Horse Illustrated Magazine

A new stallion has just been added to the National Reining Horse Association’s (NRHA) list of Million Dollar Sires.  Five years after falling victim to West Nile Virus, Grays Starlight has broken into the elite group. Owned by Polo Ranch in Marietta, Okla., Grays Starlight (Peppy San Badger x Docs Starlight) was 18 when he was put down. Now, his offspring’s earnings total $1,007,713.58.

Some of Grays Starlight’s top money earners include Starlights Wrangler with $125,966.10 in lifetime earnings; Hit The Lights with $112,925.51; Smart Starbuck with $60,045 and Spooks Rey Jay with $52,704.47.

Starlights Wrangler, owned by Hendricks Broten Equine Assets, and ridden by Dell Hendricks, has taken home top honors at such events as the 2003 United States Equestrian Team Festival of Champions, where he was the United States Equestrian Federation Reining Championship’s Reserve Champion, earning $12,442. Hendricks and Starlights Wrangler (Grays Starlight x Wranglers Connie) also earned $50,000 and the Open Championship at the 2002 National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) in Katy, Texas.

The biggest win for Hit The Lights (Grays Starlight x Playboys Promise), owned by Adair Reiners LLC, came during the 2005 NRBC where rider Dell Hendricks earned the Open Championship and $60,000.

Another top money earner for Grays Starlight is Smart Starbuck, owned by Smart Starbuck Ventures.  Smart Starbuck (Grays Starlight x Smart Marlena), ridden by Tom McCutcheon, earned his biggest paycheck during the NRHA Derby.  At the 1999 NRHA Derby, Smart Starbuck and McCutcheon earned $11,958.98 in the Open division.  The same pair took home $8,161.02 the next year at the 2000 NRHA Derby.

Spooks Rey Jay is another of Grays Starlight’s success stories.  Spooks Rey Jay, owned by Jimmy Pierce and ridden by Todd Sommers, earned $27,240.31 at the 2005 NRHA Futurity.  Spooks Rey Jay and Sommers are winning again this year.  In January, they took home third place and $6,250 at the Bill Horn Shootout in Ocala, Fla.

Grays Starlight now joins an exclusive NRHA list:

Million Dollar Sires: Hollywood Jac 86; Be Aech Enterprise; Topsail Cody; Reminic; Gallo Del Cielo; Custom Crome; Lil Ruf Peppy; Boomernic

Two Million Dollar Sire: Shining Spark

Three Million Dollar Sire: Smart Chic Olena

Four Million Dollar Sire: Topsail Whiz

Five Million Dollar Sire: Hollywood Dun It