Bologna, 10 maggio 2021 – Andrea Fappani’s victory at the 2020 National Reining Horse Association Futurity on All Bettss Are Off was more than memorable. It was historic. Dedication and generosity from a committed group of NRHA members determined to raise the stakes at the world’s biggest reining resulted in the largest championship payments in the event’s history.
Not only did the Open Level 4 Champion receive $250,000. The CINCH Non Pro Champion took home $60,000, and added money for the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships was doubled.
With that accomplished, the Futurity Challenge task force members did not rest on their laurels and began working to raise the bar even higher.
At the May 2021 NRHA Board of Directors meeting, their proposal to increase the 2021 MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Championship payout to $350,000 was unanimously approved.
That will make the NRHA’s Futurity Open Championship the highest paying aged event title in the western performance horse world!
The additional money earmarked for the Level 4 Open Championship is fully funded by private investors.
Rick Clark, NRHA President and member of the Futurity Challenge Task Force is proud of those people who “believe in the future of the reining industry and have pledged their support.”
True friends
Initially the brainchild of the late Doug Carpenter and former NRHA President Frank Costantini, the Futurity Challenge concept grew quickly. Initial seedstock funding came from Clark along with John and Nancy Tague, Tim Anderson and Kim Niven, and Bob and Arlene Santagata. Who were joined by Mark and Julie Blake, Craig and Ginger Schmersal, Mike Hancock, Joao Marcos, Rosanne Sternberg, and Shane Brown.
Other investors came on board in the ensuing months and additional commitments are still being received.
Clark said, “I am proud to be President of the NRHA during this time of amazing growth. I applaud the members of the Futurity Challenge group for their commitment of both time and money. Our goal continues to be to increase earning capabilities for both professionals and owners, which will ultimately raise the value of reining horses and create a great future for our industry.”
Because the Futurity Challenge investors have pledged a five-year commitment, the Level 4 Open Champion payout is ensured to not decrease over that time. «The members of the Task Force aspire to enhance participation at all levels of reining by building the NRHA Futurity and Adequan® NAAC to the show of a lifetime», Clark concluded.
The guaranteed payouts in the MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Finals have been further expanded. In 2021, the Level 4 Open Reserve Champion will take home $150,000. While the third-place winner will receive a check for $100,000.
There will also be substantial increases in the payout for fourth through tenth places in the Level 4 Open Finals.
Those boosts, as well as the doubled added money for Adequan® NAACs and the secured $60,000 for the L4 Non Pro Champion that will continue in 2021, are funded by NRHA’s monetary commitment.
Source: Nrha
