Over a dozen horses will compete for a total purse of $50,000 in the Hylton Maiden 3 & Over Western Pleasure class at the Virginia Classic to be held Saturday, April 12, according to show organizers.

Held for the fourth year at the four-day AQHA circuit in Lexington, Virginia, the class will remain open for entries until April 11 with a $500 penalty added to the $1,500 entry fee.

The winner will receive a check for $25,000 and an additional $25,000 will be divided among the remaining top finishers, thanks to financial support from Cecilia Hylton of Gainesville, Virginia.

“I am willing to do what I can because I have gotten so much from the Quarter Horse world that I feel somewhat obligated to give back,” Hylton says.

Originally the class was held during the Reichert Celebration but in an effort to bring interest back to the East Coast and to her home state, Hylton moved the class to the Virginia Classic in 2010.

“Some of the best horses are on the East Coast and there aren’t many big events,” Hylton says. “The class has been received really well and a lot of trainers and owners hold horses back so they can qualify for it.”

In fact, the idea of the class being a maiden event for 3-year-old and older horses was in an effort to discourage trainers from pushing 2-year-old horses too early, and Hylton hopes the large purse will encourage trainers to wait on their young horses.

“I have seen so many good horses go to the pen as 2-year-olds that are never seen again,” Hylton says. “I can’t twist anyone’s arm but I hoped to set an example with this class.”

Judges for this year’s event include: Jennifer Thompson, Jennifer Leckey, Tim Abler, Bruce Walquist, Clint Fullerton, and Curtis Reynolds. The class is sanctioned by the National Snaffle Bit Association.

Horses entered in the Hylton Maiden Western Pleasure by the March 15 deadline, based on information provided by the owners/riders, include:

Mr Sherlock Holmes

• Mr Sherlock Holmes, 2011 sorrel stallion, sired by Zippos Mr Good Bar and out of Don’t Skip Krymsun, owned by Mary Webre, Hempsted, Texas, ridden by Brian Baker, Sunbury, Ohio.

• A Sleepy Trophy Wife, 2011 sorrel mare by Too Sleepy To Zip, owned by Kelly and Troy Birkenholtz, Newton, Iowa, ridden by Pat Heeley, Van Meter, Iowa.

• In Gypsys Image, 2011 bay mare by Invitation Only out of Gypsys Little Image, owned by Rosciti Quarter Horses, North Scituate, Rhode Island, and ridden by Dawn Baker, Sunbury, Ohio.

Lopin So Lazy

• VS Security Code, 2011 red roan stallion, sired by VS Code Red and out of Strutinontheopenrange, owned by Rawlings Enterprises, Coleyville, Australia, and ridden by Kristy Starnes, Summerton, South Carolina.

• Gettin Pretty, 2011 chestnut mare, sired by Gettin Impulsive and out of Huntin A Boss Lady, owned by Lara Yungclas, Marengo, Iowa, and ridden by Taft Dickerson, Mount Airy, North Carolina.

VS Security Code

• A Hot Lopin Machine, 2011 bay gelding sired by A Good Machine and out of Hot Lopin Louise, owned by Susan Johns, Paradise Valley, Arizona, and ridden by Jay Starnes, Summerton, South Carolina.

• Lopin So Lazy, a 2011 bay mare sired by Lazy Loper and out of Shes Only Good (the dam of Keepin It Good), owned by Hanna Wagner, Alum Bank, Pennsylvania, and ridden by Ashley Lakins, Waynesville, Ohio.

• Shesa Single Lady, a 2011 black mare sired by Certain Potential out of Weretalkinradical, owned by Steve and Susan Thompson, Hilliard, Ohio, and ridden by Kenny Lakins, Waynesville, Ohio.

In Gypsys Image

• Bettin Ona Krymsun, a 2011 black gelding by One Hot Krymsun and out of Ona Impulse, owned by Becky Bailey, Batavia, Ohio, and ridden by Erin Lieurance, Oxford, Iowa.

• Show Gurl, a 2011 bay roan mare by Only In The Moonlite and out of Behaving On Impulse, owned by Bill Baskin and Susan Blackburn of Batavia, New York, and ridden by Jeff Long of Siler City, North Carolina.

• Lay Cee Loper, a 2011 bay mare by Lazy Loper and out of Reckon Im Radical, owned by Robert and Jennifer Stein of Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, and ridden by Jennifer Stein.

Bettin Ona Krymsun

Others planning to enter at the show include:

• Certainly A Luxury, 2011 bay mare, sired by Certain Potential out of Luxury Goods, owned by Wilburn Archer and Emily Istre, Indian River, Ontario, Canada, ridden by Dave Archer, Pilot Point, Texas.

For more information on the show visit www.myvqha.com.

Certainly A Luxury