Horse Illustrated Magazine

National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Two Million Dollar Rider and 2007 NRHA Open Derby Champion Shawn Flarida can add yet another accomplishment to his already lengthy list.  Following his recent win at the NRHA Derby, Flarida, of Springfield, Ohio, is now the NRHA’s all-time leading money earner with an impressive $2,268,825 in NRHA lifetime winnings.

“It has been a goal of mine for a long time to be the #1 rider in the NRHA,” Flarida says. “I wanted to do it before I was 40, and I’m 38, so I think that’s pretty cool. I hope I can stay on top for a very long time.”

Flarida qualified three horses for the NRHA Open Derby Finals, held May 14-19 at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City: Senor Tejano Whiz, Walla Walla Whiz, and KR Lil Conquistador. Flarida’s last run in the finals came on Walla Walla Whiz.

Winning is nothing new for Flarida. He’s been a top reiner in the NRHA since 1984 when he won the Novice Horse Non Pro Reserve World Championship.