The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) announces two exceptional sires, A Sparkling Vintage and Inferno Sixty Six, have crossed the monumental $4 million mark in NRHA offspring earnings. This significant milestone reflects their remarkable influence in the reining industry and the exceptional performances of their progeny on a global stage.
A Sparkling Vintage
Born in 1997, A Sparkling Vintage is a standout sire bred by Jeff Cornelius and NRHA Hall of Famer Carol Rose. Sired by the legendary NRHA Hall of Fame inductee Shining Spark and out of Vintage Badger, this exceptional stallion is owned by Petra Zeitler. Known for his impeccable bloodlines and proven performance, A Sparkling Vintage last reached a major milestone in 2022. His contributions to the reining world have been cemented with his offspring’s success at premier events.
A Sparkling Vintage’s 183 NRHA money-earning offspring have propelled him to the $4 million milestone. A pivotal contribution came from SS Pretty Nifty, ridden by Anna-Maria Zehetbauer to claim the Italian Reining Horse Association Level 4 Non Pro 4-Year-Old Futurity Championship in 2024. The duo added over $100,000 to the sire’s progeny earnings, showcasing the enduring impact of A Sparkling Vintage on the reining industry.
A Sparkling Vintage’s top-earning offspring include:
- A Vintage Smoke (out of Lady Smoke Peppy), bred and nominated by Karl Hapcic and owned by Diane Mesmer, $540,650 NRHA LTE
- Not Ruf At All (out of All Ruffed Up), bred and nominated by Petra Zeitler, owned by NRHA Hall of Famer Vaughn Zimmerman, $456,437 NRHA LTE
- Platinum Vintage (out of Starjac Miss), bred and nominated by Petra Zeitler, owned by NRHA Million Dollar Owner Silver Spurs Equine, $314,909 NRHA LTE
- Starjac Vintage (out of Starjac Miss); bred by Petra Zeitler, nominated by NRHA Million Dollar Owner Tim Anderson, and owned by Clover Oak Ranch; $228,312 NRHA LTE
- All American Vintage (out of All Ruffed Up), bred by Petra Zeitler, nominated by Harper Conner (USA) and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Gennaro Lendi (EU), owned by Eyal Carmon, $171,263 NRHA LTE
Inferno Sixty Six
Inferno Sixty Six, a 2012-born stallion, continues to blaze trails in the reining world. Bred by Hilldale Farm and nominated by Domenico Lomuto, this exceptional sire is the result of a legendary pairing between two NRHA Hall of Famers: Gunnatrashya and Snip O Gun. Owned by Slide or Die LLC, Inferno Sixty Six has consistently proven his worth, crossing his last milestone in the summer of 2024.
Inferno Sixty Six’s 378 NRHA money-earning offspring have solidified his place among reining’s elite sires. His rise to the $4 million milestone was highlighted by the stellar performance of NRHA Professional Kaci O’Rourke and The Firemen (Redhot Walla) at the 2024 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships. Together, they captured the MS Diamonds Level 4 Open Futurity Championship and the Level 3 Open Futurity Championship, earning over $425,000 in 2024 and cementing Inferno Sixty Six’s legacy.
Inferno Sixty Six’s top-earning offspring include:
- The Firemen (out of Redhot Walla), bred and nominated by NRHA Corporate Partner Tamarack Ranch LLC, owned by Peter and Courtney Morgan, $425,078 NRHA LTE
- Inferno Thirty Five (out of Madeof Pure Spangled), bred by NRHA Corporate Partner Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC, nominated by Mary Jansma, owned by Stephen Archer, $284,529 NRHA LTE
- Winding Inferno (out of Wind Her Up Chic), bred and nominated by Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC, owned by NRHA Corporate Partner Teton Ridge Ranch, $218,038 NRHA LTE
- Surprizing Sixty Six (out of Dun With Surprizes), bred and nominated by Valentin Rascon; owned by Janiene Borror, $169,534 NRHA LTE
- Gangsta Sixtysix (out of Rush N Cat), bred by Lorenzo Lottie, nominated by Slide or Die LLC, owned by Julio Mora Hernandez, $168,344 NRHA LTE