RR Star, ridden by Tim McQuay for Lundin Farm, Del Norte, Colorado, became the first NRHA Open Futurity Champion to win an NRHA Open Derby title. And in so doing, RR Star’s Lifetime earnings topped the $200,000 mark.

 

At the recent 2003 NRHA Derby, held May 13-18, 2003 at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, the 2001 NRHA Open Futurity Champion, RR Star, again took his place in the spotlight when he earned the Open Derby Championship with Tim McQuay in the saddle.  McQuay is NRHA’s Leading Open Lifetime Money Earner; RR Star is a 1998 Paint stallion by Like A Diamond and out of RL Miss Kitty by Nu Cash.   

 

In 2001, RR Star was a record maker – record breaker.  Ridden by Andrea Fappani, he was the first Paint to win the NRHA Futurity.  Fappani, a native of Italy, was the first European rider to win the NRHA’s most prestigious title. 

 

This Derby win adds another $50,000 to both Tim McQuay’s and RR Star’s NRHA Lifetime earnings.  For RR Star this means that he goes to the top of the NRHA All Time Leading Horses list.  For Tim McQuay it means that he is that much closer to becoming NRHA’s first Two Million Dollar Rider.  McQuay has more than $1,686,000 in NRHA Lifetime earnings.

 

For the first time in NRHA history, the record books will show two Derby Champions whose earnings exceed $200,000.  The 2003 Derby win catapulted RR Star’s Lifetime NRHA earnings to more than $222,000, while the 2002 NRHA Derby Champion, Custom Pistol, topped $208,000 with his fifth place finish in this year’s event.  Custom Pistol is owned by Steven Simon of Paxton, Massachusetts.  A 1998 Quarter Horse, Custom Pistol is by Custom Crome and out of Hollywood Lady Jo.

 

The National Reining Horse Association is the worldwide governing body of reining, responsible for promoting the sport, working to insure the highest standards of competition.  With corporate support from Cinch, Saddlesmith, Profile Nutrition, Horse & Rider magazine, Markel Insurance, Pfizer Animal Health, Quarter Horse News, Kiser Arena Specialists, State Line Tack, Houston Embryo Transfer Center, Classic Equine, Bloomer Trailer Mfg., Cowboy Tack and John Vance Auto Group the NRHA continues to educate its members and the public about reining.