REDMOND, Ore. - Friday, June 21, 2002, marked the eagerly awaited fourth edition of the Pacific Coast Futurity held at the Far West Regional. This year's class saw 16 impeccably bred yearlings turn out to show the Pacific Coast Futurity committee's promotion of breeding and showing of top quality Morgans in the Pacific Northwest has indeed paid off. This year's entrants were the result of breedings many of which were purchased at the fourth Pacific Coast Futurity Stallion Auction held in February of 2000.
The Friday evening session started off with a well attended party held ringside sponsored by the Pacific Coast Futurity. With the center ring specially decorated for the futurity class, ringmaster Vern Serex sounded the call for the 2002 Pacific Coast Yearling Futurity.
The stands were filled with an appreciative audience as the formally attired trainers presented the 16 fine yearlings. The youngsters who answered the call for the event represented the cream of the crop of those who had been nominated while in utero in 2000 and were competing for a total of over $25,000 in prize money. The entries were brought into the ring one at a time while judges Janet Barber, Richard Boule, and Ann Slomkowski scored them. Following the announcement of the top ten scoring yearlings from the first round, there was a short break while the top entries were readied for their return.
The excitement then reached a new level as the 10 horses were brought back into the ring as a group to be judged using the majority three judge system. The crowd remained vocal as it showed its approval of its favorites as the judges closely inspected the entries. When the final judging had been completed, the entries and the audience waited for the final tabulations. When the tabulations were completed, the top ten winners were announced in reverse order to add to the excitement.
The anticipation heightened when only the top four entries remained to be announced. The fourth place honors and a check for $2,500 went to the well received Issues N Answers son Rendition Future Shock with Forest Nealon presenting for Sandy Garvin. Art Perry was thrilled with the son of his prized World Champion Intrepid Immortal Beloved and World Champion HVK Bell Flaire as Intrepid Dynasty collected the third prize of $3,500 shown by Keith Nelsen.
This left a pair of lovely fillies both sired by world champion in hand stallions to await the final announcements. Announcer Robb Platz then called the reserve champion to the center ring presentation area as the crowd sounded its applause. Joan and Rollie Bowers presented the reserve champion for the second year in a row as this time Mantic Merci Amour collected the honors. The showy daughter of RJM Pardon My French and D&D April's Promise received $5,000, a neck garland, champagne bucket and futurity wine plus an additional handlers' check for $250. The Bowers also received a check for $500 as the nominator of the sire RJM Pardon My French.
The final announcement ushered the 2002 Pacific Coast Futurity Champion Dragonsmeade Bell Song into the winner's circle. The smooth and elegant daughter of HVK Bell Flaire and Simply Apropos earned the crowd's appreciation and applause as Robert Hughes led her to the winner's enclosure. Dragonsmeade Bell Song took her place on center stage for her proud owners and breeders the Fu Family of Dragonsmeade Farm. They were presented the oversized check for $13,000 along with a RaDon sheet, neck garland, champagne bucket and futurity wine. In addition Rock Walker Stables received $500 as the winning trainer. As the owners of HVK Bell Flaire, Barbara and Arthur Jones also collected $1,000 as the nominator of the sire of the champion.
Despite the fact that no Pacific Coast Futurity Auctions were held in 2001 and 2002, a number of breeders and trainers are working on continuing this very worthwhile program. The many fine representatives of the breed that have been shown in this class in its first four years certainly show the promise of the breeding programs in the Pacific Northwest and the entire west coast.