The NCHA Triple Crown comprises three major cutting horse aged events beginning with the NCHA Futurity for 3-year-olds, followed by the NCHA Derby for 4-year-olds, and NCHA Super Stakes for 5-year-olds. [1] All three events are held at the Will Rogers Coliseum in Ft. Worth, Texas. [2] The culmination of prize money for all three events in 2008 was in excess of $10 Million, surpassing that of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.
There have been only 3 NCHA Open Division Triple Crown winners and 1 NCHA NonPro Division Triple Crown winner since the inception of the NCHA in 1946:
Lubbock Municipal Coliseum was an 8,344-seat multi-purpose arena in Lubbock, Texas. Although the arena was located on the campus of Texas Tech University, it was owned and operated by the City of Lubbock until 2018.
Cutting is a western-style equestrian competition in which a horse and rider work together before a judge or panel of judges to demonstrate the horse's athleticism and ability to handle cattle. Modern competition utilizes a 2+1⁄2 minute performance, called a "run." Each contestant is assisted by four helpers: two are designated as turnback riders, who help to keep cattle from running off to the back of the arena, the other two are designated as herd holders to keep the cattle bunched together and prevent potential strays from escaping into the work area. Cutting cattle are typically young steers and heifers that customarily range in size from 400 to 650 lb. They usually are of Angus or Hereford lineage though may be a mix of crossbred beef cattle, including Charolais or Brahman lineage.
Doc O'Lena (1967–1993) was a Quarter Horse stallion, a champion cutting horse and a sire of champion cutting horses. He was inducted into both the AQHA and NCHA Halls of Fame, as was his dam Poco Lena. He was the 1970 NCHA Futurity Open Champion, followed by his full brother, Dry Doc, who won the title in 1971. As a sire, Doc O'Lena earned recognition as the first futurity champion to sire a futurity champion when Lenaette won the title in 1975. He also sired Smart Little Lena, the first horse to win the NCHA Triple Crown.
The National Cutting Horse Association is a non-profit equestrian organization headquartered in the US. Their primary purpose is to promote and sponsor cutting events. The association was founded in 1946 at the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show. The first NCHA sponsored cutting horse competition was held that same year in Dublin, Texas.
Peppy San Badger (1974–2005) was an American Quarter Horse stallion who won the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity in 1977 and the NCHA Derby in 1978. He was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Association's Hall of Fame in 2008.
Smart Little Lena was an AQHA registered Quarter Horse, an NCHA Triple Crown Champion cutting horse, and sire of champion cutting horses. He was inducted into both the AQHA Hall of Fame and NCHA Horse Hall of Fame. He was sired by NCHA Futurity Champion Doc O'Lena and out of the mare Smart Peppy by Peppy San, who was the first NCHA World Champion to sire an NCHA World Champion.
The NCHA World Championship Futurity, hosted by the National Cutting Horse Association and founded in 1962, is the debut event for 3-year-old cutting horses, and the first jewel in the NCHA Triple Crown, which also includes the annual NCHA Super Stakes held in April, and the NCHA Derby held during the NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular. The Futurity is held at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, which has been the venue for the Futurity since its inaugural event in 1962. The total Futurity purse in 2014 was $3.8 Million. Phil Hanson of Weatherford, Texas riding Classy CD Cat won the Open Championship and $200,000 in prize money plus other prizes that included a custom western saddle, a Jim Reno bronze trophy, boots, a leather recliner, and a gold buckle.
The NCHA Derby is the final jewel in the National Cutting Horse Association's Triple Crown; the first being the NCHA World Championship Futurity followed by the NCHA Super Stakes. The NCHA Derby is open to 4-year-old horses of all breeds, and offers two divisions: the Open and Non-Professional. The Derby is held as one of the main events during the NCHA Summer Spectacular at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.
Matlock Rose, born Berry Matlock Rose (1924–2008), was a professional horse trainer for over 60 years. He established a reputation as an all-around cowboy and trainer of champions. Rose was often described as stonefaced, a man of few words, but long held the respect of his peers. He was referred to as a trainers' trainer, and considered a legend. He trained multiple AQHA world champions, five NCHA world champions, was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2001, as well as both the NCHA Rider Hall of Fame and the NCHA Members Hall of Fame. The first famous cutting horse he trained was Jesse James and many other great horses followed but he was best known for training Peppy San and Peponita.
