State Fair Park has to be one of NRHA Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida’s favorite places to show. For the third time in his career, Flarida, Springfield, Ohio, rode into the arena to the traditional spotlight and “Run For the Roses” aboard KR Lil Conquistador (Conquistador Whiz x Smart Little Prize) to claim the 2005 NRHA Open Futurity Champion title. This was the first time for a Cheree Kirkbride owned entry to win the Futurity, but Flarida has been to the winner’s circle twice before - on Mark Schols’ Wimpys Little Step (2002) and Smart Spook (2004) owned by Rosanne Sternberg. Their score of 225 earned them a guaranteed Finals paycheck of $125,000!
Andrea Fappani, riding 23 Partnership’s Big Check To Cash, was right behind Flarida with a score of 224.5. Big Check To Cash is by Nu Chex To Cash and out of Snip O Gun. For their reserve championship ride they left OKC with $109,633.84. In third place, newly-crowned NRHA Million Dollar Rider Craig Schmersal added to his earnings with a 223 aboard Wrangle Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Wranglers Gay Bar), owned by Timorie Budge. They went home from the 2005 Futurity $81,384.63 richer.
NRHA’s Highest Money Earning Rider, Tim McQuay, rode Great King Pine (Earl Be Nimble x Echoing Piney), owned by Guenter Bosner, to fourth place with a score of 222 and a $53,303.57 paycheck. While this is not McQuay’s largest paycheck to date, it must be one of his favorites. The esteem and reverence Hall of Famer Tim McQuay is held in by reiners worldwide will surely intensify and grow with his new title – NRHA’s first Two Million Dollar Rider!
Rounding out the top five, Tanya Jenkins rode the Manntana LLC entry Las Cruces Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Shining Bubbles) to a score of 221 and a paycheck of $43,719.02. Tanya also earned the Elite Trailer Intermediate Open championship for an additional $25,130.08.
Reserve in the Elite Trailer Intermediate Open Division was Casey Deary riding Ciscos Roan Ranger owned by Alison and Harry Courtice, Australia. The ride earned a score of 218.5 and $20,941.73. Casey and the son of Cisco Lena and out of Changabang by Peptoboonsmal also earned $10,986.27 for the Futurity Limited Open Division championship.
The 40th Anniversary of the NRHA Futurity will go down in the record books for setting records, remembering our past, honoring those who’ve made a difference in the sport of Reining and, perhaps most importantly, celebrating and enjoying it all with our friends and family – reiners from all around the world.
