The National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) is seeking applications from venues interested in hosting next year’s NRCHA Derby, according to a request for proposal (RFP) issued last week.
On Feb. 27, the Pilot Point, Texas-based association posted an RFP on its website seeking venues interested in hosting the 2021 edition of the premier event. The deadline for submissions is April 1.
According to specifications posted on the NRCHA website, the show is typically held June 1-20 and includes 10 competition days, three set-up days and one tear down day. However, the RFP notes the NRCHA may be willing to work with venues on the show dates, so long as the resulting event complies with association rules and does not conflict with another major NRCHA-approved event.
Venues must have the capacity to hold 1,000 to 1,500 cattle at any given time and a minimum of 700 stalls (permanent and/or temporary). There also are requirements for show arena size, practice pens and other facilities.
Click here for more specifications outlined in the NRCHA’s RFP.
The NRCHA Derby was traditionally held at the Paso Robles Event Center in Paso Robles, a city on California’s Central Coast roughly midway between the San Francisco and Los Angeles metropolitan areas.
The recent exception was in 2011, when the NRCHA board of directors had to find an alternate venue after postponing the original show to October due to concerns about EHV-1. When the Paso Robles Event Center couldn’t host the show at the rescheduled date, officials moved the event to Queen Creek, Arizona.
The NRCHA Derby is one of five premier events hosted by the association. Others include the NRCHA Stallion Stakes in Las Vegas; the Dom Conicelli NRCHA Eastern Derby, presented by Mars Equestrian® in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; the NRCHA Celebration of Champions in Fort Worth, Texas; and the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity ® in Fort Worth, Texas.
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