11 minute read
CANADIAN SPECTACULAR
The Canadian Spectacular has become a highly anticipated, limited aged cutting event over the past few years, with higher entries and payouts than ever before. This year was no exception.
By Jenn Webster Photos by Krystina Lynn Photography
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Held this past September 21-25 at the Silver Slate Arena in Stavely, AB, the Canadian Spectacular filled the weekend with 278 horse and rider entries. The show has continuously grown each year and in 2022, the event awarded over $160,000 to the top, deserving contenders. For the first time in two years, American entries came north of the border, to try putting their rein hands down for Spectacular money. Competitors returned once again, from Washington, California, Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
When asked to give a recap of the events this year, Spectacular organizer Connie Cicoria of Okotoks, AB, said, “The weather was amazing, the cattle were great and the horses were spectacular.”
OPEN FUTURITY
Johnny Lukacs of Olds, AB, once again returned to defend his title in the Open Futurity. Riding Spottish, a sorrel stallion owned by his father (John Lukacs), sired by Hottish and out of the mare Queen Me Cat (High Brow Cat), Lucas scored a 147, garnering a paycheque worth $9,713.
Lukacs’ family raised the stallion they refer to as “Ricky.”
“We bought his mama, ‘Queenie,’ from Gordon and Gerri Gowdy, and had the opportunity to breed her to Hottish; Ricky was the result of that cross,” tells Johnny.
“He has always been an inquisitive and friendly guy. My dad likes to say that if he was a person, he would probably be a comedian. I started him at the beginning of his two-year-old year. We knew right from the start that he was special, he was very smart from the get-go, and displayed a really cool move on a cow early on in his training. He has been a pleasure to train to this point and definitely has had more good days than bad.”
Johnny is looking forward to furthering his career in the show pen and hopefully, as a sire as well.
“The Spectacular was a great show once again this year! I’ve had a lot of success at this show in the past and we always look forward to it! Connie, Andy, and everyone who is involved have done such a great job to make this a really really fun show to be a part of,” Johnny states.
In their first go, Ricky and Johnny drew up dead last in the second set and the trainer recalls, “…just wanting to get him through.” Together, they marked a solid 144.5 to split third position.
Open Futurity 200k Ltd. and Breeders Champions, Johnny Lukacs & Spottish.
“The run built all the way through, but I was just happy to have survived at that point,” he quips.
In the second go, the pair drew up second and Lukacs says the game plane was more of the same – cut clean, be smart and let Ricky do his thing. They ended up with a 145 and held on to win the goround. For the finals, however, the trainer admits that he began to feel the show nerves.
“The four-year-old finals had gone earlier that day and the cows were tough. We drew up fifth. Into the settle and after the first few riders, it was apparent that this herd was just as tough as the fouryear-old herd. So, we went in with the same mindset as before and just tried to get cut clean and be smart,” Johnny recalls.
“Also, having Glen Beveridge up top, yelling at me to slow down helped!” he laughs. “Our first cow was okay but Ricky was on it. The second cow was better and I knew if I got my third cow cut clean we might have a shot. After the buzzer, we ended up with a 147 and the rest is history!”
In total, the duo won over $18,000 at this show.
“That’s a pretty exciting pay check, since there are not a lot of shows around where you can win that much money on a single horse!” Johnny says.
He adds that his favorite part of the show was the opportunity to show young horses, the great classes and the opportunities to win money. Not only did Ricky win the Open Futurity, but the duo was able to win the Limited Open as well as the Canadian Breeders Stakes, which is an incentive that Cicoria put together for Canadianbred horses.
“I just want to give a big thank you first and foremost to God. I’m blessed to be able to train some phenomenal horses every day and have so many great people loving and supporting me and without Him, none of that is possible,” the trainer declares.
“My sisters Julianna and Teresa – they are my team and do such a great job having all my horses ready to show. Julianna got Ricky ready for me and always had him just right! My parents, especially my dad, he has trusted me and provided me with some of the best horses I have had the pleasure to swing a leg over and have a great facility to work out of. My dear wife, Isabel, for always supporting me and allowing me to chase my dreams. And my little baby girl Bibiana; I sure miss her when we are on the road.”
Fortunately, baby and mama where able to attend quite a few shows this year and cheer Johnny on. He also extends a big thank up to his team in the show pen; Doug Reinhardt, Brad Petersen, Glen Beveridge, Tyler Darroch and Loren Christensen.
“These guys helped me out all year and I sure appreciate each and every one of them. And a big thank you to my siblings Martina, Tomas, and Carmela for looking after things at home while we are on the road! They say it takes a village and you better believe it’s true. I’m looking forward to the new year and another great season doing what I love to do.”
NON-PRO FUTURITY
With a 142 score, Grant Aykroyd of Wainwright, AB, and Lil Arctic Cat tied to lead the Non-Pro Futurity with Julianna Lukacs of Olds, AB and Power Reys. Lil Arctic Cat (Sindicat x Dual Highbrow) is a sorrel mare owned by Grant and Gale Aykroyd. Each horse garnered $2,098 for the split.
Power Reys is a chestnut mare (Reys From Heaven x High Power Champagne) and was bred by her brother Johnny. The mare better known as “Mariah” is owned by her father (John Lukacs) and was born and raised at Lukacs Performance Horses.
Julianna says the Canadian Spectacular was an amazing experience for her.
Open Derby Champ - Zee Smooth and Dustin Gonnet.
Non Pro Amateur Derby 4 Yr Old - Kate Rusnack and Smack Talk.
200K Ltd Open Classic Champ - Metallic Stilettos and Cody Smith.
