It was a night of firsts for Mandy McCutcheon and the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA)! A big win at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) earned her a distinction no other non pro rider in NRHA history has accomplished. McCutcheon of Tioga, TX, now joins the elite group of reiners who have earned $1-million in lifetime earnings. As well as being the very first non pro to achieve that mark, McCutcheon is also the first woman to reach the One Million Dollar Rider status.

Friday night, April 20, McCutcheon won both champion and reserve champion honors in the Non Pro Finals of the NRBC at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center Coliseum in Katy, TX. With a score of 225, McCutcheon became the Non Pro Champion on Rawhides Banjo (Dunit Rawhide x Barb A Cita). First place paid $35,417, which was well over the amount she needed to earn the one million dollar rider milestone. McCutcheon scored 221.5 on I Spin For Chics (Tangys Classy Peppy x Chics Koko Angel) to take home reserve honors as well as $21,558.

Saturday evening, McCutcheon was honored, along with other NRHA Million Dollar Riders, during the opening ceremonies at the Open Finals of the NRBC. She now joins her father, Two Million Dollar Rider Tim McQuay and her husband, One Million Dollar Rider Tom McCutcheon in the elite group. Tom McCutcheon achieved his One Million Dollar Rider status just five months ago during the 2006 NRHA Futurity.

Earning her One Million Dollar Rider status will be hard to top on the long list of accomplishments for McCutcheon. The same horse that took her over the one million dollar mark on Friday night also helped her win top honors at the 2005 NRHA Futurity. McCutcheon and Rawhides Banjo won the 2005 Cinch NRHA Non Pro Futurity. That same year, McCutcheon won the NRHA Non Pro Derby on Smart Great Dude (Smart Starbuck x Miss Great Dude). Those are only two memorable wins among many for McCutcheon.

For more information, contact the NRHA at (405) 946-7400.


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