A new, never-before seen event is coming to the reining horse industry! It will be called The Run for a Million. This event was created by Academy Award Nominee Taylor Sheridan. Sheridan is the co-creator of Yellowstone, writer/director of Wind River, and writer of Hell or High Water and Sacario. Sheridan partnered with Amanda Brumley of Brumley Management Group that produces multiple reining events.
The Run for a Million will include a one go-around invitational with a $1,000,000 purse. The event will showcase nine of the industry’s top competitors and three wild card riders. The riders include: Shawn Flarida, Andrea Fappani, Casey Deary, Tom McCutcheon, Jordan Larson, Craig Schmersal, Jason Vanlandingham, Duane Latimer, Franco Bertolani and wild card riders including Abby Lengel, Cade McCutcheon, and Matt Mills. There are no age restrictions on the horses which leads to wondering if any famous names will be brought out of retirement. The National Reining Horse Association created a new Category 13 for the event meaning the earnings will not count toward life-time earnings, Million Dollar status, or Top 20 Program or World Champion and Top Ten Awards.
Along with the Run for a Million Invitational there are multiple other classes offered during the duration of the show:
$100,000 Open Shoot Out: This is a one-go competition open to all riders, including Non-Pros that guarantees all Top Five placings and ties a spot in the 2020 Million Dollar Invitational. Each rider may show up to three horses.
$50,000 Invitational Freestyle: Riders must submit and be chosen from audition videos. The performances must follow all NRHA Freestyle Reining rules.
$50,000 Non-Pro Championship and Rookie Championship: riders will qualify for these by showing at the National Reining Breeders Classic, NRHA Derby, Bill Bradley Reining Classic, or Reining by the Bay.
This event was created with the intentions of sparking new excitement and competition to the sport of reining. This event will draw in a new fan base while supporting those in the industry. There will be a whole new level of anticipation in the months leading up to The Run for a Million. The event will be held August 15-17, 2019 at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Check out their website www.trfam.orgfor more updates and information!
Ashton Rein Williams
Show Pen
June 4, 2019
