the same day, Walter, from Billings, Mont., rode her horse Fames Licorice Kiss around the same barrel-racing course in 16.647 seconds to set the record a second time at the 41st Washington Racing Association Futurity at the Grant County Fairgrounds.

Reffett said the record times were during the first go-around on Saturday. When their later times were added, Smith won the title and a new saddle along with prize money. Walter finished in eighth place overall.

Smith also won the derby for horses under 7 years old riding Real Claim To Fame.

Vauna Walker of Pingree, Idaho, won the title of reserve champion riding her 5-year-old horse Two Dash To Fame, according to Reffett.

Local racer Brandi Mulrony of Ephrata earned fifth place in the WBRA Futurity Amateur on the back of her 5-year-old gelding Plenty Try Sneaker.

Ken Smith, Clarkston, Wash., won the Pole Bending Futurity.

Holly Schoenberg, Kennewick, Wash., won the Futurity Amateur.

Barb Wolf of Wenatchee won the Never Won A Saddle Race.

Tracy Kenyon, Pendelton, Ore., won the WBRA Open.

Results for the 41st annual WBRA Futurity are:

First place - Sue Smith, 33.984 seconds; second place - Vauna Walker, 34.237 seconds; third place - Serena Mote, 34.388 seconds; fourth place - Craig Strizke, 34.559 seconds; fifth place - Lynn Kohr, 34.572;

Sixth place - Amy Coelho, 34.840 seconds; seventh place - Holly Schoenberg, 34.890 seconds; eighth place - Joeleen Ottun, 35.069 seconds; ninth place - Phillip Kenyon, 35.135 seconds.

Results for the WBRA Futurity Amateur are:

First place - Holly Schoenberg, 34.890 seconds; second place - Joeleen Ottun, 35.069 seconds; third place - Alyssa Ebie 35.285 seconds; fourth place - Kyna Schrader, 39.399 seconds; fifth place - Brandi Mulrony, 39.675 seconds.