The National Reining Breeders Classic, one of reining’s largest events, has been held 22 times. It began at the historic Lazy E Arena, Guthrie, Okla., in 1998, and moved to the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in 2001. In that time, 10 different riders have captured an Open Championship while 13 riders have won Non Pro titles. Fifteen different stallions have sired Open Champions, with six having sired the Open Champion twice. In the Non Pro division, the Champions have been sired by 13 different stallions.
Dell Hendricks and Mr Boomerjac (by Boomernic), won the inaugural Open title, while Keith Crawford and Rowdy Yankee (by Smart Chic Olena) won the first Non Pro Championship. Hendricks holds the distinction of holding the most Open Championships, while Mandy McCutcheon claims the same honor in the Non Pro division. Both have won the event five times. Hendricks also is the only Open rider to win the title twice on the same horse. That happened in 2003 and 2004 with Reminic N Dunit (by Hollywood Dunit).
Three Non Pro horse and rider teams have won titles twice. Sarah Lynn Locker and Heavy Duty Chex (by Nu Chex To Cash) won in 2015 and 2016, while Mandy McCutcheon and Rawhides Banjo (by Dunit Rawhide) won back-to-back in 2006 and 2007. Lance Griffin and Whiz N Tag Chex (by Topsail Whiz) round out that list with wins in 2003 and 2004. Interestingly, Whiz N Tag Chex is the only NRBC Champion to sire an NRBC Champion. The stallion was the sire of the 2014 Open Champion Blue Collar Tag, ridden to the title by Martin Muehlstaetter.
The only full siblings to win an NRBC Championship were Like Shiner and Wound By Juice in the Non Pro. Both mares, ridden by owner Jose Vazquez, were by Smart Like Juice and out of Wind Her Up Shiner.
Learn more about the Mare Power at the NRBC in tomorrow’s Slide Street Journal.
Open Champions:
2018 Duane Latimer & Modern Gun (Gunners Special Nite)
2017 Andrea Fappani & Chic Dreamin (Magnum Chic Dream)
2016 Jason Vanlandingham & Not Ruf At All (A Sparkling Vintage)
2015 Andrea Fappani & Frozen Enterprize (Frozen Sailor)
2014 Martin Muehlstaetter & Blue Collar Tag (Whiz N Tag Chex)
2013 Thiago Boechat & Wimpyneedsacocktail (Wimpys Little Step)
2012 Shawn Flarida & Spooks Gotta Whiz (Spooks Gotta Gun)
2011 Shawn Flarida & Shine Chic Shine (Smart Chic Olena)
2010 Craig Schmersal & Boom Shernic (Boomernic)
2009 Andrea Fappani & Cromed Out Mercedes (Custom Crome)
2008 Shawn Flarida & Wimpys Little Chic (Wimpys Little Step)
2007 Andrea Fappani & Custom Legend (Custom Crome)
2006 Shawn Flarida & Einsteins Revolution (Great Resolve)
2005 Dell Hendricks & Hit The Lights (Grays Starlight)
2004 & 2003 Dell Hendricks & Reminic N Dunit (Hollywood Dunit)
2002 Dell Hendricks & Starlights Wrangler (Grays Starlight)
2001 Tom McCutcheon & Smartest Chic Olena (Smart Chic Olena)
2000 Duane Latimer & Conquistador Whiz (Topsail Whiz)
1999 Tim McQuay & Miss Tinseltown (Great Red Pine)
1998 Dell Hendricks & Mr Boomerjac (Boomernic)
Non Pro:
2018 Jose Vazquez & Like Shiner (Smart Like Juice)
2017 Jack Medows & Chicsdreamofdiamonds (Magnum Chic Dream)
2016 Sarah Lynn Locker & Heavy Duty Chex (Nu Chex To Cash)
2015 Sarah Lynn Locker & Heavy Duty Chex (Nu Chex To Cash)
2014 Mandy McCutcheon & Ms Whiz Dunit (Topsail Whiz)
2013 Ron Thompson & Taris Dreamer (Magnum Chic Dream)
2012 Mandy McCutcheon & Always Gotyer Gunsup (Colonels Smoking Gun)
2011 Shaunda Rai Ruckman & Rufanicki (Lil Ruf Peppy)
2010 Kim Dooley & Country Custom (Custom Crome)
2009 Jose Vazquez & Wound By Juice (Smart Like Juice)
2008 Mandy McCutcheon & I Spin For Chics (Tangys Classy Peppy)
2007 Mandy McCutcheon & Rawhides Banjo (Dunit Rawhide)
2006 Mandy McCutcheon & Rawhides Banjo (Dunit Rawhide)
2005 Wendy Latimer & Diamonds For Chics (Hickory Chic Olena)
2004 Lance Griffin & Whiz N Tag Chex (Topsail Whiz)
2003 Lance Griffin & Whiz N Tag Chex (Topsail Whiz)
2002 Mandy McCutcheon & Don’t Miss This (Missin James)
2001 Josh Hattig & Steadys Dude (Steady Tradition)
2000 Marc Wagman & Tougher Than The Rest (Custom Crome)
1999 James Morgan & Hesa Smart Chic (Smart Chic Olena)
1998 Keith Crawford & Rowdy Yankee (Smart Chic Olena)