In grand style and competing against the best reiners in the world, champion reiner Shawn Flarida, Springfield, Ohio, broke into the elite Two Million Dollar Rider Club Saturday night at the FEI World Reining Masters Finals in Denver, Colorado. Flarida becomes only the second rider in National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) history to earn this incredible distinction. He competed against riders from 18 different countries at the Masters Finals earning the Gold medal. Flarida scored 223.5 riding Tinsel Nic and unofficially earning $17,906.25. That purse sent Flarida soaring over the two million dollar mark. Tim McQuay is the only other NRHA rider to attain two million dollars in lifetime earnings. McQuay became the very first Two Million Dollar Rider during the 2005 NRHA Futurity.
Before the Masters Finals this weekend, Flarida’s lifetime earnings officially totaled $1,994,087.84 leaving him less than $6,000 away from two million dollars. Flarida says becoming a two million dollar rider has been a goal of his since he was 20 years old. Saturday night at the Masters Finals, the crowd at the National Western Complex in Denver cheered wildly as the National Anthem was played and quickly rose again to their feet when it was announced that Flarida had reached two million dollars in lifetime earnings. Following his major milestone, Flarida said, “It’s an awesome feeling to win, especially when you know that you’re competing against the best horsemen from around the world.â€
The three-time NRHA Futurity Open Champion became the third NRHA One Million Dollar Rider in October 2003 at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. Now Flarida joins Tim McQuay at the top of the elite distinction. The NRHA salutes the major accomplishments of both members of the NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Club Shawn Flarida and Tim McQuay.
