Byers, OK- Aprl 28, 2003 - Dell Hendricks won his third National Reining Breeders Classic Open Championship on Saturday night when he piloted Reminic N Dunit to a score of 226 to win a $60,000 paycheck for owners Tim and Colleen McQuay and Dave and Bonnie Silva.

Hendricks drew up fifth in the finals but didn’t let the early draw bother him. “There’s no bad draw in the finals. I wanted to go hard and then just wait to see what would happen.”

Always quick to share credit for the win with his wife and all the people around him who make his horse training operation a success, Hendricks gave much of the credit for the win to his wife, Terri. “She is my biggest support – the most important thing. I couldn’t do this without her and all of my barn help just makes it easier for me to go out and do the best I can."

When asked why Dell was riding a horse co-owned by the top reining horse exhibitor in the world --- Tim McQuay --- Dell said “I guess he just likes me!"

“This is a great horse,” said Tim McQuay. “Colleen and I wanted to make sure he got the best opportunity possible to prove what he could do. He and Dell really make a good team.”

For Dell, the win was both gratifying and humbling. "It's just amazing," he said the next morning while lending a hand with the NRBC Children's Easter Egg Hunt. "This is such a great show, and to win it even once is an honor – let alone three times."

The champion looked none the worse for wear after a late night at the Quarter Horse News Victory Party. The event was a Karaoke Party and one of the evening's highlights came when Hendricks, along with fellow NRBC Champion Tom McCutcheon, Todd Bergen and Troy Heikes, performed "I'm Too Sexy". Another former NRBC Champion, Marc Wagman, had the crowd rocking and rolling with his own rock 'n roll renditions."

The Open Reserve Champion was Robbie Boyce, scoring 225 on Shiners Lena Doc, a son of Shining Spark out of Docs Sulena that is owned by Carol Rose and Ted Robinson. Shiners Lena Doc won $39,331.

In third place was Todd Crawford riding Matt Dillon Dun It (by Hollywood Dun It) owned by the 3 Peaks Ranch of Bend, Oregon. This pair won the first go-round on Thursday earning $13,130.07 first prize go-round money.

The Intermediate Open Championship went to Dean Brown riding Tinsel Nic, owned by Brian Brown. Tinsel Nic is by Bueno Chexinic and out of Holly Tinseltown. Dean, a Canadian horse trainer, and his family, raised the black stallion. Their Intermediate Finals check was for $20,739 and they collected another $23,877 for finishing fifth in the Open Finals

The reserve championship Intermediate title was a tie at 221.5 between Justin Mathison riding Justanother Dun It for Service Electronics and Jeff Petska on Shiners Chex Mix (Shining Spark X Summer Chex) owned by Melanie Pogue. The reserve placing was good for $12,624.32.

In the Limited Open, Justin Mathison and Justanother Dun It prevailed and received another check for $8,095.88. Justanother Dun It is by Hollywood Dun It, the all-time leading sire of reining horses, and out of Justa Spring Freckle. Reserve champion was Jason Grimshaw and Sparks Well Dun for owner Sonja Myrstol who received a check for $4,927.93. Grimshaw led the Limited Division for most of the afternoon having marked a 219 early on in the competition.

Throughout the week, it was a history-making competition, and when the top twenty riders in each division — Open, Limited Open and Intermediate Open — advanced to the finals, they did so with all-time high scores. Besides the record 222 score to make the Open Finals, it took a 208 to qualify for the Limited Open Finals and a 213.5 to make the Intermediate Open Finals.

Non Pro Finals at the National Reining Breeders Classic was just as hotly contested and the top two finals riders had to face off in a run-off.

Lance Griffin on Whiz N Tag Chex, a bay stallion by Topsail Whiz and out of Tag Chex, scored 220.5 early in the round and so did the very last rider, Tricia Hamilton on Lenas Taxman, a bay stallion by Lenas Wright On out of Zans Light Sparkles.

In the run-off, Lance Griffin went first and bettered his score to 221.5. Tricia started out very strong in her run-off but dropped a lead in the second circle and then when her horse jumped out of the first spin she completed the circle routine and then dismissed herself from the arena.

“Tag has just felt great all week long,” said Lance. “Then we just went out and I clucked and said 'whoa' when I needed to. He’s been unbelievable to get along with and afraid of nothing.” For the effort Lance took home a check for $25,451.70.

Lance bought the 4-year-old when he was two from Bob Loomis Ranches. Duane Latimer trained him and rode him to an 11th place finish in the Finals of the 2002 NRHA Futurity. He was turned out until late January, then legged up and brought to the NRBC. Lance says he’ll take him to the NRHA Derby next month and then to the Canadian Reining Breeders Classic. Lance, of Dewinton, Alberta, Canada, was last year’s NRBC Prime Time Champion and repeated that feat this year.

With her appearance in the Non Pro Finals, Tricia was just following family tradition as her mother, Linda is a many-time finalist and former title winner at the NRBC. Although a seasoned competitor in reining events, it was the first show for Hamilton and Lenas Taxman.

