The NCHA Eastern National Championships mark the 40th year that the esteemed event has been held in Jackson, Miss., and on Monday, Austin Shepard, defending champion of the NCHA Eastern Nationals Open and $25,000 Novice divisions, topped the first day of competition with 223 points. The NCHA Hall of Fame Rider, with NCHA earnings of over $7.8 million, marked the score in the first go-round of the $25,000 Novice riding Dual Reyish $356,551, the 2017 NCHA Futurity champion sired by Hottish and owned by Billy Wolf, Whitesboro, Tex.

Shepard won the $25,000 Novice championships at last year’s NCHA Eastern Nationals aboard his own horse, Christy Hughes $177,835, by Thomas E Hughes, as well as the year before with the Im Countin Checks daughter Deluxe Checks $283,156, owned by Rhein and Amanda Standish, and ridden by Shepard to win that year’s NCHA World Finals and claim the titles of NCHA World Champion and World Champion Mare.

Last year, Shepard also showed his own horse, MK Rey Girl $76,866, by Dual Rey, to win the NCHA Eastern Open championship. The previous year, he tied his father, Sam Shepard, with 224 points, for the Open championship riding Deluxe Checks. Sam Shepard was riding Austin and Stacy Shepard’s One Time Pepto daughter, Twistful Thinking $280,813, who had won the 2015 NCHA Super Stakes and NCHA Derby Non-Pro championships under the Shepards’ young son, Cade.

In addition to MK Rey Girl  and Deluxe Checks, Austin Shepard’s NCHA Eastern National Open champions include Cat Sheree $253,379 (2015), owned by Plantation Farms; Playin At The Mall $292,399 (2011); Smart Pistolero $22,326 (2006); Widows Intentions $352,665 (2005); Uno Dos Seventyseven $171,388 (2003); and Widows Freckles $113,522.

The NCHA Eastern National Championships continue through Friday, March 15, with the $25,000 Novice Finals on Tuesday, March 5.