
The National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Derby’s leading open horse is Smart Boons (Peptoboonsmal x Smart Little Easter x Smart Little Lena), with total earnings of $75,536. The 2005 stallion, bred by SDP Buffalo Ranch, of Fort Worth, Texas, and owned by Kevin and Sydney Knight, of Weatherford, Texas, is pictured here with Corey Cushing, who rode Smart Boons to win the 2009 NRCHA Derby Open and to Reserve in 2010. Smart Boons’ Equi-Stat record stands at $192,773.
Top 10 Open Horses
- Smart Boons (05S), $75,536
- Docs Soula (03S), $68,523
- Days Zanolena (03M), $63,980
- Tang N Tecate (96S), $55,000
- Cuttin Diamonds (PT) (95S), $53,250
- Hickorys Holly Cee (94M), $50,000
- Sum Irish Rum (02G), $44,681
- Docs Catty Jo (07G), $44,187
- Smart Luck (06S), $40,760
- Reygans Smart Lena (06S), $40,190

Todd Crawford, of Blanchard, Oklahoma, is the NRCHA Derby’s leading open rider. Crawford, an Equi-Stat Elite $3 Million Rider, has ridden 25 horses to total Derby earnings of $350,685. 2001 NRCHA Derby Open Champion Tang N Tecate (Tangys Classy Peppy x Mandos Chex Appeal x Bueno Chex Jr), a 1996 stallion bred by Stephen Balfour, of Vacaville, California, is Crawford’s No. 1 Derby money-earner with $55,000 won. 1999 Derby Open Champion Hickorys Holly Cee (Doc’s Hickory x Miss Cee Nita x Peponita), a 1994 mare bred by Kenneth Hill, of Rescue, California, follows close behind with earnings of $50,000.
Top 10 Open Riders
- Todd Crawford, Blanchard, OK, $350,685
- Todd Bergen, Eagle Point, OR, $321,588
- Corey Cushing, Scottsdale, AZ, $305,343
- Doug Williamson, Bakersfield, CA, $218,651
- Jon Roeser, Kuna, ID, $180,628
- Jake Gorrell, Hanford, CA, $143,499
- Chris Dawson, Aubrey, TX, $120,584
- Tucker Robinson, Lompoc, CA, $110,116
- Ron Emmons, Ione, CA, $106,504
- Zane Davis, Shelley, ID, $100,125

Wheres My Shine (Shining Spark x Boomerita x Boomernic), a 2004 mare bred by Cowan Ranch Inc., of Ardmore, Oklahoma, and owned by Bozo Rogers, of Gainseville, Texas, is the leading NRCHA Derby non-pro horse with earnings of $24,802. Michelle Cowan rode the mare to the Derby Non-Pro Reserve Championship in 2009. Bill Cowan showed the mare to the 2008 Derby Intermediate Open Championship. Wheres My Shine has an Equi-Stat record of $80,523.
Top 10 Non-Pro Horses
- Wheres My Shine (04M), $24,802
- Magical Lena (95M), $24,750
- Oaks Dual Rey (07G), $20,811
- Stylin Elan (01S), $19,680
- Im Real Classy (00G), $18,774
- Very Smart Flo Jo (04M), $17,693
- Shiners Buenonic (99S), $17,288
- Cant Find My Sock (96G), $16,000
- Kiss Me A Little (03M), $15,754
- Primos Bob Acre (99G), $15,241

Annie Reynolds, of King Hill, Idaho, is ranked as the NRCHA Derby’s leading non-pro rider with $142,277 in total show earnings. The Equi-Stat Elite $1 Million Rider won Derby Non-Pro paychecks on 17 horses, including Magical Lena (Little Lenas Legend x Swayback Magic x Early Tink) with earnings of $24,750, Very Smart Flo Jo (Very Smart Remedy x Teena Cash Flo x Nu Cash) with $17,693, Max McLain (Sensitivio x Nancy McLain x Ima Cougar) with $13,444, Shoshone Pony (PT) (J R Colord Rambo [PT] x Docs Colorful Lady x Doc Wilson) with $11,040 and Shirley Shine (Shining Spark x Shirley McLain x Ima Cougar) with $10,800.
Top 10 Non-Pro Riders
- Anne M. Reynolds, King Hill, ID, $142,277
- Jo Anne Carollo, Atascadero, CA, $69,720
- Kathy Wilson, Clarksburg, CA, $51,715
- Tammy Jo Hays, Nocona, TX, $45,766
- Dema Paul, Cave Creek, AZ, $43,394
- Laurie Richards, Buellton, CA, $42,523
- Shawn Renshaw, Pismo Beach, CA, $39,600
- Michelle Cowan, Ardmore, OK, $39,037
- Tisha Wilhite, Clovis, CA, $38,298
- John Showalter, Fresno, CA, $36,202

