At the 2025 NRCHA Hackamore Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Debbie Crafton added her name to the history books, surpassing the $1 million mark in lifetime earnings. She became the fourth woman in NRCHA history to join the elite Million Dollar Club and only the second female non-pro to achieve the milestone.
“It’s kind of surreal, I guess is the word I would maybe use,” she said. “It’s so special to be able to join these people that I’ve looked up to… to be among such great people is crazy. And to be the fourth girl to be a part of that, is so special.”
The Ordway, Colorado, competitor now joins NRCHA legends such as Bob Avila, Corey Cushing, Boyd Rice, Sarah Dawson, Annie Reynolds, Doug Williamson, Erin Taormino, and Todd Crawford.
Heading into 2025, Crafton was leading the non-pro charts and sat about $130,000 shy of the $1 million mark.
“I knew I was close,” she said. “I kind of kept track in my head about where I was at.”
Winning Big in a Short Time
Crafton entered the NRCHA premier event scene in 2018 and quickly made her presence known.
“I had not really shown the cow horse much,” Crafton said. “I had dabbled in it. I had hit a couple shows here and there, but I really wasn’t showing and focusing on it. I kept thinking I would love to show up to the Snaffle Bit Futurity one year. That’s kind of how this deal started.”
In 2019, she won the Non Pro Snaffle Bit Futurity aboard her 2016 stallion, Dualin Alittle Time (One Time Pepto x ARC Little Dualena), marking the first win that set her on a path to claim the highest non pro accolades at NRCHA major events.
In 2022, Crafton dominated the NRCHA non pro scene, taking home championships in all four major events: the NRCHA Stallion Stakes, NRCHA Derby, NRCHA Hackamore Classic and the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity.
“2022 was one of those storybook years that is just unbelievable,” she said.
That year alone, she earned more than $199,000, providing the biggest boost toward her $1 million total.
Crafton’s momentum continued in 2023, when she claimed the inaugural World’s Greatest Non Pro title and collected more than $182,000 in earnings.
At the 2025 Hackamore Classic, Crafton showcased her top string of horses. In addition to pushing her over the million-dollar mark, she won the Non Pro Hackamore Classic championship on Boot Scootin Flo (Scooter Kat x Hustle And Flo) and the Non Pro Two Rein Spectacular championship on SJR Diamond Luna (CD Diamond x SJR Smooth Gina).
Horses That Took Her to the Top
Crafton credits the horses that carried her to the milestone and is especially grateful for:
- Foundloveathooters: 2017 Gelding by Smooth As A Cat out of Rey Lena Rey
- 2022 Stallion Stakes Non Pro Champion
- Hesa Wee Bet: 2017 Gelding by Bet Hesa Cat out of Wee Quejana Gal
- 2023 World’s Greatest Non Pro, 2022 NRCHA Derby Non Pro Champion
- Dualin Alittle Time: 2016 Stallion by One Time Pepto out of ARC Little Dualena
- 2019 Snaffle Bit Futurity Non Pro Champion
- SJR Diamond Luna: 2019 Mare by CD Diamond out of SJR Smooth Gina
- 2024 Celebration of Champions Non Pro Hackamore World Champion
- SJR Sumkindarockstar: 2018 Stallion by Smooth As A Cat out of Sumkinda Pinkcadilac
- 2022 Hackamore Classic Non Pro Champion
Manifesting Success
For Crafton, chasing goals has always been part of the excitement.
“The first goal was to go to the [Snaffle Bit] Futurity—mission accomplished,” she said. “Then it was to try to win those different premier events, and praise God and everything, I’ve accomplished that.”
When she passed the $500,000 mark, she set her sights on $1 million—and quickly reached it.
“I’m just very blessed,” Crafton said. “I’ve been very blessed to have all these accomplishments and all these horses and just all the people that have helped me along the way. I certainly haven’t done this alone. I’ve had a lot of peers and people just helping me with advice and different things… it’s really special.”
With championships in every NRCHA major event and her name now in the Million Dollar Club, there’s no telling what’s next for Debbie Crafton.
— H&R —
