MORE MILESTONES CROSSED FOLLOWING THE 2023 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®
The National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) congratulates Sparking Train, Kit Kat Sugar, and Shawn Hays on reaching new milestones during the 2023 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® presented by Metallic Cat in Fort Worth, Texas.
Sparking Train, a 1998 mare by Shining Spark and out of Sister Train, crossed $500,000 in offspring earnings, thanks to the performance of Bet He Sparks in the Open Bridle. Bet He Sparks and Clayton Edsall tied for sixth place, earning $4,036.50 to push his dam over the $500,000 mark.
The mare, owned by Jose Milare Garcia, also produced Metallic Train, a 2013 mare with more than $181,000 in earnings, Sparking Metallic, a 2014 mare with more than $58,000 in earnings, and One Sparking Time, a 2015 mare with more than $30,000 in earnings.
Kit Kat Sugar, a 2008 stallion by High Brow Cat and out of Sugar N Dulce, joined the NRCHA Million Dollar Sire club with the conclusion of the Open Finals.
In the Open finals, Rein N Kats, owned by Wayne Miranda and ridden by Russell Probert, landed sixth, earning $45,000, while Clint Kat Sugar, owned by Janet Handtmann and ridden by Justin Wright, finished in 11th place, earning $20,000. In the Intermediate/Limited Open finals, Anne Marie Albert’s Margareytaville, ridden by Kyle Noyce, landed just outside of the top 20 in the Intermediate Open, earning $3,000, and Some Mora Sugar, ridden by Jaton Lord, placed 12th in the Limited Open, earning $2,000.
Kit Kat Sugar, owned by XIT Ranch, also sired Scooter Kat, a 2015 stallion who holds the record as NRCHA’s all-time leading money earner with more than $510,000 in lifetime earnings, Play Rey Sugar Baby, a 2016 mare with more than $46,000 in earnings, and Dualin for Kit Kats, a 2016 gelding with more than $41,000 in earnings.
After earning his third-place finish in the Open Futurity Finals and his reserve champion title in the Intermediate Open, Shawn Hays joined the elite group of Million Dollar Riders. Hays rode Angela Massey’s Paint It Blak, a 2020 gelding by CR Gotcha Covered and out of Herbs Lady, and the pair marked a composite score of 659 (H:214.5/R:223/C:222.5). In the Intermediate Open Finals, Hays and Justa Swinging Ruby, a 2020 mare by Bet Hesa Cat and out of Justa Swinging Jewel, placed 15th for owner Greene Springs Cattle Co. Over the course of the 2023 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, Hays earned a total of $117,000 in lifetime earnings.
Hays of Weatherford, Texas, earned his first check in the NRCHA in 2004. Since then, he has earned money on 74 horses with Angela Massey’s MoonShineAndTwoAdvil at the helm, helping Hays earn over $170,000 of his lifetime earnings.
Congratulations to Shawn Hays and the connection of Sparking Train and Kit Kat Sugar on achieving these titles. These individuals will be recognized at the 2024 KalpowarQuarter Horses Celebration of Champions slated for February 11 through 24 in Fort Worth, Texas. For more information about these milestones, visit nrcha.com/nrcha-million-dollar-club.
