The 2026 Good Times Barrel Racing Association Kinder Cup opened at its new home in Perry, Georgia, with the 5-and-under futurity slot race, where Austin Hodges stopped the clock in 14.768 seconds to win $20,000 aboard Money Makerr.
For Hodges, the win was about far more than a time on the board.
Money Makerr, an RR Mistakelly gelding out of the paint mare Smoke More Money, has been a project built on patience, family, and a lot of late nights. Smoke More Money, known throughout Georgia and surrounding states as “Smoch,” is a mare with a deep local following, and Hodges said every foal she’s produced has made a barrel horse.
“Every horse we’ve had out of her has been good,” Hodges said. “That mare’s just special.”
While the pedigree is proven, Hodges said Money Makerr hasn’t always been easy. The gelding showed flashes early, clocking fast runs and winning showcases, but consistency didn’t come overnight.
“He’s real fragile,” Hodges said. “You have to be careful with him. But at the same time, he’s the kind you trust with your life. I can sit my daughter on him and lead her around right after he makes a run. You don’t get very many like that.”
This winter, Hodges made a change. With Merrill pregnant and life busier than ever, he leaned on his father, Jamie Hodges, to help keep the gelding dialed in. Anyone in the Southeast knows the Hodges name, from Jamie to Austin’s grandfather, Kenny Hodges, and the decision paid off.
“I dropped him off at my dad’s house, and ever since he’s been riding him, it’s like a light switch flipped,” Hodges said. “Having that kind of support behind you, it’s pretty special.”
The slot race entry itself nearly didn’t happen. Hodges entered just minutes before the cutoff after weighing advice from multiple generations.
“My dad told me not to enter him,” Hodges said, laughing. “My granddad said, ‘You’ve got a nice horse, it just depends if he’s going to ride.’ And then you’ve got people like Alan Fletcher saying, ‘Enter it.’ We were at about 11:55 (before the midnight deadline to enter), and I finally told Merrill, ‘Please enter it.’”
Hodges didn’t overthink the run.
“I stayed quiet. I warmed him up, settled him down, and let him do his job,” he said. “There’s nothing I can say or do to make him any better than what he already is.”
When the run held up for the win, the moment hit hard.
“I work two jobs,” Hodges said. “I work for my dad at Hodges Plumbing, and when I get home it’s dark and cold. I don’t get to see my kid much. I don’t get to spend much time with my wife. I’m at the barn riding all night when I have to. It takes a toll sometimes. But nights like that make it all worth it.”
Hodges’ connection to Perry runs deep. He’s won rounds at the NBHA Youth World Finals there, made the cover of Barrel Horse News as a kid for his wins there, and has earned significant money in the arena over the years.
“The Lord’s been good to our family here,” Hodges said. “I’ve had times where I came here and spent a lot and didn’t win anything, too. But you’ve got to go. You’re not going to get out of a slump sitting at home.”
Hodges opted to roll his time to the first round of the futurity, placing sixth in the first go.
For Hodges, the Kinder Cup win wasn’t about momentum or expectation. It was about trusting the process.
“I’m not the greatest competitor by any means,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of people who help me. But you’ve got to trust your gut. Half the time that gut feeling is the Lord talking to you.”