Jim Short, Dual Ticket Sweep Derby Amateur and Senior Titles at NCHA Summer Spectacular
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- Created on Tuesday, 17 July 2012
- Written by Mark Thompson
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Jim Short Wins Derby Amateur and Senior Titles
Jim Short, 67, Fulshear, Texas, a lobbyist who has helped enlarge many other cutters’ checks during Fort Worth, Texas shows, earned two of his own totaling $9,602 Tuesday in Will Rogers Coliseum with a 217 finish that earned Derby Amateur and Derby Senior Amateur titles at the National Cutting Horse Association Summer Spectacular.
Short represents the NCHA every other year by pleading its cause during Texas legislative sessions. He has helped secure millions of dollars in state and city funding that's been paid to competitors at Fort Worth “Triple Crown” cuttings the past few years.
He and his mare Dual Ticket (Reys Dual Badger x Etickets Cat x High Brow Cat) were the beneficiaries this time around. The cutting competitor for about 20 years secure his first career Fort Worth limited-age victory. He had won a cutting event at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, near his South Texas hometown, three years ago.
Third-year cutter and former rodeo steer wrestler Clint Hixson, 39, Monroe, La., finished as the Derby Amateur Reserve Champion rider with a 216.5 aboard his gelding Peeka Spice Cat (Peeka Pep Cat x Gingers Spice Cat x High Brow Cat) to earn $5,461.
Ringling, Okla., trainer Bill Riddle has trained horses for Short the past 20 years, and his client described him as “an expert teacher” who cares deeply about his clients’ success.
Hixson works with his father and two brothers in the family’s automobile business. Hixson bought Peeka Spice Cat from Weatherford, Texas, trainer Sean Flynn and his wife, Ashley, and said, “He’s been good for me the whole time.” Flynn still trains the horse.
“She can really turn around,” Hixson said. “She fits me very well and suits me just fine.”
After retiring from rodeo, Hixson gave up competing on horseback for a while until deciding to try cutting. He had served as a turnback rider for his father, longtime cutting horse owner and rider Edley Hixson. He has a sister who trains barrel horses.
