Million Dollar Watch at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel

Photos by International Horse Press/Domenico Paolicelli
Photos by International Horse Press/Domenico Paolicelli

The 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel is the second richest event in reining, with more than $1.3 million paid out in 2021. Once again, the Level 4 Open Champion will win $75,000, the Level 4 Non Pro titlist will pocket $30,000, and there are guaranteed payouts for the rest of the regular divisions in the Non Pro and Open. Special division sponsors, including Story Book Stables, Colston Paving, Tamarack Ranch, and Clark’s Pump-N-Shop account for an additional $110,000 in added money.

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Spooks Gotta Whiz Passes Four Million in NRHA Offspring Earnings

Photo by NRHA Press Release
Photo by NRHA Press Release

Less than four years after becoming a National Reining Horse Association Million Dollar Sire, Spooks Gotta Whiz achieved Four Million Dollar Sire status.
The stunning stallion is by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Gun and out of Prettywhizprettydoes. Bred by Clint Haverty, the 2007 stallion is owned by Michell Anne Kimball, who purchased the horse from Duane Hicks in 2009 after meeting him at the High Roller Reining Classic.

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Kole Price Officially Announced as NRHA’s Newest Million Dollar Rider

Photo © IHP/Carolyn Simancik
Photo © IHP/Carolyn Simancik

With the airing of the December 17, 2021 episode of The Last Cowboy on the Paramount Network, reining fans around the globe were able to watch history be made at The Run For A Million presented by Teton Ridge. Although the event was held August 21, a media embargo meant fans had to wait to learn who the winner was until the final episode of The Last Cowboy aired.

Read MoreKole Price Officially Announced as NRHA’s Newest Million Dollar Rider

Mandy McCutcheon Joins Elite Group of NRHA Three Million Dollar Riders

Photo courtesy ©NRHA
Photo courtesy ©NRHA

With earnings of $23,014 at this year’s National Reining Horse Association Futurity, Mandy McCutcheon became only the fifth rider in reining history to earn more than $3 million in the show pen.
McCutcheon, of Aubrey, Texas, joins a very small group of riders, including Seven Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani, Six Million Dollar Rider and Hall of Fame inductee Shawn Flarida, Four Million Dollar Rider Craig Schmersal, and her father, NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider and Hall of Fame inductee Tim McQuay.
“I didn’t realize there were only four others to win that much. That’s pretty cool,” she said. “It’s so special to be there with my dad. I can say, 100 percent, that’s the most important part to me.”

Read MoreMandy McCutcheon Joins Elite Group of NRHA Three Million Dollar Riders

Smart Spook & Shiners Voodoo Dr Pass NRHA Million Dollar Sire Milestones at NRHA Futurity

Photo courtesy ©NRHA
Photo courtesy ©NRHA

With a record payout exceeding $2.8 million, the National Reining Horse Association Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships made history. Thanks to that historic payout, it also unofficially pushed multiple horses and individuals into new tiers of earnings, including sires Smart Spook and Shiners Voodoo Dr.


Read MoreSmart Spook & Shiners Voodoo Dr Pass NRHA Million Dollar Sire Milestones at NRHA Futurity

Italian Gennaro Lendi Joins NRHA Million Dollar Rider Lineup

Photo © Oliviero Toscani
Photo © Oliviero Toscani

Gennaro Lendi recorded his first earnings in the National Reining Horse Association in May 2004, when he won the Non Pro class at the Italian Reining Horse Association Derby on OT Taris High. Less than two decades later, Lendi joined the elite list of riders who have won more than one million dollars in competition.
Recent wins at the 2020 European Futurity, the Austrian Futurity, the German Breeders Futurity, the IRHA Maturity, and ARTA Futurity propelled him past that milestone.
“As I got closer to the million, it became all the more stressful as I wanted to surpass that mark as fast as I could. I put pressure on myself – especially after the pandemic stopped our shows – and it affected my performance in the show pen,” Lendi admitted.

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Tremblay and Vanlandingham Tie for NRBC Open Championship

Cover Photos by Carolyn Simancik
Cover Photos by Carolyn Simancik

An intense week of competition at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, culminated Saturday, April 25. That’s when the top horses and riders from across the country competed in the Open Finals of the 2021 National Reining Breeders Classic, which kicked off April 18.

Dany Tremblay and Jason Vanlandingham both piloted their horses to scores of 228.5, tying for the win of the Open Level 4. With several more major events on the books for 2021, the two professionals elected to stay as Co-Champions.

Read MoreTremblay and Vanlandingham Tie for NRBC Open Championship