Vegas-themed races are all over the country this time of year, and MR Productions Fabulous 50K Barrel Race held in Unadilla, Georgia November 21-23 was no different. Chloe Gray’s team of horses won excess of $12,500 at the weekend race.
The Yatesville, Georgia barrel racer won the 2D Slot Race on 2019 gelding Who Dat Cowboy (PC Redwood Manny x Brooks Who Dat x Brookstone Bay) with a 15.408, as well as won Sunday’s Open race and High Stakes race, collecting $5,840.
Chloe Gray works full time breeding, raising, training and competing on barrel horses for her family’s program, Godspeed Performance Horses, who own “Gus,” her upcoming futurity colt.
“He is just now really growing into himself and coming on strong,” Gray said. “Big fella with a super kind personality”
Gray was also third in the 2D Slot Race, fourth in Sunday’s High Stakes race and fourth in Sunday’s Open race on 2014 gelding Guys On Firewater (Frenchmans Six Dash x Annie Firewater x Fire Water Flit) with a 15.462, earning $3,336. Gray has run “Cross” for over six years and personally owns him.
“He is my true heart horse,” Gray said. “This fella is so special to me and truly loves to run barrels. He is almost 16.3 hands tall and his stride is smooth and unmatched.”
Cross is sired by Frenchmans Six Dash, a stallion owned by Godspeed Performance Horses. They also own Tomahawk N Firewater, the sire of Gray’s mare, Shake N Firewater who was second in Sunday’s Open race and the High Stakes Race with a 15.447. The 2012 mare out of Spark Of Passion, by Sc Chiseled In Stone earned Gray an additional $2,020.
“I also personally own and have trained and competed on Shake since she was a 2 year old,” Gray said. “This mare is gritty and freaky fast, she leaves no room around the barrels.”
To conclude her earnings from the race, Gray and 2019 mare Mo Moneigh (The Money Depot x Famous Junebug x Famous Jr) won $1,545 for fourth in Saturday’s Open race and third in Saturday’s High Stakes race with a 15.599.
“Lola” is sired by The Money Depot who is also owned by Godspeed Performance Horses and is a futurity mare Gray has been running all year. Winning on horses she’s raised and trained is special to Gray.
“Lola, Shake and Cross are all sired by three different sires that we own which makes it very special to us,” she added. “Also, three of the four are left-handed.”
Running multiple horses at every race, Gray is accustomed to transitioning between styles and personalities to get the most out of each horse.
“I am pretty adaptable with my riding style,” she said. “I train and compete on a ton of different horses and I truly believe it is my job to figure out and adapt to each and every horse’s individual style to make them as comfortable doing their job as possible to get the most efficient results.”
At the race, she trusts her training and preparation and tries not to overthink her runs.
“I am consistent with how I do my slow work,” Gray explained. “Keeping my horses soft and feeling their best is at the top of my priority list.”
When entering high paying slot races, choosing the horse to run out of a competitive lineup can be challenging.
“I chose who I am running in the slot races depending on how each horse feels, how prepared they are, and if they tend to do well in that specific set up,” Gray said.
Gus got the call and added to Gray’s $776,000 EquiStat lifetime earnings.
“Glory to God first and foremost, a huge shout out to my family and our whole Godspeed team who makes this all possible for me and helping me conquer my goals,” she said. “To my sponsors I also owe a special thanks to: Masters Saddles, Boss Buckets, Thrive Equine, Hangover Haynets, IF Branded Shirts, Core Nutrition, Morgan Diary Performance Horses.”
Jim Warner and 2020 mare Miss Americann Valor (Valiant Hero x Miss American Pie x As Good As Nick Gets) were second in the 2D Slot Race and third in Sunday’s Open race with a 15.451, earning $3,749.
Nicole Monroe and 2018 mare Jess Makin My Moves (French Streakin Jess x Tres Movidas x Tres Seis) ran a 15.467 on Saturday to win the Open race and High Stakes race for $2,288.
Jordan Harrell and 2020 gelding Tm Flash N Luke (Smoke Flash Im Gone x Cp Lefty x Darkelly) ran a 16.017 to win $966 and the Saturday Futurity sidepot, only for horses 5 and under that have not been entered prior to November 15, 2024.
Tyler Crosby ran a 16.004 on 2020 stallion Cool Me Out (Lucky Wonder Horse x Nana Time x Dashing Val) for a $1,044 paycheck in the Sunday Futurity sidepot.
“MR Productions put on the Fabulous 50K barrel race and I have been going to their shows for several years now,” Gray said about the high paying race with no late fees, no dress code and no memberships. “They are very organized, take pride in having good ground, and give out great prizes.”