A futurity for horses is a competition, usually limited to younger horses, which offers significant prize money to winners, generated in part from fees paid to nominate, maintain eligibility, and enter the final competition. In most cases, a horse will only compete against other horses of the same age.
Joe Heim is a horse trainer and clinician residing in Thackersville, Oklahoma. He trains primarily Quarter Horses in various disciplines of western riding, including reining and cutting. He was inducted into the NCHA Rider Hall of Fame and is most notable for training and showing Docs Okie Quixote to win the 1983—1984 NCHA Triple Crown which included winning the 1983 NCHA Futurity, 1984 NCHA Derby and 1985 NCHA Super Stakes. Docs Okie Quixote was a 1980 AQHA stallion sired by Doc Quixote and out of the mare Jimmette Too by Johnny Tivio. He sired only one crop of foals before he died in 1985. His Triple Crown earnings totaled US$335,095.00, and his NCHA Lifetime Earnings totaled US$599,109.00.
Fern Sawyer was an American cowgirl, rodeo champion, politician and inductee into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame and the Rodeo Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. She was the first woman to win the cutting horse competition at the 1945 Fort Worth Fat Stock Show and Rodeo. Sawyer was also the first woman appointed to the New Mexico State Fair Board. She was well known for her "flashy attire," according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. She lived in Crossroads, Lovington, and Nogal, New Mexico. She was also a charter member of the National Cutting Horse Association and the first director of the Girls Rodeo Association.
Docs Okie Quixote (1980—1985), AQHA #1613457, was a sorrel Quarter Horse stallion. In 1984, he became the second horse ever to win the NCHA Triple Crown (1983-1984), and 1st to be owned, trained, and ridden by the same person, Joe Heim, a cutting horse trainer from Thackerville, OK, and NCHA Riders Hall of Fame inductee. The other two Triple Crown winners are Smart Little Lena, ridden by Bill Freeman (1982-1983); and Chiquita Pistol, ridden by Tag Rice (2002-2003). Docs Okie Quixote is an NCHA Horse Hall of Fame inductee.
Buster Welch, born near Sterling City, Texas, is a cutting horse trainer and inductee into the NCHA Members Hall of Fame, American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame, National Cutting Horse Association Riders Hall of Fame and Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Buster was chosen as the recipient of the 2012 National Golden Spur Award for his "outstanding contributions to the ranching and livestock industry".
Doc Quixote (1970–2002) was the 1973 NCHA Non Pro Futurity Champion ridden by Paul Crumpler of Wichita Fall, TX. He was a chestnut stallion, stood 15 hands high, and was registered American Quarter Horse #0698787. He was the first cutting horse stallion to ever be syndicated, reportedly with shares valued at $100,000 (US). As a sire, Doc Quixote's offspring have earned more than $10 million including four that were inducted into the NCHA Horse Hall of Fame: Poco Quixote Rio ($1,108,773), Docs Okie Quixote ($637,707) NCHA Triple Crown Champion, Cash Quixote Rio ($604,742), and Jazzote ($586,212).
Phil Rapp of Weatherford, Texas, is a cutting horse trainer, inductee in both the NCHA Rider Hall of Fame Open Division and Non-Pro Division, and the leading NCHA money earner with lifetime earnings totaling $9,214,410.45 as of January 2019. He was elected vice-president of the National Cutting Horse Association in 2016, and became president in June 2018.
National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Rider Hall of Fame was created and perpetuated to honor outstanding riders who have demonstrated their ability to exhibit the athletic prowess and inherent cow sense of the cutting horses they have shown competitively in NCHA sponsored or approved contests. The updated criteria established in 2016 includes:
The National Reined Cow Horse Association Champions and Awards are presented by the National Reined Cow Horse Association to outstanding individuals in the sport of Working cow horse, both people and equine. The NRCHA awards world champions on a yearly basis. It also awards million dollar earners for both riders and sires. The organization is headquartered in Pilot Point, Texas.
Kathy Daughn is a cutting horse trainer who has won over $4.25 Million in cutting horse competition. She is an honoree in the NCHA Rider Hall of Fame and National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, and the first woman to win two NCHA Futurity Open Division Championship titles. Daughn rode The Gemnist to win the 1985 NCHA Futurity, marking an event-record score of 229. After of span of 15 years, she rode Royal Fletch to win the 2000 NCHA Futurity.