Oklahoma City, OK – October 18, 2006 – World Champion Reiner Shawn Flarida is unofficially less than $10,000 away from becoming only the second NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider in National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) history. Flarida could edge closer to two million this weekend at the FEI World Reining Masters Finals in Denver, CO. He’s facing tough competition from the most elite reiners from around the world.
Earlier this month at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, OH, Flarida rode his way into both first and second place in the Congress Reining Futurity Open Division Championship. The winnings are not officially recorded yet, but the crowd-pleasing rider is expected to come away from Congress with almost $56,000 in prize money.
Flarida placed in five different classes at Congress helping him close in on a life-long goal of becoming an NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider. In his very humble way, Flarida said, “I think that’s cool. It’s been a goal of mine since I was 20 years old. My guys were figuring it up last night and they wanted to go to a reining this weekend to see if we could get it done. I said I’m sure there’s one some place but we’re not gonna go.” After the FEI World Reining Masters this weekend in Denver, Flarida will have at least one more chance to meet his goal before the 2006 NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City. Flarida will compete in the AQHA World Championship Show also in Oklahoma City.
The1st go round of the Congress Reining Futurity saw a very unusual finish. Flarida placed first, second and third on three different horses. In the first go, Flarida won 1st place and $1,200.00 in prize money riding Walla Walla Whiz owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA of Clements, CA. He scored 226 with Walla Walla Whiz. Second place and a score of 222.5 went to Senor Tejano Whiz, also ridden by Flarida and owned by Green Valley Partners, Aubrey, TX. He took home $700 in prize money for placing second. And Flarida also came in third place winning $650 in the Futurity Open Division riding BR Sheza Cameo Jac, owned by Joe Bowman of Blacklick, OH. Flarida scored 222 with BR Sheza Cameo Jac.
In the Congress Futurity Open Division Finals, Flarida scored 226, won 1st place and $28,147.63 riding Senor Tejano Whiz. With a score of 225.5, Flarida earned 2nd place and $17,133.34 riding BR Sheeza Cameo Jac. Flarida also tied for seventh place with a score of 221. His run with Walla Walla Whiz earned him $6,425.01 in prize money.
Flarida also won 1st place in the AQHA Junior Reining Division with a score of 219 riding Ima Tinseltown owned by Charles R. Vaughan of Lafayette, IN. Flarida.
Flarida placed two horses in the AQHA Senior Reining. He rode Peptoleap owned by John W. Thompson of Woodville, ON, Canada. Flarida also earned third in Senior Reining on Big League Yankee owned by Maxine Roth of Sarasota, FL, with a score of 220.
Flarida also won $1,005.63 in the NRHA Novice Horse Open Division by scoring 222.5 riding Ima Tinseltown.
The NRHA World Champion’s wife, Michele, estimates he is now about $10,000 away from $2 million. The exact amount Flarida won at the Mallorca Western Festival in Spain has yet to be officially added to his winnings, but combined with his earnings at Congress, he’s edging ever so close to a major milestone in his spectacular Reining career.
The three-time NRHA Futurity Open Champion became the third NRHA Million Dollar Rider in October 2003 at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. When he does hit the two million dollar mark, Flarida will join NRHA’s only Two Million Dollar Rider, Tim McQuay, at the top of an elite NRHA distinction.
