In late May, the National Reining Horse Association announced that 2002 NRHA Derby Champion, Custom Pistol, has become the organization’s leading all-time money earner.

Owned by Steve Simon, the son of Custom Crome has earned $187,152.20. Trained and shown by Brent Wright of Ottawa, Kansas, 4-year-old Custom Pistol has amassed an incredible record. Shown only four times, he was the 2001 All American Quarter Horse Congress Futurity Co-Champion, the Reserve Champion at the 2001 NRHA Futurity, the 2002 National Reining Breeders Classic Reserve Champion and the 2002 NRHA Derby Champion.

Steve Simon bred and raised Custom Pistol, and the colt was started at his farm in Paxton, Massachusetts. Simon remembers, “We sent him to Brent in August of his 2-year-old year. He was a nice colt, very soft and consistent. We didn’t know to what level he could go.”

The debut trip to the Congress answered that question, and more! Steve adds “He’s just been getting stronger physically ever since. I thought his Derby runs were some of finest I’ve ever seen and I’ve been in this business for 18 years.

Simon, a consumer electronics buyer, says plans right now are to qualify Custom Pistol for the AQHA World Show, then continue to show him at reining aged events. “We’ll possibly stand him to a limited number of mares next year,” he added.

Simon’s breeding program has become a focal point in the reining industry in recent months and created attention for his stallion, Custom Crome. In just four foal crops, Custom Crome has produced both the National Reining Horse Association’s All Time Leading Money Earning Mare - Custom Red Berry – and the Leading All time Money Earner, Custom Pistol.