Open Classic Champ - Glen Beveredge and Sweet N Spicy Chick.
“Honestly, I loved showing my little mare, but more than that, I was so proud of my big brother Johnny on winning the Open, and Limited Open Futurity on my Dad’s awesome stud Spottish. Overall, it was super wonderful to be a part of – Connie and Andy did an amazing job once again,” she states.
Julianna and Mariah won the first go-round of the non-pro, but had a bit of tough luck in the second round with a bad cow. Still, they managed to hang on and went on to mark a 142 for the cochampionship.
“I just want to say a big thank you to all of my family, especially my parents for giving me such wonderful opportunities and to be able to show these cool ponies. Big thanks to all my turn back help; Doug Reinhardt, Loren Christiansen, Brad Pedersen, Glen Beverage and Tyler Darroch. And of course to Rey’s From Heaven for the great bloodlines to such a awesome pony.
“Also, a special thank you to my little sister Teresa for always cheering me on and to Johnny for all the amazing opportunities and lessons. And lastly, a huge thank you to God for all the wonderful blessings and opportunities and for such a wonderful life.”
NON-PRO DERBY (4-YEAR-OLDS)
Kate Rusnack of Rockyview County, AB, and Smack Talk marked a big 147 in the Non-Pro Derby to secure the win. Sired by Smooth Talkin Style and out of the mare, Tassa Smart Rey II, Smack Talk is a mare who goes by the barn name of “Pia.” She is owned by Kate and Dustin Rusnack.
“Smack Talk was originally trained by Scott Amos and Sherry Wolfenbarger Cagan showed her at the futurity. We bought her in the fall and put her in Travis Rempel’s program,” Kate explains.
“This was my second time showing at the Spectacular and it’s been a great experience each time. Our first show together was the Black Elk Cutting Classic, where we won the Non-Pro Derby aggregate.”
The non-pro says that on the first day, she let go of all her expectations and just went and showed Pia to the best of her abilities.
“There weren’t any other big wins but adding $15,000 to her NCHA earnings with limited showing, felt like a great accomplishment! I would like to thank all the trainers who turned back and helped in the corners, as well as my friends and family for their support. I look forward to what the 2023 season has in store.”
OPEN CLASSIC (5/6-YEAR-OLDS)
The Open Classic (5/6-Year-Olds) saw some tough competition at the top of the leaderboard. In the end, it was Glen Beveridge of Valleyview, AB, aboard Sweet N Spicy Chick, who emerged victorious. Marking a 149, the duo earned $6,133 for their work.
Sweet N Spicy Chick is sired by Sweet Lil Pepto and out of the mare, Dixie Chick Dual. She is a five-year-old mare who goes by the barn name of “Spice.” Owned by Brian and Colleen Pearse, Spice came to Beveridge halfway through her four-year-old year. She was purchased from Chava Cabral in Texas and was originally trained by Chris Hanson and Cabral.
This year, Beveridge also won the Alberta Cutting Horse Association (ACHA) 5000 Novice Horse and the Canadian Cutting Horse Association (CCHA) 5000 Novice Horse Championship on Spice.
“It was a really good year for her,” Beveridge says. “The Canadian Spectacular was a great show. Connie and Andy go above and beyond to put this show on and we appreciate it a lot. My favourite thing is the 5/6 Finals, leading up to the Spectacular.
“This year we just showed as much as possible. Going into it, I felt really good about all my horses. And in the finals, I knew if I asked her to give me more, she would.”
Non-Pro Classic (5/6-Year-Olds) Matt Anderson and Hollywood
Beveridge extends a big thank you to his team. “Thanks to my wife for everything – loping, putting up with me and looking after all the horses. My kids – they work hard loping. Fred Moreau for loping and behind the scenes. And to my help in the show pen; Matt Anderson, John Murphy, Tyler Darroch, Cody Smith and Johnny Lukacs.”
NON-PRO CLASSIC (5/6-YEAR-OLDS)
Matt Anderson of Sturgeon Country, AB, and Hollywood have had many special wins together, throughout the horse’s aged event career. However, their win of the Non-Pro Classic (5/6-Year-Olds) at the Spectacular was a particularly special moment for them. Scoring a 147 in the finals, the duo earned the championship and a cheque for $3,693 – putting Holliwood’s life time earnings $90,000.
Sired by Woody Be Tuff and out of a great Peptoboonsmal mare, named Peptos Stylish Miss, “Holli” is a six-year-old mare owned by Anderson.
“She been an outstanding show mare ever since we acquired her from Slate River Ranch at the 2019 NCHA Futurity. At the Spectacular, we won the first go-round with a 150 and she felt outstanding throughout the whole show. We just had to be clean in the second, which can be very hard to do under those circumstances,” he relays.
“The cattle didn’t seem to be very good in the finals and I felt very fortunate to come out on top.” The Spectacular was one of the last aged events Anderson and Holli contended at together.
What made the experience even more special for Anderson was the fact that he made the finals in the Non Pro 5/6-Year-Olds as well, on his other mare – An Anna Mate. That horse secured the reserve championship, bringing home another cheque for $3,079. An Anna Mate is sired by Once Ina Blu Boon and out of the Smart Mate, mare An Anna Mate.
“We were third in the first go and we second in the finals, so to be first and second in a major aged event final was truly an unreal feeling that I am very thankful for! I’d just like to finish by thanking my outstanding help; John Murphy, Cody Smith, Tyler Darroh, Johnny Lukacs, Glen Beveridge and most importantly, Amanda Digness. None of this success could have been achieved without them. And finally, thanks to Connie and Andy Cicoria as well for putting on an outstanding show!” WHR
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