NCHA Futurity Champions: 1962 to 2024

The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity is the premier event in the sport of cutting. It’s no surprise the list of past NCHA Futurity champions reads like a who’s who of cutting horses.

The first NCHA Futurity was held Nov. 13, 1962, in Sweetwater, Texas, but the prestigious cutting horse competition is now held annually during November and December in Fort Worth. That first year, horseman Buster Welch won the first NCHA Futurity Open Championship with Money’s Glo. It was one of Welch’s record five winners in the event.

The most recent to take the top spot in the Open were 2024 NCHA Futurity Open Champion Too Hot To Tagg and Kenny Platt, who won to the cheers of a packed house at Will Rogers Coliseum.

We’ve compiled a list of all the past NCHA Futurity Open winners. This includes the NCHA Futurity-winning horse, rider, sire, dam, broodmare sire, owner, breeder and score.

List of NCHA Futurity Open Champions YearHorseRiderSireDamDamsireOwnerBreederScore1962Money’s GloBuster WelchKing GloOur MoneyRed Star JoeC. E. Boyd, JrGeorge Pardi2241963Chickasha GloBuster WelchKing GloChickasha AnnChickasha MikeC. E. Boyd, JrDr. Allen R Hamilton2181964TMiss Ginger DeeBob ByrdMr Gold 95Ginger BergBob KlebergBob ByrdBilby Wallace2141964TZan SunDennis FunderburghZantanon HSun PrincessLeoS and J RanchJess Hankins2141965Chickasha DanAllen HamiltonKing GloChickasha AnnChickasha MikeAllen HamiltonDr. Allen R Hamilton2181966*Rey Jay’s PeteBuster WelchRey Jay NA NAKenneth Peters NA2181967Page Boy’s TunoLeroy AshcroftLee’s Page BoyKathy TuckTunoLeroy and Joyce AshcroftJohnnie Heidle2201968Uno PrincessJames KenneyJose UnoHanna’s PrincessEl Rey HJess KoyKoy Jess2201969Cee Bars JoanMatlock RoseCee BarsHolly JoanieHollywood GoldS.B. Burnett EstateBurnett Ranches LLC2191970Doc O’LenaShorty FreemanDoc BarPoco LenaPoco BuenoAdrian BerryhillDr. and Mrs. Stephen Jensen2231971Dry DocBuster WelchDoc BarPoco LenaPoco BuenoM.L. ChartierDr. and Mrs. Stephen Jensen219.51972Gun Smoke’s DreamDale WilkinsonMr Gun SmokeLady Badger 71Gray Badger IIIMr. and Mrs. Don PadgettDale Wilkinson220.51973Doc’s MarmosetTom LyonsDoc BarSusie’s BayPoco TivioTom Lyons and Bob CondieDr. and Mrs. Stephen Jensen2191974Doc’s Yuba LindaLeon HarrelDoc BarMy Dinah LeaLeoChester DennisDr. and Mrs. Stephen Jensen221.51975LenaetteShorty FreemanDoc O’LenaBar Socks BabeBar El DoTerry RiddleShorty Freeman Inc2241976Colonel FrecklesOlan HightowerJewels Leo BarsChristy JayRey JayBob McLeodMarion Flynt2231977Peppy San BadgerBuster WelchMr San PeppySugar BadgerGrey Badger IIIKing RanchRH Fulton and Co220.51978Lynx MelodyLarry ReederDoc’s LynxTronaLeon BarsBilly CogdellMr and Mrs James Welsey221.51979Docs DiabloBill FreemanDoc’s PrescriptionPoco ChristaPoco Rip CashGlenn McKinneyGlenn and Ruth McKinney219.51980Mis Royal MahoganyLindy BurchDoc’s MahognyRoyal Rosu GloRoyal BartendRobert MendenhallRobert Mendenhall225.51981Colonel LilJoe HeimColonel FrecklesTwo Rocks LilTwo RocksW.D. WoodKenneth Hammett224.51982Smart Little LenaBill FreemanDoc O’LenaSmart PeppyPeppy SanSmart Little Lena VentureHanes Chatham2251983Docs Okie QuixoteJoe HeimDoc QuixoteJimmette TooJohnny TivioJoice HeimJoe and Joice Heim2191984Doc PerRonnie NettlesPersonality DocNettie BuckWylie’s Red BuckRoy HullRoy Hull218.51985The GemnistKathy DaughnDoc Bar GemMiss Fancy ZanBlack Gold ZanHarland RadomskeJim and Mary Jo Milner221.51986Royal Silver KingJody GalyeanBrinks Royal LeeSam’s PistolSteamboat SamKenneth MyrickPutnam Ranch Co LTD220.51987Smart DateLeon HarrelSmart Little LenaTrip Date BarTripolay BarWaltrip RanchesShorty Freeman Inc2251988TSmart Little SenorBill FreemanSmart Little LenaSenorita MistySenor GeorgeStewart SewellJohn Meredith2211988TCols Lil PepperDoug JordanColonel FrecklesPepper ChampPoco ChampLarry AlexanderLloyd Hargett2211989July JazzSpencer HardenSons DocJazabell QuixoteDoc QuixoteSpencer HardenHarden Ranch221.51990Millie MontanaJoe SuiterMontana DocCal Filly BarCal BarKeith HallaShiela Smith221.51991Little TeninaGreg WelchPeppy San BadgerTenino FairDoc BarDan and Sallee CraineKing Ranch Inc2241992Dox Miss N RenoRuss MillerMiss N CashPaloma