Category: History

The National Reining Horse Association welcomes ARC Gunnabeabigstar to the distinguished group of NRHA Million Dollar Sires, a milestone achieved during the 2025 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel.

The 2011 stallion, owned by Rancho Los Palominos and bred by NRHA Corporate Partner Arcese Quarter Horses USA, has made his mark both in the show pen and through his offspring. His parentage includes two NRHA Hall of Fame inductees (Gunnatrashya x Wimpys Little Chic), making him the product of two of the sport’s most celebrated legends.

Ridden exclusively by NRHA $3 Million Rider Jordan Larson, ARC Gunnabeabigstar boasts nearly $300,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings. The duo captured the coveted 2014 NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Co-Championship and followed it with a reserve championship finish at the 2017 NRHA Level 4 Open Derby. Their consistency and brilliance in the arena cemented the stallion’s reputation as both a fierce competitor and a promising sire.

“I learned more from him than he probably learned from me,” Larson reflected. “He always put 100% out there. It wasn’t always perfect, but he always gave you everything he possibly could. He was a challenging horse because he was a lot of horse — he had the intensity of his mother. It was cool to get to ride her first baby.”

ARC Gunnabeabigstar’s impact continues through his offspring, who have carried on his winning legacy. The stallion officially crossed the million-dollar mark thanks to standout performances in Oklahoma City, including one by Jesse Boyd and Gunna Be First. The pair tied for third in the Level 4 Non Pro Derby and clinched the Level 3 Non Pro championship after scoring a 225, earning over $31,000 for owner Unhitched Partners.

“I think the ones that are like him are almost even better, which is incredible,” Larson said of ARC Gunnabeabigstar’s progeny. “He’s sired some exceptional horses.”

Top-performing offspring of ARC Gunnabeabigstar include:

• Gunnabeabrightstar (out of Abbie Be Tuff); bred by Solum & Andersen; nominated by Luis Guajardo; owned by Neiberger Performance Horses LLC; $157,018 NRHA LTE
• Walla Be A Bigstar (out of Smart Little Walla); bred and nominated by Danny Dalton; owned by Tim and MaryBeth Ruckman; $152,872 NRHA LTE
• Gunna Be First (out of ARC Wallas First); bred by William Newman Jr.; nominated by Trent Harvey; owned by Unhitched Partners; $111,603 NRHA LTE
• Gunnabeagreatdude (out of Great Dudes Whiz); bred by Societa Agricola Le Fattorie Di Matilde; nominated by Vittorio Rabboni; owned by Codan NV; $88,510 NRHA LTE
• Star Code (out of Lil Codette); bred and nominated by Lorenzo Lotti; owned by Jeff Sizelove; $83,054 NRHA LTE

ARC Gunnabeabigstar’s ascent to Million Dollar Sire status is a testament to his exceptional genetics, athleticism, and the dedication of the connections who believed in him from the start.

The National Reining Horse Association congratulates Magnum Chic Dream for becoming the fifth sire in NRHA history to cross the $13 million mark in offspring earnings. The 1996 stallion continues to make an enduring impact on the sport with nearly 900 money-earning progeny and 30 offspring each surpassing $100,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings.

Bred by Guy A Du Ponchel and owned by Viola Scott, Magnum Chic Dream was inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame in 2016. He is by NRHA Hall of Fame inductee Smart Chic Olena and out of Sailin Barbee. With NRHA lifetime earnings of $44,294, he notably won the 2004 American Quarter Horse Association Senior Reining World Championship with NRHA Million Dollar Rider and owner Casey Hinton.

The stallion’s influence in the show pen remains as strong as ever, most recently highlighted by the success of his leading money-earner, Customize My Dream. The standout stallion captured the Level 4 Open championship at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, scoring a 233.5 from the last draw in Section 2 of the Open finals with NRHA $5 Million Rider Casey Deary. The win earned $100,000 for Customize My Dream, who is out of Gunna Be Custom, bred and owned by Devin Warren and nominated by Garth Hystad.

