Three events that each paid more than $1 million topped the list of leading National Reining Horse Association (NRHA)-recognized events from 2021.
The list recently released by the association span the globe, which NRHA officials say shows the importance of reining worldwide.
Making the Top 50 list for NRHA’s Leading events is an honor for any show, and a testament to show managers and committee members working hard to promote reining, worldwide. Excitingly, 10 different countries were represented in the Top 50 Events list for 2021.
“The show organizers and affiliates who conduct our events are the quiet stars of our galaxy. Their tireless and often unacknowledged work is what makes our industry go,” said NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter.
The association reported a five-year high of 112,929 total entries and more than 10,000 different horses shown. They competed for a record total annual purse of $19,157,953.
“We celebrate and reward the top riders and horses, but this segment of our industry is essential for our industry’s growth and continued success,” said NRHA President Rick Clark. “The opportunities created by these great shows, worldwide, are amazing, and each year you can see that they are working to become even better.”
No. 1 – the NRHA Futurity
The NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships Show leads the field, with a total payout of $2,636,355 in 2021. The NRHA Futurity Challenge supporters helped boost the purse, as did increased added funds from the NRHA. Ultimately, officials say those added dollars along with incredibly large entry numbers resulted in a record-setting Futurity.
No. 2 – the NRHA Derby
Second on the list for 2021 was the Four Sixes NRHA Derby presented by Markel. The show grew dramatically in 2021 as well, thanks to new sponsorships from 6666 Ranch, Yellowstone, Bosque Ranch, Colston Paving, Tamarack Ranch, GlycoGuard and Story Book Stables.
It paid out a total of $1,300,718 last year.
No. 3 – The Run For A Million
Along with the two NRHA-produced events, The Run For A Million presented by Teton Ridge and the National Reining Breeders Classic also boasted payouts in excess of $1,000,000. The Run For A Million in Las Vegas featured the highest amount of added money for any event with $1.2 million of its total reining class payout of $1,266,203 coming from added money.
Click here for the complete list of the NRHA’s Top 50 events in 2021.
