The National Reining Breeders Classic, held annually at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, annually boats a payout that exceeds $1.3 million – and part of that comes from the National Reining Horse Association Ancillary classes that are part of the show.

On Wednesday, April 20, Jessica Torpey and Lindsey McCutcheon tied for the Championship of the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1, and the pair also shared the Reserve title of the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2, which was run concurrently.

Torpey was competing on Sheza Chic Olena, while McCutcheon was riding Mega Beat. Both Non Pros marked a 144.5, to collect $279 in the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 and $400 in the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2.

“I bought her in January and have only shown her twice – but she’s won both times,” noted Torpey, of Princeton, Kentucky, who owns Hickory Chic Olena – Sheza Chic Olena’s sire. “She worked well today. It’s hard to get one shown on this pattern, but it went well.”

McCutcheon, of Whitesboro, Texas, did compete on Mega Beat in the Non Pro Classic preliminaries, but missed making the finals. “It was my screw up, so I decided to show her today and she was so good!” she said of the mare, who she plans to show at the NRHA Derby. Even though it didn’t happen on Mega Beat, McCutcheon did make the Non Pro finals on her other Classic entry. “I love showing here. It’s so fun and it’s a great place to show because there are so many options.”

The NRHA Ancillary classes continue Thursday, April 21, and run through Sunday, April 24. The entire NRBC is webcast free, thanks to Waltenberry Productions. To access the webcast, visit www.nrbc.com.

The NRBC also features a full-slate of National Reining Horse Association-approved classes, which run in the East Arena while the Classic is held in the Coliseum. The National Reining Breeders Classic is the most successful stallion incentive program in reining history. In just fourteen years, the NRBC has grown to include nearly 200 subscribed stallions. Annually, the payout at the National Reining Breeders Classic exceeds $1.4 million. For information on the NRBC, visit the web site at www.nrbc.com or call 580-759-3939.