Magnum Chic Dream’s top-earning progeny include:

• Customize My Dream (out of Gunna Be Custom); bred and owned by Devin Warren; nominated by Garth Hystad; $401,887 NRHA LTE
• Mr Farenheit (out of Wimpy Little Girl); bred and nominated by Peter Morgan; owned by Morin and Vandorp; $380,897 NRHA LTE
• Custom Dreams (out of Gunna Be Custom); bred and nominated by Devin Warren; owned by Custom Dreams Brazil; $328,717 NRHA LTE
• Msdreamy (out of A Gal With A Gun); bred by Jana Simons; owned by Frederick Christen; NRHA Sire & Dam offspring; $263,131 NRHA LTE
• Chic Dreamin (out of Skeets Red Dunit); bred and nominated by Casey Hinton; owned by NRHA Million Dollar Owner Silver Spurs Equine; $250,421 NRHA LTE

Magnum Chic Dream’s rise to $13 million solidifies his place as one of the sport’s most consistent and influential sires, shaping generations of elite reiners and elevating the level of competition across the globe.

The National Reining Horse Association is proud to welcome Matthew Palmer of Elverson, Pennsylvania, to the prestigious group of NRHA Million Dollar Riders.

Palmer, a 43-year-old NRHA Professional, surpassed the million-dollar mark during The Homecoming Reining Series 1 after earning top placings in Levels 4 and 3 of the Open Derby.

Aboard Late N Hollywood, Palmer marked a 223 to claim reserve champion honors in both levels. The 2020 stallion is owned by Leonard Truck & Trailer Inc., bred by NRHA Million Dollar Owner Marc Gordon, and sired by Late Nite Stopper out of Hollywood Barbie. Palmer also piloted Mark Hurd’s TR Rule Breaker (A Vintage Smoke x Wallawhizagun, bred by Tamarack Ranch LLC) to third place in both levels with a 220, pushing his lifetime earnings past the $1 million milestone.

This achievement is even more remarkable following a challenging year for Palmer, who suffered an accident in 2024 that sidelined him for half the season. “When I got hurt, I never dreamed I’d have to learn to walk again,” remarked Palmer. “I feel fortunate and humbled and blessed to continue to do what I love and to be successful doing it.”

Palmer’s journey in the sport began in 1991 as a National Reining Horse Youth Association member. He earned his first NRHA paycheck in 1995 at the Heritage Acres show in North Jersey, where he rode Chrome Plated Berry to a reserve championship in the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 division. In 2004, he transitioned to the professional ranks, steadily building his career and reputation as a skilled trainer and competitor.

Reflecting on the milestone, Palmer shared how meaningful it is to reach this level as an NRHA Professional based on the East Coast. “We all know it’s a little bit hard from the East Coast with the dynamics of travel,” he said. “To even be in the category of guys that I idolize [NRHA Hall of Fame inductees Bill Horn, Shawn Flarida, and Rocky Dare] shows that when you’re kicked down, you just keep getting back up.”

Top-earning finishes in the show pen for Palmer include:

• 2021 The Run For A Million Open Shoot Out fourth place aboard Gunnatrashtheplace, earning $11,990
• 2017 NRHA Derby Level 3 Open fourth place aboard Boom Shine Boom, earning $9,996
• 2020 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open 13th place aboard Gunnatrashtheplace, earning $9,875
• 2021 NRBC Level 4 Open Challenge Champion aboard Gunnatrashtheplace, earning $9,374
• 2013 Ohio Valley Reining Horse Association Blue Grass Reining Stakes Wimpys Little Step Level 4 Open Derby Champion aboard Legends Lil Squeeze, earning $9,146

NRHA congratulates Palmer on this impressive career milestone and looks forward to his continued contributions to the sport of reining.

For more information about NRHA Million Dollar Milestones, visit nrha.com.

The National Reining Horse Association congratulates Spooks Gotta Whiz on crossing the $11 million sire milestone. Less than six months after reaching the $10 million mark, the legendary stallion achieved this elite status at the 2025 National Reining Breeders Classic, reinforcing his legacy as one of the sport’s most influential sires.