Carol Rose, of Gainesville, Texas, is the Derby’s leading breeder with 31 money-earners crediting her with total earnings of $197,930. Reys A Shine (Dual Rey x Lil Miss Shiney Chex x Shining Spark), a 2011 stallion who won the 2015 Derby Open with Chris Dawson riding, is Rose’s No. 1 money-earner with $89,564. Rose’s second-leading Derby money-earner is A Shiner Named Sioux (Shining Spark x Docs Sulena x Doc O’Lena), a 2006 stallion whom Jay McLaughlin rode to win the 2011 Derby Open.
Top 10 Breeders
- Carol Rose, Gainesville, TX, $197,930
- Ward Ranch, Kingsburg, CA, $193,756
- Anne M. Reynolds, King Hill, ID, $157,571
- Arcese Quarter Horses, Weatherford, TX, $116,399
- San Juan Ranch, Weatherford, TX, $115,150
- Clear Lake Land & Cattle, Reno, NV, $105,028
- SDP Buffalo Ranch, Fort Worth, TX, $89,410
- Joyce Pearson, Hailey, ID, $85,002
- Matt & Lesley Day, Bend, OR, $83,547
- John & Loretta Showalter, Fresno, CA, $82,805

Annie Reynolds, of King Hill, Idaho, is the Derby’s No. 1 owner. She is pictured on Shoshone Pony, a 2002 Paint gelding who carried Reynolds to the Derby Non-Pro Reserve Championship in 2006. Eighteen horses have credited Reynolds with total Derby earnings of $199,155. Magical Lena, who Reynolds rode to a tie for the Derby Non-Pro Reserve Championship in 1999, and to the Derby Non-Pro Championship and a tie for the Open Reserve Championship in 2000, is Reynolds’ leading money-earner with event earnings of $43,000.
Top 10 Owners
- Anne M. Reynolds, King Hill, ID, $199,155
- Gardiner Quarter Horses, Ashland, KS, $98,724
- John & Loretta Showalter, Fresno, CA, $92,736
- Kevin & Sydney Knight, Weatherford, TX, $86,573
- Ward Ranch, Tulare, CA, $83,899
- Cable Creek Ranch LLC, Aurora, OR, $79,606
- Jim & Jo Anne Carollo, Atascadero, CA, $79,050
- Carol Rose, Gainesville, TX, $78,086
- Cowan Ranch Inc., Ardmore, OK, $74,838
- Doug & Cindy Granade, Shingle Springs, CA, $74,474

Shining Spark (Genuine Doc x Diamonds Sparkle x Mr Diamond Dude) is the NRCHA Derby’s leading sire with 55 money-earners crediting the 1989 stallion with total earnings of $336,183, an average of $6,112. The stallion is bred and owned by NRCHA Derby leading breeder Carol Rose. Shining Spark’s leading NRCHA Derby money-earner is Wheres My Shine, with $24,802 won.
Top 10 Sires
- Shining Spark, $336,183
- Smart Chic Olena, $257,813
- Dual Rey, $204,622
- One Time Pepto, $195,698
- Smart Little Pepinic, $169,109
- Peptoboonsmal, $162,098
- Very Smart Remedy, $145,760
- CD Olena, $139,878
- WR This Cats Smart, $139,819
- Grays Starlight, $124,595

Hickorys Holly Cee is the leading NRCHA Derby dam with five of her performers having credited her with total earnings of $78,840. Hickorys Holly Cee was ridden by Todd Crawford to win the 1999 Derby Open. The mare’s leading money-earner, with Derby earnings of $38,637, is 2014 Derby Open Champion Hickory Hollys Time (by One Time Pepto), ridden by Kelby Phillips. Hickory Hollys Time’s Equi-Stat record totals $191,020. ARC Hollys Chicadee (by Chic Please) is the mare’s second-leading money-earner with $22,240 won at the Derby.
Top 10 Dams
- Hickorys Holly Cee, $78,840
- Smart Little Easter, $75,536
- Docs Hickory Nut, $68,523
- Chex Out This Day, $63,980
- Shiners Diamond Girl, $57,377
- Mandos Chex Appeal, $55,000
- Genuine Redbud, $54,271
- Diamond Sting (PT), $53,250
- Lil Miss Shiney Chex, $52,254
- Boomerita, $51,539
NRCHA Derby History (1999-2016)
Year | Location | Entries | Added $ | Total Purse |
---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | Medford, OR | n/a | $125,000 | $187,250 |
2000 | Medford, OR | 243 | $2,400 | $199,190 |
2001 | Medford, OR | 99 | $0 | $199,800 |
2002 | Woodside, CA | 169 | $89,019 | $181,509 |
2003 | Santa Ynez, CA | 230 | $0 | $139,220 |
2004 | Paso Robles, CA | 237 | $82,537 | $228,222 |
2005 | Paso Robles, CA | 209 | $154,000 | $332,268 |
2006 | Paso Robles, CA | 381 | $153,000 | $412,255 |
2007 | Paso Robles, CA | 379 | $230,500 | $514,249 |
2008 | Paso Robles, CA | 394 | $230,000 | $533,945 |
2009 | Paso Robles, CA | 459 | $221,000 | $563,320 |
2010 | Paso Robles, CA | 407 | $210,500 | $507,295 |
2011 | Queen Creek, AZ | 275 | $196,500 | $405,075 |
2012 | Paso Robles, CA | 464 | $196,500 | $494,108 |
2013 | Paso Robles, CA | 519 | $198,500 | $501,085 |
2014 | Paso Robles, CA | 590 | $174,500 | $470,460 |
2015 | Paso Robles, CA | 589 | $202,750 | $495,150 |
2016 | Paso Robles, CA | 563 | $193,250 | $469,830 |