Press Releases

For Immediate Release
November 25, 2006
National Reining Horse Association

Shawn Flarida Takes the Lead at the 2006 NRHA Futurity

Oklahoma City, OK – November 25, 2006 – Shawn Flarida clearly demonstrated the talents that recently made him NRHA’s second Two Million Dollar Rider when he logged the top two scores in the second day of NRHA Futurity competition at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.

Shawn went to the head of the class on Senor Tejano Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Tejana Chic) owned by Green Valley Partners, Aubrey, Texas, by scoring a 226.5. This gelding has a huge, stylish slide stop. “He stops every time – no matter what mood he’s in or how he’s feeling. You can’t get him tired. He’s a big strong colt,” says Shawn. And this three-year-old is already a proven winner! Shawn and Senor Tejano Whiz won the All American Quarter Horse Congress Reining Futurity in October.

Shawn scored a 225.5 on Walla Walla Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Shiney Walla Wanda) owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, Clements, CA. Walla Walla Whiz was also a Congress NRHA Futurity finalist and won the Tulsa Reining Classic Open Futurity offered earlier this fall. “He’s fun to train,” said Shawn. “He wants to please you. All he wants to do is more.”

Topsail Whiz, the sire of the two leaders to date, is an NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire and is in the NRHA Hall of Fame.

Mike McEntire, Selma, North Carolina, showed The Great Guntini, by NRHA Hall of Fame member Gunner and out of Miss Wicked Filena, owned by John Faulkner, Dade City, Florida. They scored a 223.5 and are sitting third after the first two sections of the first go round. “He showed really good. He stayed soft and he tried everywhere,” said Mike.

Corey Cushing earned a score of 222.5 on Bad Paint Job (Gunner x Lenas Peppy Cutter) owned by Cathy Frank, Phoenix, Arizona, to go to the top of the score board in the Intermediate Open Division; Craig Johnson, riding Mark Wallis’ Smarter Than Chics (Smart Chic Olena x Senbars Tivito), marked a 221 to place second in the Division.

Doug Williamson and Brandon Brant are leading the Limited Open Division with a score of 217. Williamson is riding Lenas Curious George (Lenas Wright On x Curiosity Nic) for Elden and Terre Peterson, Corona, CA.; Brant is riding Royally Playin (Royal Chic Olena x Bee Bees Play Boy) for Curran Farm, Whitesboro, TX.

The four sections of the first go round of the NRHA Futurity will be complete on Sunday. The second go round begins on Monday and will end on Wednesday. The Finals will take place on Saturday, December 2. The winner of the NRHA Futurity Open Division is guaranteed $125,000! The Cinch NRHA Non Pro Futurity gets underway on Sunday, November 26.

The North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) and NRHA Ancillary classes continued with the Novice Horse Open competitions. Tom Foran won both divisions riding Hollywood Downtown for Kitti McMeel, Simi Valley, CA. Steve Archer was second in the NAAC Novice Horse Open on Custom Coffee owned by Carolyn Tellepsen, Simonton, TX. Archer shared second place in the NRHA Novice Horse Open with Ward Ferch riding Cowboy Smarts owned by Jim Babcock, Valley View, TX.

The first of three sales, featuring the top bloodlines in the reining horse industry, is the Breeders Showcase Select Sale scheduled for Thursday, November 30 at 10:00 am; the NRHA Marketplace Sale will take place on Friday morning, December 1, followed by the premier Futurity Prospect Sale on Saturday, December 2 at 10:00 am. The Clinton Anderson Downunder Horsemanship Clinic, featuring Clinton and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani, is also on Saturday, December 2 at 10:00 am.

For more information contact the NRHA office at 405 946-7400 or log on to the NRHA web site at www.nrha.com.

Incorporated in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association is the governing body of the sport of Reining. NRHA, with their International Headquarters in Oklahoma City, is responsible for promoting the sport of Reining and working to ensure the highest standards of competition. The NRHA continues to educate its members and the public about Reining.