NRHA Announces 2017 Honorees

For Immediate Release-Oklahoma City, Okla., (10-17-2016) – The voting has been completed and the honorees have been notified! Following the presentation of the Hall of Fame Committee’s recommended nominees, the NRHA Board of Directors and past Hall of Fame inductees voted to approve Carol Rose, Rosanne Sternberg and Smart Like Juice for induction into the NRHA Hall of Fame in 2017. Tim Katona will be the recipient of the Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award for 2017.

Carol Rose, Gainesville, Texas is a renowned horsewoman with a well-rounded resume in the performance horse industry.  A distinguished NRHA non pro competitor, Rose has made her mark through her much-heralded breeding program, promotion of the sport of Reining, support of the association’s youth and mentoring of many young trainers.  Her program has produced NRHA Futurity and Derby Champions, Hall of Famers, an NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire and winners of NRHA’s major events.

Rosanne Sternberg divides her time between Great Britain and Aubrey, Texas.  Sternberg is a staunch supporter of NRHA and the sport of Reining.  An accomplished non pro rider, she has established a prominent breeding program, a highly-successful line of reining horses who have won virtually every NRHA major event, helped drive the careers of young trainers and Million Dollar Riders, supported International Reining, and served on the NRHA Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

Smart Like Juice, a 1994 Quarter Horse stallion by Smart Little Lena and out of Jessies Oak by Docs Oak, helped establish a reining dynasty.  Under the auspices of owner and non pro competitor Jose Vazquez, Markham, Illinois, Smart Like Juice, Inc. was established.  Seldom are there three undeniably successful reining careers seen.  Jose Vazquez is an NRHA Million Dollar Rider, only the second non pro to achieve the distinction.  Smart Like Juice, Inc. is an NRHA Million Dollar Owner and Smart Like Juice is a Three Million Dollar Sire.

Tim Katona of Belleville, Michigan is the 2017 recipient of the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award.  An NRHA Professional, Tim Katona maintains a very successful non pro and youth clientele and enthusiastically promotes the sport of Reining.  Katona was instrumental in the establishment of the very first approved youth classes and their addition to NRHA’s list of approved classes. In addition, he helped in the formation and organization of NRHA Affiliates in the region.

NRHA will proudly honor the 2017 inductees and award recipient during the2017 NRHA Winter Meeting to be held February 8-12 at the Sheraton Fort Worth Downtown Hotel. Please join us for all of the activities and to honor your fellow reiners!

Source: NRHA.com