The National Reining Breeders Classic will celebrate its 25th-anniversary event April 17-24 at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. Known as the Million Dollar Show for its annual payout in excess of a million dollars for each event since 2005, the show added money is funded by the NRBC stallion and foal enrollments. The NRBC program has long been regarded as the most successful of its kind in reining history, paving the way for similar entities.

Since 1997, fees and structure for NRBC foal enrollments have stayed constant with no increases or changes. However, according to NRBC Secretary-Treasurer Cheryl Cody, there will be a change in 2022. Cody explained, “After 25 years, we are finally going to have a slight fee increase of $50 for the weanling foal enrollment, changing it to $250.”

What is unique about NRBC foal enrollments is that 100% of the enrollment funds go directly into the show’s purse, so this change will impact the amount of money that is paid out to riders of all levels. Cody continued, “Knowing how fee increases can impact breeders, the Officers and Board of the NRBC have been very slow to make any changes or fee increases, but we all definitely want the NRBC to keep up with other events in terms of payouts.”

She outlined the organization’s structure. “Per our original by-laws, NRBC foal enrollment money is placed into FDIC insured Certificates of Deposit until the foals’ 4-year-old year, just prior to the show. When we began, the interest rate was such that the money grew substantially in three-and-a-half years and really enhanced the purse. In recent years, with interest rates so low, that type of interest growth has been stagnant, so we are excited to track the impact this will have on the purse in 2026!”

Fees for other age foal enrollments – yearlings, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds and up – will remain the same as they have been since the NRBC’s beginning in 1997 – and foal enrollments will continue to be due each year by September 15. NRBC enrolled foals have four years of eligibility and can be shown as 4, 5, 6 and 7-year-olds; then can be advanced into the Classic Challenge program to continue showing throughout their careers. For more information or to enroll foals, go to nrbc.com or call 580-759-3939.