“I’ve never scored a 220.5 in my life,” said Tricia, from Scottsdale, Arizona. “It was great to know that I was going to be either first or second.” Hamilton purchased the horse from Bob Avila and Chatty Eliason in January. Bill Norwood had shown him in the NRHA Futurity and made the Intermediate Finals and was fourth in the Limited Finals. Plans are to go to the NRHA Derby and then probably turn him out for a good rest. The reserve check was for $15,492.34.

Third place was a two-way tie between two NRBC Non Pro champions - Mandy McCutcheon and Dont Miss This, owned by Mandy’s parents, Tim and Colleen McQuay, and Joshua Hattig riding Steadys Dude owned by Bradford Hattig. Steadys Dude is by Steady Tradition and out of Bar Good Friday. The two riders had a score of 220 and each took home a check for $10,789.31. Mandy of Aubrey Texas, is the NRHA Leading All Time Non Pro rider. Dont Miss This was the 2002 NRBC Non Pro Champion, and a 2000 NRHA Open Futurity Finalist with lifetime earnings over $76,000. Josh of Loveland, Colorado is a former NRBC Non Pro Champion and has won the NRHA Futurity and Derby. Steadys Dude has lifetime earnings of $59,000 and is also an NRBC Non Pro Champion and NRHA Derby Non Pro Champion.

The Intermediate Non Pro championship was won by Bob LaPorta of Damascus, Maryland, riding The Great O Lena with a 217 score. The 6-year-old gelding by The Great Kid and out of Ann O Lena Guard belongs to Bob’s wife, Debbie.

“He was riding very well,” said Bob, who has been a consistent Non Pro winner over the past five years. “He stayed consistent and is a pleasure to ride.” Now a farmer by profession, LaPorta was a pharmacist for twenty years and calls himself the Real Drug Store Cowboy.”

Reserve champion in the Intermediate Non Pro was Shannon Raymond riding Whizn Prize (Topsail Whiz x Freckles Prize) with a score of 215.5.

Of his Prime Time Championship resulting from the 220.5 on Whiz N Tag Chex, Griffin was quick to give much credit for his success to his trainer, Duane Latimer, with whom he has ridden for five years. In 2002, Griffin was the 15th ranked non pro rider according to Equi-stat. There’s a good chance he’ll move up in the rankings in 2003 as a result of this NRBC. The event is the second biggest reining on the calendar, just behind the NRHA Futurity and well ahead of the third ranked NRHA Derby in amount of money paid out.

The Reserve Prime Time Championship went to Bob LaPorta.

The top twenty riders in each of the four Non Pro divisions advanced to their respective finals. In the Prime Time Division it took a 207.5 to make the Finals. To qualify for the Friday Non Pro Classic Finals took a 216. It took a 212.5 to make the Intermediate Non Pro Finals and a 208.5 to make the Limited Non Pro Finals.

The 2003 NRBC Crystal Leading Sire award went to Hollywood Dun It, with $148,970.94 earned by his get at this one show. Hollywood Dun It owners McQuay and Easton received $2,500 as well for his siring the Open Champion. Bob Loomis Quarter Horses, owner of the sire of the Non Pro Champion, Topsail Whiz, earned $2500 as well.

Another annual title on the line at the NRBC is the Reiners Golf Tournament Championship, and this year the winners, following a two-hole playoff, were the team of Sally and Neal Broten, and Chad Clark - all of River Falls, Wisconsin, and Greg Gottschalk, Coloma, Wisconsin. We had an awesome time, perfect weather, a little break from the horse show said Neal Broten, “The Wisconsin people showed their best talents.” Broten is actually better known for another sport – and his distinguished hockey career included the unforgettable Lake Placid Team USA "Do You Believe in Miracles?" win – as well as a record-setting stint in the NHL. Sally Broten, his wife, owns last year's NRBC Champion, Starlights Wrangler.

Another event debuted this year at the always-innovative National Reining Breeders Classic Show. Won by Mandy McCutcheon on ARC Sparkle Surprise, the Bridleless Reining was the brainchild of Cheryl Magoteaux, whose Pro Management Corporation manages the NRBC. "This event was created to be pure fun – but also to demonstrate the extremely high level of control and training that are a part of world-class reining," she explained. "We got some raised eyebrows and we really have to thank Mandy and Randy Paul for being our first-ever competitors in this, but we've already got volunteers for next year!"

Besides the headline Breeders Classic events, the ancillary classes held during the NRBC are well attended and tough. The annual NRBC Double-time Awards of $1,000 each go to the high-point Non Pro and Open Exhibitors. This year's Open Double-time Award winner was Gordon Potts. Georgia Reiner Holly Casey won the Non Pro $1000 Double-time Award.

The National Reining Breeders Classic, based in Byars, Oklahoma, is the most successful stallion incentive program in reining history. In just six years, the NRBC has grown to include over 240 subscribed stallions. For information on the NRBC, visit the web site at www.nrbc.com or call 580-759-3939.