Futurity's goals don't change

Changes abound for the 26th annual Augusta Futurity.

But when it comes to the futurity atmosphere, show manager Pete May believes three principles remain the same:

 •  Be customer-friendly

 •  Show professional presentation

 •  Have a fun experience

May hopes all those ideals apply when this year's version of the Augusta Futurity begins at 8 a.m. Thursday. The show runs for 10 days, ending with the Futurity Open finals, Saturday, Jan. 29.

"My customers are the competitors," May said. "I want them to come over here and have a fair and fun event.

"The spectators are our customers. I want them to have an enjoyable time.

"Our third customers are our sponsors. I want them to feel the same sense of professionalism we present year after year."

The Augusta Futurity wrapped up its first 25 years with its silver anniversary show last year. May said it's time for new blood to begin taking a larger share of the responsibilities.

One of May's moves includes assigning more responsibility to operations manager Sherry Fulmer.

"That's a step in the direction of a new management team," May said. "My goal over the next two, three years is to develop a new team of leadership to run the futurity so it can be around another 25 years."

About 625 competitors will be vying for a share of a $1 million purse. The show will hold eight official events, along with unofficial events like Extra Inning World Championship Bull Riding at 8 p.m. Friday night. Other unofficial competitions include the Area 18 Youth Scholarship Cutting finals and Western Horseman Cup finals.

The Western Horseman Cup finals - a popular event last year - was moved from a weeknight to Friday, Jan. 28.

The bull riding event is another affair that has caught on. The event sold out last year, and event organizer Kenny Thomas made improvements for this year. The 50 bull riders competing are all entered per a special invitation.

FRIDAY: Go-round of the $50,000 Amateur Any Age, 8 a.m.; World Championship Bull Riding Competition, 8 p.m.
SATURDAY: First go-round of the Classic Open, 8 a.m.; Wrangler Family Fun Fest, civic center plaza, noon to 5 p.m.; Finals of Area 18 Youth Scholarship, 7:30 p.m.; Finals of $50,000 Amateur Any Age.
SUNDAY, Jan. 23: First go-round of the Futurity Open, 8 a.m.
MONDAY, Jan. 24: Second go-round of Classic Open, 8 a.m.; Second go-round of the Futurity Open.
TUESDAY, Jan. 25: First go-round of the Classic Non-Pro, 8 a.m.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 26: Go-round of the $50,000 Amateur 4-year-old, 8 a.m.; Second go-round of Classic Non-Pro.; Finals of $50,000 Amateur for 4-year-old.
THURSDAY, Jan. 27: First go-round of the Futurity Non-Pro, 8 a.m.; Finals of Classic Non-Pro, 6:30 p.m.; Finals of Classic Open.
FRIDAY, Jan. 28: Second go-round of Futurity Non-Pro, 8 a.m.; Western Horseman Cup finals, 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, Jan. 29: Futurity horse sale, 9 a.m.; Opening ceremonies, 5:30 p.m.; Finals of Futurity Non-Pro, 6 p.m.; Finals of Futurity Open.

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.