THE RUN FOR A MILLION, PRESENTED BY TETON RIDGE: Time to Run!

Kole Price & Gunna Stop. Kole Price & Gunna Stop. Carolyn Simancik/International Horse Press
August 18, 2022

Las Vegas, August 18—It’s time to ride at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center where the third edition of The Run For A Million welcomed the first set of competitors vying for first place in the world of reining’s premier event.

Opening the games yesterday was the Bloomer Trailers Rookie Invitational. Taking the win with a 217.5 score was Kelsey Flessner riding her own Chics Guna Dream (Magnum Chic Dream x Gun Whiz It). The young competitor, who rides under the guidance of NRHA Professional Dany Tremblay, took home a paycheck worth $1092.50, a Bloomer Trailer, a saddle, a buckle, and more! Today it’s time for the $50,000-Added Non Pro Championships.

Kelsey Flessner & Chics Gunna Dream - Photo Courtesy Chelsea Schneider Media

The goal of The Run For A Million, presented by Teton Ridge, is to celebrate and grow the sport of reining. The inaugural edition in 2019, generated excitement that spread beyond the world of reining to all western performance horse disciplines — it could be felt at cutting events, cow horse events, and even in the world of rodeo.
The Run For A Million is the richest event in the history of reining. This year, the event hosted by the prestigious South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nevada from August 17 - 20, 2022, will see 16 riders, including some of the most accomplished NRHA Professionals in the history of reining, competing for a purse of $1,000,000 in the Million Dollar Competition.

2022 Million Dollar Qualified Riders
JOSH TISHMAN - Whitesboro, TX
ANDREA FAPPANI - Scottsdale, AZ
DANY TREMBLAY - Overbrook, OK
MATT PALMER - Campbell Hall, NY
FRANCESCO MARTINOTTI - Whitesboro, TX
JORDAN MCBURNEY - Arlington, WA
SEAN MCBURNEY - Arlington, WA
ARNO HONSTETTER - Scottsdale, AZ
CASEY DEARY - Weatherford, TX
NATHAN PIPER - Pilot Point, TX
FERNANDO SALGADO - Gainesville, TX
CRAIG SCHMERSAL - Scottsdale, AZ
SHAWN FLARIDA - Springfield, OH
CADE MCCUTCHEON - Aubrey, TX
JASON VANLANDINGHAM - Whitesboro, TX
​BILLY WILLIAMS - Aubrey, TX


In the inaugural Invitational Million Dollar Rider completion in 2019 saw NRHA Million Dollar Rider Cade McCutcheon & Custom Made Gun, owned by Elementa ‘s Maria Cecilia Fiorucci, and NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider Craig Schmersal & No Smoking Required, owned by Wranglen Partnership, opted for the Co-Championship.
Riding to the top of the leaderboard in 2021 NRHA Million Dollar Rider Kole Price aboard Amber Gokey’s, Gunna Stop.