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Tom McCutcheon Wins $50,000 First Place at Saltgrass Steak House National Reining Breeders Classic
The Saltgrass Steak House National Reining Breeders Classic, April 18-22 in Katy, Texas, was a week of star-studded special events, highlighted by Saturday night's presentation of a $50,000 check to Classic Open Champion, Tom McCutcheon.
Riding Smartest Chic Olena, a son of Smart Chic Olena owned by Terry Owens of nearby Houston, McCutcheon scored a 223.5 to win the clean-slate finals. For McCutcheon, the win was especially sweet. Not only was it the first major title for a trainer who has, in his words, "been in the bridesmaid spot a lot", Tom is also the chairman of the National Reining Breeders Classic Board, and one of its founders.
2001 was the first year of maturity for the stallion incentive program that was created in late 1997. With over 220 stallions and more than 5,000 foals enrolled, the program is an overwhelming success.
"This means so much. It's been a great show," McCutcheon commented. He took $60,773.36 of the show's total payout of $530,623, also winning the Intervet United States Equestrian Team Open Reining Qualifier held the night before, on Smart Starbuck, owned by Furniss Quarter Horses and Ed and Nancy Pickett. That performance preceded a Lee Greenwood concert that culminated in the USET Medalists McCutcheon, Tim McQuay, and Terry Thompson center-stage with Greenwood as he sang "God Bless The USA". With other luminaries, including country icon Lyle Lovett, in the audience, the whole week had a festive air.
The Open Reserve Classic Champion was the first to go in the finals. Craig Schmersal on Tidal Wave Jack, a son of Hollywood Macho Jack, owned by the B.S. Syndicate, scored 223 to earn $35,000.
Duane Latimer was third, collecting $25,000 for his 222 score on Sailing Spark, owned by Frank Bolea. Latimer, who qualified three horses for the finals, had total earnings of $57,325 for the weekend.
Australian Dale Bennett has had Derby wins in his native country, but the NRBC Intermediate Open Championship was his first major title stateside. Bennett rode BL Whiz Kid, a son of Topsail Whiz owned by Canadians Gilbert and Rhonda Thompson, to a score of 223.5 to earn $16,497. The win came in spite of a sprained knee Bennett suffered earlier in the week in an impromptu reiners' stickball game when NRHA Futurity champ Dell Hendricks slid into Bennett's base.
The Intermediate Open Reserve Championship, for a score of 219.5, went to Luke Gagnon on Mifillenium, owned by Signori Claudio.
Doug Hewlett was glad to leave the snow in Colorado and enjoy Houston's balmy April weather, and he was even happier after the Limited Open finals, where his Championship was worth $9,181. Hewlett scored 215.5 on Honey Lou McConnell's Megastar Kid, by Brennas Kid to tie with Frederick Thomsson on Ruf Timber, owned by Nedpoint Quarter Horses. When the runoff was completed, Hewlett's consistency gave him another 215.5 and the title.
Hewlett commented, "My favorite thing about this horse is when I say 'whoa' he's going to the ground. I've never had one get in the ground like he does."
The Non Pro Championship went to Josh Hattig on Steadys Dude with a score of 221. Hattig and the son of Steady Tradition had teamed up to win the Intermediate Championship of the 2000 NRHA Futurity, but this time they were going for all the Non Pro marbles and their finals efforts netted them $23,742.
Just half a point behind Hattig to earn the Non Pro Reserve Championship was Mandy McCutcheon on Don't Miss This, by Missin James owned by her father, Tim and mother, Colleen McQuay. McCutcheon earned $15,484 for the win and added another $10,064.93 to her coffers with her third place finish on Hollywood Halcyon, a Hollywood Dun It mare owned by her parents.
In the Intermediate and Limited Non Pro, the titles went to Monica Hicks of Tioga, Texas on Okie Dun Did It. Hicks had just purchased the Hollywood Dun It gelding and was glad, in her words, "just to make it to the Non Pro top ten". She surpassed all her expectations when she tied for the Intermediate and Limited Non Pro wins with Lisa Cover on Genuine Shinola, by Shining Spark. Both scored 214.5, then Monica marked a 216.5 in the runoff to win both titles.
Hicks' company, Just Stitch It, provides monogrammed promotional items like ball caps for a variety of customers, including the NRBC, but she never dreamed when she was monogramming the Champion coolers that she would actually win two of them. "It still hasn't sunk in," she laughed. "I just can't believe it." Her weekend earnings topped $18,000!
The Prime Time Non Pro Championship went to the NRHA's leading All Time Non Pro Money Earner, Dr. Jim Morgan on with a score of 217 on Wild Sister, a daughter of Gallo Del Cielo. Bob LaPorta was the Reserve Prime Time Champion on A Smart Enterprise, by Smart Chic Olena, with a score of 213.
Besides the headliner Classic, the SaltgrassSteak House National Reining Breeders Classic Show features a $10,000 Added Open class on Sunday and the winner of the 22 horse field was Brent Wright on his NRHA Futurity Finalist, Custom Red Berry, with a score of 222.5 worth $4033 for owner, Steve Simon. Patti Brownshadel was the reserve winner with 221 scored on Magnum Chic Dream, owned by Viola Scott.
The National Reining Breeders Classis is the most successful stallion incentive program in reining history.
For information visit the web site at www.nrbc.com or call 580-759-3939.
Contact:
Cheryl Magoteaux/ProMotion Management
National Reining Horse Association
405-946-7400
