★Jokes On UsProductionsMeet the finalists ↓

★ Welcome to the circus ★

One spectacular nightNovember 23, 2026
Donation voting opens September 1 at 12:01 a.m. CTCloses November 21 at 11:59 p.m. CT
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2026 Horse of
the Year

Donation voting for a bigger youth payoff.

Choose your horse ↓
Every$1= 1 vote

Every donation backs the next generation

Net proceeds support the youth.

Net proceeds from Horse of the Year donation voting become added money for the Youth race at the 2026 Mock NFR this November.

5Finalist horses
NetProceeds to Youth added money
Nov.2026 Mock NFR

The main event

Meet the finalists

Pick your favorite. Give $1 or $100—every dollar is one vote and every vote helps the Youth race grow.

01Royal Millionaire “Million”, 2026 Horse of the Year finalist

2026 finalist

Royal Millionaire “Million”

Age 15

Million has been his owner’s best friend since she was nine and he was a yearling. Chosen by her papa, Vince Cummings, he went from winning his first race and trophy saddle as a colt to collecting youth and average championships, high school and amateur rodeo checks, finals qualifications and college short-go appearances. After surviving a devastating highway accident, veterinarians believe he may never compete again—but Million’s courage proved just how big his heart is.

“He wanted to live. And he owes me absolutely nothing.”

$1 = 1 vote
02MB Frenchman’s Jess “Tucker”, 2026 Horse of the Year finalist

2026 finalist

MB Frenchman’s Jess “Tucker”

Age 10

The first barrel horse his family bred and raised, Tucker cares about two things: eating and going fast. He started as a college breakaway horse before taking off in the barrel pen. Bailey is only the second person ever to run him, and their standout season includes 2nd at IFYR by just .001 and 3rd at High School Nationals. No matter what he wins, Tucker will always be family.

“Home-raised. Effortless. Family.”

$1 = 1 vote
03Zeppelin Doc Holiday “Zeppelin”, 2026 Horse of the Year finalist

2026 finalist

Zeppelin Doc Holiday “Zeppelin”

Age 9

Zeppelin has been with his owner since he was six months old. Wild at heart and full of personality, he quickly showed how much he loved barrels—even if he isn’t the traditional barrel-horse breed. He lives to turn and burn, earning 9 buckles, 3 saddles and frequent checks along the way. Honest, competitive and true-hearted, Zeppelin makes the sport fun.

“He wasn’t built for this sport. He decided he belonged anyway.”

$1 = 1 vote
04Elvis, 2026 Horse of the Year finalist

2026 finalist

Elvis

Age 17–20

Found wandering unclaimed in the woods as a colt, Elvis went on to carry his first rider through barrels and poles. Today Dani Linh rides him, and the pair made the Top 15 in pole bending at the Junior Patriot. After three clean runs, Elvis became dangerously sick—but came home a survivor. He runs like he’s five, thinks he’s a stud and has won more money and buckles than most horses his size ever will.

“12 hands. Zero idea he’s a pony.”

$1 = 1 vote
05Poker Chip, 2026 Horse of the Year finalist

2026 finalist

Poker Chip

Age 6

Bred and raised with barrel racing in her blood, Poker Chip is out of a half-sister to Red Man Jones and by a Dash Ta Fame stud her breeder owned and competed on. Sold as a yearling, she later returned to her original program when Jennifer Hull proposed co-owning her. With limited hauling, this young mare has already earned more than $17,000, set an arena record and proven she thrives in the rodeo atmosphere. Kayla dreamed of riding Poker Chip from the day she was born and now plans to keep competing on her—with the goal of qualifying for The American Rodeo someday.

“At only six, her story is just getting started.”

$1 = 1 vote

Live standings

Horse of the Year leaderboard

Exact vote totals update automatically from completed Stripe donations. Every dollar is one vote.

Donations raised$0Loading live totals…

All five horses are tied at 0 votes.

★ All five contenders are at the starting line! ★

  1. THorse 01Royal Millionaire “Million”0 votes
  2. THorse 02MB Frenchman’s Jess “Tucker”0 votes
  3. THorse 03Zeppelin Doc Holiday “Zeppelin”0 votes
  4. THorse 04Elvis0 votes
  5. THorse 05Poker Chip0 votes

Simple. Secure. Easy to count.

How voting works

  1. 1
    Choose a finalist

    Read the stories and pick the horse you want to support.

  2. 2
    Choose your donation

    Donate through that horse’s secure Stripe checkout. A $25 donation gives 25 votes.

  3. 3
    Grow the Youth purse

    Net proceeds support Youth added money for the November race.

Official tie-breaker

If two or more horses finish with the same final vote total, the horse that reached that tied total first wins, as determined by Stripe’s transaction timestamps. If the determining timestamps are also tied, Jokes On Us Productions will conduct a witnessed random drawing before the November 23 event.

Donation voting opens September 1, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. CT and closes November 21, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CT. One dollar donated equals one vote. Stripe records are the official vote tally. Donations are not tax-deductible.