The 2007 stallion was bred by NRHA Hall of Famer Clint Haverty and is owned by Michell Anne Kimball. Sired by NRHA $3 Million Sire Spooks Gotta Gun and out of Prettywhizprettydoes, “Baby” has been a dominant presence in the reining industry both in and out of the arena. His remarkable impact on the sport was recognized in 2022 with induction into the NRHA Hall of Fame.

During his show career, Baby amassed NRHA lifetime earnings of $345,138. He is one of a select few to win the NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity, the NRHA Level 4 Open Derby, and the National Reining Breeders Classic. Internationally, he represented the United States at the 2014 World Equestrian Games, where he earned two gold medals. Most recently, the stallion returned to the spotlight with an exhibition ride at the 2024 The Run for a Million at 17 years old, showcasing the longevity of both his talent and character.

As a sire, Spooks Gotta Whiz continues to build a legacy of excellence. With 547 NRHA money-earning offspring to date, his progeny consistently perform at the highest levels of the sport. At the 2025 NRBC, standout offspring Smoky Mountain Rein (out of Sprats Electricspark) captured the Level 4 Non Pro Classic Championship. Shown by NRHA Million Dollar Rider Kim Muehlstaetter and owned by Kim and her husband, Martin, the horse earned $50,000 and helped propel Spooks Gotta Whiz across the $11 million threshold.

Baby’s top-earning offspring include:

• Mic Dropp (out of Dun Dry Whiz); owned by NRHA Million Dollar Owners Tim Anderson and breeder/nominator Clark Reining Horses LLC; $352,224 NRHA LTE
• Alpha Jac Sparrow (out of Chexanicki); bred and nominated by Alpha Quarter Horses LLC; owned by Fritz Leeman; $313,941 NRHA LTE
• Picture Perrfect (out of Isnt She Perfect); bred and nominated by Amy Medows; owned by Ronald Anderson; $224,389 NRHA LTE
• Spooks Gotta Spark (out of Dolittle Lena); bred and nominated by Bobby Lewis; owned by Kevin Truax; $215,585 NRHA LTE
• Spook Lil Whiz (out of Lil Dreamer); bred and owned by Renata Lemann; nominated by Eduardo Salgado; $211,343 NRHA LTE

Spooks Gotta Whiz’s growing influence and exceptional lineage have firmly positioned him among the most elite sires in the reining world. NRHA congratulates his owner, breeder, and all who have contributed to his remarkable journey.

The National Reining Horse Association is proud to announce Marc Gordon as a Million Dollar Owner. Gordon, who owns Gordon Quarter Horses with his wife Kathy, has reached this prestigious milestone after decades of dedication to the sport of reining.

Gordon’s journey in reining began in 2001, when he earned his first NRHA check competing in the Rookie Level 1 at the Illinois State Fair aboard Mr Boot Scootin Jac (Mr Barbie Cody Jac x Miss Stepping Pine). Since then, his passion for reining has flourished, leading to a remarkable show pen career with $118,038 in NRHA lifetime earnings as a rider. Among his many achievements, his standout performance came during the 2011 NRHA Futurity, where he and Hollywood Dunit Easy (Easy Otie Whiz x Tejons Finally Dunit) secured a 7th-place finish in the Level 3 Non Pro division.

Beyond his accomplishments in the show pen, Gordon has made a significant impact as an owner and breeder, with more than 300 horses listed in his NRHA owner record. His program, Gordon Quarter Horses, has served as the foundation for numerous successful partnerships, including one with resident trainer and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Gennaro Lendi.

Lendi has achieved remarkable success aboard Gordon-bred and -owned horses in recent years, highlighted by an 8th-place finish at the 2023 NRHA Futurity on Electric Gunn (Gunnatrashya x Electric Barbie), earning over $51,000. The duo gave another stellar performance at the 2025 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, where they landed sixth place in the Level 3 Open with a score of 223.5. Lendi qualified a total of three Gordon-owned and -bred horses to the Level 3 finals this year, all full siblings.

Gordon’s induction into the elite ranks of Million Dollar Owners is a testament to his unwavering support of the sport, eye for quality horses, and commitment to developing lasting partnerships in and out of the arena. NRHA congratulates Marc and Kathy Gordon on this remarkable achievement and looks forward to celebrating their continued contributions to reining’s legacy.