Eleuterio Arcese, Photo by CappyJackson

At the head of Arcese Quarter Horses, which operates out of both Italy and Weatherford, Texas, is Italian businessman and reining enthusiast Eleuterio Arcese, who first entered the reining industry in 1987. That year, he bought Sophie Oak (Doc’s Oak x Lifesaver x Mr Gun Smoke), who had just won the 1986 NRHA Futurity Open Championship with rider/trainer Bob Loomis. Since that time, Arcese Quarter Horses has owned some of reining’s most decorated athletes, including the sport’s only Triple Crown winner, Wimpys Little Chic.

Bred by Monica Watson’s Double Run Farm, Leland, N.C., the 2004 mare Wimpys Little Chic (Wimpys Little Step x Collena Chic Olena x Smart Chic Olena) is Arcese Quarter Horse’s No. 1 horse. Ridden exclusively by Equi-Stat Elite $4 Million Rider Shawn Flarida, Springfield, Ohio, Wimpys Little Chic won the 2007 National Reining Horse Association Futurity Level 4 Open Championship, the 2008 National Reining Breeders Classic and the 2008 NRHA Derby. In 2009, she won the NRBC Level 4 Open Reserve Championship and placed third at the NRHA Derby. A tie for the 2010 NRBC Level 4 Open Reserve Championship and other top finishes at major limited-age events tallied a grand total of $539,244 on this mare’s Equi-Stat record, making her the highest-paid horse in reining history.

No. 2 on Arcese Quarter Horses list of top horses is the 2006 stallion Gunnatrashya (Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner] x Natrasha x Trashadeous), bred by Katarina Dorminy, Fitzgerald, Ga. Also ridden by Flarida, Gunnatrashya won the 2009 All American Quarter Horse Congress and NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Championships and the 2010 NRHA Derby Open Championship. He has $225,798 in lifetime earnings.

Wimpys Little Chic and Gunnatrashya, along with Arcese Quarter Horse’s No. 3 horse, 2007 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open Champion Walla Walla Whiz ($187,817 Equi-Stat record; Topsail Whiz x Shiney Walla Wanda x Shining Spark), are now all integral parts of the ranch’s substantial breeding program, which is managed by Eleuterio’s son, Leonardo Arcese.

Other top horses owned by Arcese Quarter Horses include 2000 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion Ricochet Rooster ($146,360), 2011 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Co-Champion Spook Off Sparks ($139,301), 1998 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion Chic Please ($130,179), 2002 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion Custom Mahogany ($99,561) and 2008 NRHA Futurity and 2009 NRHA Derby top-five Level 4 Open finalist Electrical Flash ($94,382).

Million Dollar Breeder David Silva Sr.

Equi-Stat, a statistical division of Cowboy Publishing Group, recognizes Equi-Stat Elite Million Dollar Breeders in cutting, reining and reined cow horse. In reining, 12 breeders have reached the Elite Million Dollar threshold, and two breeders have gone above and beyond. The Equi-State Elite Million Dollar Reining Breeders are:

1. Bob Loomis Quarter Horses Inc., Marietta, Okla., $3,946,992

2. Steve Simon, Marietta, Okla., $2,136,469

3. Carol Rose, Gainesville, Texas, $1,557,442

4. Sally Brown. Wayzata, Mon., $1,496,482

5. Lance Griffin, Ardmore, Okla., $1,458,964

6. Rancho Oso Rio LLC, Scottsdale, Ariz., $1,385,395

7. McQuay Stables Inc., Tioga, Texas, $1,329,958

8. Rosanne Sternberg, Aubrey, Texas, $1,329,548

9. Hilldale Farm, Brashear, Texas, $1,101,225

10. Jim Babcock, Valley View, Texas, $1,085,978

11. Kim Sloan/Debra Sloan, Polk City, Fla., $1,031,923

12. David Silva Sr., Tolland, Conn., $1,000,305

David Silva Sr.

Hollywoodstinseltown (Hollywood Dun It x Miss Tinseltown x Great Red Pine) has won more than any other horse bred by Silva. The 2004 stallion, who is still owned by Silva, has $178,156 on his Equi-Stat record. Silva has maintained a long-standing relationship with McQuay Stables, and it was Tim McQuay’s assistant trainer, Marco Ricotta, who showed Hollywoodstinseltown to the 2009 NRBC Level 3 Intermediate Open Championship, as well as the 2009 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open Reserve Championship and Level 3 Open Championship.

Other top horses bred by Silva include 2004 NRHA Futurity and 2005 NRBC top-15 Level 4 Open finalist Hollywood Downtown ($106,031) and 2008 NRBC top-10 Level 4 Open finalist Rudy Dunit ($80,084).