QuixoteDoc QuixoteStan and Lynne WarrenJim and Mary Jo Reno2191993Bobs Smokin JoeJohn TolbertBob Acre DocTaris Smokin MariaSmokin JosePing GoughPaul Butler2211994CD OlenaWinston HansmaDoc O’LenaCD Chica San BadgerPeppy San BadgerBar H RancheBar H Ranche2251995PeptoboonsmalGary BellenfantPeppy San BadgerRoyal Blue BoonBoon BarLarry HallLarry Hall Cutting Horses2251996Playboy McCraePaul HansmaDual PepPlayboys MaderaFreckles PlayboyKay FloydKay Floyd2231997Some Kinda MemoriesMike MowerySmart Little LenaSome Kinda PlaygirlFreckles PlayboyCarl and Laurel ShrontzRick and Shelly Mowery2261998Dainty PlaygirlRonnie RiceFreckles PlayboyDainty LenaSmart Little LenaGary and Mickey GoodfriedJames and Sandra Brown2251999Shania CeeShannon HallPeppys Boy 895Lynx MelodyDoc’s LynxBilly CogdellBilly and Bette Cogdell225.52000Royal FletchKathy DaughnJae Bar FletchRoyal Blue DuallyDual PepRoyal Fletch PartnersRoyal Blue Dually Partnership2292001San Tule FrecklesRonnie RiceFreckles PlayboySan Tule LuPeppy San BadgerFlying M Ranch/S.E. MontgomeryFlying M Ranch/Montgomery223.52002Chiquita PistolTag RiceSmart Little PistolMiss Chiquita TariPay TwentyoneTooter DormanDeborah Moore2252003One Smart Lookin CatCraig MorrisHigh Brow CatThe Smart LookSmart Little LenaJohn McClarenWiens Ranch Company Inc2262004Spots HotWesley GalyeanChula DualSweet Shorty LenaShorty LenaWesley GalyeanJody Galyean2252005Highbrow SupercatTommy MarvinHigh Brow CatHolly Dolly TooColonel FrecklesPaul DeanC Bar A Inc and Anderson226.52006Oh Cay FelixCraig ThompsonHigh Brow CatOh Cay ShortyShorty LenaPatrick CollinsLaura and Patrick Collins2272007High Brow CDAustin ShepardHigh Brow CatSweet Little CDCD OlenaArthur NobleWendel Ranches Inc2262008Metallic CatBeau GalyeanHigh Brow CatChers ShadowPeptoboonsmalAlvin FultsThe Roan Rangers2222009Rockin WTony PiggottDual Rey Boon San KittyHigh Brow CatWalton’s Rocking W RanchWalton’s Rocking W Ranch2292010One Time RoyaltyLloyd CoxOne Time PeptoRoyal Serena BelleShorty LenaMatthews Cutting HorsesDouble Dove Ranch2302011Oh Miss CarolineCraig ThompsonHigh Brow CatOh Cay ShortyShorty LenaPatrick and Laura CollinsLaura and Patrick Collins2262012TCR Tuff Hearted CatRonnie RiceWoody Be TuffCR Cats MeowHigh Brow CatCenter RanchCenter Ranch222.52012THe Bea CatTarin RiceHigh Brow CatMae Bea MarieFreckles PlayboyJim CrawfordJim Crawford222.52013Dual Smart KittyClay JohnsonDual Smart ReyCats PeptolenaHigh Brow CatRusty and Shelley SimpsonTim Brewer224.52014Classy CD CatPhil HansonHigh Brow CatClassical CDCD OlenaBobby and Dottie HillDottie St Clair Hill2282015Stevie Rey VonEd DufurrenaMetallic CatMiss Ella ReyDual ReyEd DufurrenaBrandon Dufurrena2252016Second SpotMatt GainesSpots HotReycy MoonCats MoonshineGary and Shannon BarkerBarker Ranch Cutting Horses LLC2292017Dual ReyishAustin ShepardHottishA Little ReylenaDual ReyBilly WolfGreg Smith2282018Crey ZeeTatum RiceDual ReyEazee EHigh Brow CatKevin and Sydney KnightKevin and Sydney Knight2222019Metallic Rey MinkGary BellenfantMetallic CatDual Rey MinkDual ReyLos Jaboncillos Ranch IncLos Jaboncillos Ranch and King Ranch2262020All SpiceAdan BanuelosOnce In A Blu BoonShow Biz KittyHigh Brow CatHolmes/Hill PartnershipRoyce Stallcup2242021Janie WoodJohn MitchellStevie Rey VonJunie WoodNitas WoodSlate River RanchSlate River Ranch2302022Phil N DangerousLindy ThornHottishLil Maddy ReyDual Smart ReyMisty GreesonMisty Greeson2282023Lone WoolfWesley GalyeanMetallic RebelA Little ReylenaDual ReyBilly WolfBilly Wolf228.52024Too Hot To TaggKenny PlattHashtagsToo HotHottishJH Nail Ranch Inc. Wes & Lindy Ashlock227

* Full pedigree information is not available for Rey Jay’s Pete. Not a registered Quarter Horse, Rey Jay’s Pete is said to have been an unregistered, half-Thoroughbred son of Quarter Horse stallion Rey Jay.

A T next to the year indicates a tie

Sources for the NCHA Futurity Champions List

Quarter Horse News used multiple sources to gather information for this list of Open NCHA Futurity champions. Primary sources include the statistical record-keeping service EquiStat, the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA), American Quarter Horse Association online records and stories from QHN.com.