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The 2011 Circle J Futurity Auction



Submitted by Julie Ouska

The Circle J Futurity Auction was held on Saturday evening, January 15, 2011, at the Holiday Inn in Parker, Colorado. As usual, everyone gathered for the Circle J General Meeting prior to the auction. AMHA Director Linnea Sidi reviewed key ballot questions for AMHA and Circle J members. Once the meeting was adjourned, the festivities began!

After an hour for socializing and a scrumptious prime rib dinner, the bidding began with auctioneer Bill Carrington warming up the crowd. Martin Cockriel, Circle J spotter extraordinaire, did an outstanding job of keeping track of each bidder and encouraging them to go higher! Bidding was heavy on several special auction items such as the Maretta Kennedy limited edition stallion bronze and the RDL Chuckwagon catered BBQ dinner. The BBQ was purchased by River’s Edge clients and will be enjoyed at OKC in 2011. RDL Chuckwagon (Brian Berry and Victoria Markley) provided the 4th of July BBQ at Circle J in 2010 and everyone just raved about the melt-in-your-mouth tender brisket. Maretta also produces the trophy for the Circle J Futurity and Circle J Futurity attendees are great fans of her work! Debra Hurst-Walters was the winning bidder on the bronze for $1,150. Other items that sold well included the framed Jessie Pettie print donated by Jessie and won by Mary Cockriel; Debra Hurst-Walters’ Park City UT vacation condo that was won by Jeffrey Nelson and a wonderful wine basket donated by David and Cindy Vogels. Debra Hurst-Walters was the winning bidder and graciously shared her Silver Lake Cabernet Sauvignon with her tablemates and Bill Carrington. Other items included saddle pad and cover from Radon, Inc.; a saddle pad, leg wraps and show caveson from P&S Enterprises; Puerto Vallerta vacation condo from Bill and Marilyn Esteb; riding lessons from Kate Vieyra at the Rivers Edge; photos from Howie Schatzberg and Casey MacBride; portrait donated by Terri Rickford; Blackhawk print from AMHA; subscriptions and advertising from The Morgan Horse Magazine and Saddle Horse Report and a Pandora charm from Churchwells!

The stallions got the most animated and contested bidding and it was TRE Master of Disguise owned by Deb Phelan who topped the sale at $4700 with the winning bid going to Jean and Bruce Beckman, Mountain Aspen Morgans. Following close behind were Mizrahi owned by Playmor Farms and winning bid by Ridgewood Farm, Mastroianni owned by Sheryl Bartolucci/SLB Farms and won by Bruce and Jean Beckman, Minion Millennium owned by Gary and Neecy Rohrs and won by Montjoy Kugeler; and Astronomicallee owned by C.A. ‘Tony" Lee III and won by Debra Hurst-Walters. Top bidders are stacking the deck in their favor as Master of Disguise sired the 2010 Futurity winner AMHF Mata Hari and Millennium sired the reserve winner Alivia. Other stallions included Hollybrook Stage Rage, Aljaks Double Whammy, BKC Valiant Star, MEM The Patriot, Whispering War Chant, JDS Costa Nostra, ECP Scandalous, DSD Esperance and Man in Motion.

Complete auction details are available at http://www.circlejfuturity.com/index.html.  The auction raised over $36,000 for the Futurity and yearlings from this auction will be eligible to compete in 2013. The 2011 Circle J Regional Morgan Horse Show and Futurity will be in Denver, Colorado, July 7 -10. The Futurity will take place on Saturday night, July 9, with judges Lynn Peeples (Futurity only), Ann Slomkowski and Richard Petty. Details are at http://www.circlejmorgan.com/Show_Info.html.

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