The West Coast Barrel Racing Association Finals brought intense competition and rewarding payouts to West Coast barrel racers.
It was a weekend packed with big payouts and awards as West Coast barrel racers gathered in California. With more than $168,000 in added money, the West Coast Barrel Racing Association Open Finals also hosted the Myrna — a memorial race in honor of Myrna “Missy” Spurr, and the Why Not. Talent from across the region came to compete for a wide range of awards including five Circle Y Saddle certificates and Gist buckles. Unique to the memorial race, two buckles were also given to the D winners for the Myrna — one for themselves, and the second to give to someone they love to “pass on the joy and love bigger.”
1D Average Champs Shelby Sullivan and Cashin N Chex
A member of WCBRA since 2010, Shelby Sullivan and 2012 gelding Cashin N Chex finally had their shot. Always falling somewhere in the 1D average at the finals, this year was different as the pair continued to get faster with each run. Sullivan and “Spanky” won the Myrna on Thursday with a 16.670. On Friday, they ran a 16.555 to place third in the first round of the finals and on Saturday they ran a 16.465 in the second round to place second, also winning the open average with 33.020 on two runs.
A special horse to Sullivan’s family, Spanky has been with them since he was 2 years old. Lightly started when her mom purchased him, Sullivan took the reins and finished him on the barrels as well as futuritied on him as a 4- and 5-year-old. Her mom planned to take over during his derby year.
“They ended up having an accident and because of that we ended up finding my mom’s brain tumor that we would never have known was there, so after everything was said and done, long story short, their fall saved her life,” Sullivan said. “But after that Mom was not able to run him anymore so I ended up taking him back over.”
While both wins were significant, winning the Myrna race was the most meaningful to Sullivan because of her relationship with Spurr.
“It really meant a lot to win the Myrna because Missy and I grew really close before and after her brain surgery,” Sullivan explained. “I was working for her and Dave at the time, starting colts for them. She was like a second mom to me.”
In preparation for the finals, Sullivan said she has learned to never have any expectations and just go have fun. When exercising finished horses, she doesn’t work most on the barrel pattern at home, but rather uses them for ranch work and roping. Both Sullivan and her husband train horses and run their family ranch full time in Porterville, California.
“[Spanky] doesn’t see a pattern until we are at a race,” Sullivan added. “With him I typically save him for large money-added races and a couple local open rodeos. So, I just run outside or up-and-coming horses at the smaller local races.”
While he boasts with personality, often what Sullivan calls a “little butthead,” she wouldn’t change a thing because he loves his job and is full of heart and try. No more than 14-hands tall, she describes running Spanky as an adrenaline rush as he can be both free running and push style.
Pocketing just shy of $10,000 with Spanky over the weekend, she also ran 15-year-old broodmare TM Cashn Hi, who was started and trained by Sullivan. Now she runs “Betty” on and off. Placing in the 1D in the Myrna, Sullivan and Betty also placed in the 2D in the first round of the finals and were fifth in the 2D average, adding an additional $1,218 to Sullivan’s earnings in Tulare.
“I would definitely like to thank Bailey [Nahrgang] and all the sponsors who helped with putting on the WCBRA finals,” she said. “Without all them and the crew this event would never be possible so I would like to thank them for all their hard work and dedication to WCBRA.”
WCBRA Year-End Champ Jan Reis and Firewateronthemoons
After a successful season with WCBRA, Jan Reis and 2015 gelding Firewateronthemoons took home the WCBRA Year-End Championship after running a 16.945 in the first round of the WCBRA Open Finals and a 17.224 in the second round, putting the duo in 2D average money and senior side pot money. The pair saved their best run for last to win the Why Not race on Sunday with a 16.730 to take home a total of $1,259.
Reis grew up around horses and gymkhanas in California but took a break when she moved to Wyoming for school and then started a family upon returning to California. It wasn’t until 30 years after the gymkhanas and junior rodeos that she would return to the arena, after a coincidental conversation with Pam Boyce about horses in a restaurant. Boyce offered the opportunity for Reis to come ride and later run one of Boyce’s horses at a local National Barrel Horse Association race where she won a check and her love for barrel racing was reignited. At 48, Reis convinced her husband to buy a horse of her own.
After a few “step up” horses, Reis found Firewateronthemoons, in August of 2020 during his futurity year. Proof that barrel racing is for all ages and competitors, when Reis turned 60, she set a goal to get her professional rodeo card. In just three races, she filled her Women’s Professional Rodeo Association permit and bought her card. Since then, Reis and “Neil” have run at Red Bluff, Livermore, and Salinas, California rodeos to name a few. In 2024 Reis finished in the top 12 at Salinas and placed No. 8 in the average.
“Neil is truly a one-in-a-million horse,” the now 63-year-old barrel racer from Knightsen, California said. “He’s incredibly consistent, with a huge stride that allows him to make up time even when things go a little off course. He’s got a great mind, and every time we run, it feels like we’re faster than before. We recently ran an arena record at the Big Kahuna at Triple Crown in Lincoln, California which brought me to tears.”
A long-time competitor in the WCBRA, winning the year-end title has been a goal since being the reserve champion in 2023 and third in 2022. While she ran at all three races, running at the Myrna race is the most meaningful for Reis. After winning the Myrna 2D in 2022, Reis received the two buckles and gave the second to her friend Boyce who was in hospice at the time. She passed away two days later.
“That buckle holds a special place in my heart,” Reis said. “I feel it’s so rewarding to be able to gift a buckle that you have won to somebody that is going through cancer and to be able to give that to somebody is a very special gift.”
After the Myrna race on Thursday, the WCBRA Open Finals were Friday and Saturday followed by the Why Not race, held the day after the WCBRA Finals conclude. Reis and Neil already secured the WCBRA Year End 1D title, and then ran a 16.730, their fastest time of the weekend to win the Why Not 1D, adding $708 to their earnings.
“This reminded me of how important mindset is in this sport,” Reis, who is now a great-grandma said. “I got out of my head. Finals were over and Neil and I simply went for a ride. Don’t over think it. Do what you know how to do and just ride your horse.”
This article was originally published in the December 2024 issue of Barrel Horse News.
