Kole Price and Golden Coins made history in reining at the Run For A Million in Las Vegas, where champions were crowned in various Western performance horse disciplines including cutting, cow horse, non-pro, and rookie ranks.
What Happened August 10–16
Reining, Cutting, Cow Horse: The Run For A Million
Las Vegas, Nevada | August 11–15 | South Point Arena
The Run For A Million in Las Vegas marked a significant week in Western performance horse sports, culminating in a new world record and over $1.9 million in prize money distributed over five days at South Point Arena.
Million Dollar Competition
Kole Price and Golden Coins (Coin Toss LLC) set a new world record in reining with a score of 237.5, winning the $500,000 Million Dollar Competition on August 15. This score surpassed the previous record of 236.5 set in 2007 by Andrea Fappani and Custom Legend. Price and Golden Coins’ victory elevated their lifetime earnings to over $860,000. Read the full story here.
- 1. Kole Price and Golden Coins (Coin Toss LLC, 237.5, $500,000.00).
- 2. Gabriel Borges and Spooks Gotta Ice (Kathy Page, 236.5, $95,000.00).
- 3. Andrea Fappani and Alpha Viking (Alpha Quarter Horses LLC & Vargo Quarter, 234.0, $85,000.00).
- 4. (tie) Ben Beckett and Custom Made Whizkey (Rinck J. Heule, 231.0, $75,000.00) and Mirko Midili and Luk Skywalker (Janice Laney & Thiago Boechat, 231.0, $75,000.00).
$100K Open Shootout
Casey Deary and Perfect On Ice (Amy E. Medows) emerged victorious with a score of 230.5 in the $100K Open Shootout, securing a spot in the 2027 Million Dollar Competition. Read the story here.
- 1. Casey Deary and Perfect On Ice (Amy E. Medows, 230.5, $29,154.60).
- 2. (tie) Gabriel Borges and Voodoo Flo Jo (Dean Raichel, 229.5, $14,154.77); Luca Fappani and Vintage Chex (Barbara H. Phillips, 229.5, $14,154.77); and Jason Vanlandingham and GPB Smokinvintagegun (Vaughn C. Zimmerman & Robert Santagata, 229.5, $14,154.77).
- 5. Peter DeFreitas and Dust Off Ya Gunns (Double Run Farm, 228.5, $10,140.73).
Five riders earned spots in the 2027 competition: Deary, Borges, Fappani, Vanlandingham, and Peter DeFreitas.
Cow Horse Challenge
Erin Taormino and Hazardouz Material (Linda A. Mars) excelled in the fence work with a score of 222 in reining and 226 down the fence, achieving a total of 448.0 and earning $55,000. This win boosted “Skeeter’s” earnings to over $545,000. Read the story.
- 1. Erin Taormino and Hazardouz Material (Linda A. Mars, 448.0, $55,000.00).
- 2. Justin Wright and Snapdragons (Snapdragons Partners, 445.0, $40,000.00).
- 3. Sarah Dawson and Juliette Jonez (Linda Mars, 443.0, $32,000.00).
- 4. (tie) Shawn Hays and Cats Tell Secrets (Katalyst Performance Horses, 440.5, $23,000.00) and Boyd Rice and My Boots Are Royal (Moncrief Quarter Horses, 440.5, $23,000.00).
Other winners included Landri Lisac in the Youth Cow Horse Challenge with LOOKSLIKELUCKTOME (434.5), Trey Mitchell and SCR WimpyCrackinChic in the Cowboy Heritage Ranch Challenge (428.0), and Ashley Kelkenberg with Sparklin Nite in the Race to the Slide (71.4).
Cutting Horse Challenge
Austin Shepard and Rollz Eh (Billy Lee Wolf), the 2025 NCHA Horse of the Year, scored a 231 to claim victory and $55,000 in the Cutting Horse Challenge. Shepard previously won this class in 2024 with Kittenish. Read about the win here.
- 1. Austin Shepard and Rollz Eh (Billy Lee Wolf, 231.0, $55,000.00).
- 2. (tie) Beau Galyean and Breykin Bad (Fults Ranch Ltd, 224.0, $36,000.00) and Adan Banuelos and Reyzin The Limit (Katie Gaughan Banuelos, 224.0, $36,000.00).
- 4. Michael Cooper and Vitanni (Theorem Ranch, 222.5, $25,000.00).
- 5. Kenny Platt and LBR Hangem (Shotty Syndicate, 222.0, $21,000.00).
Non Pro Cutting Challenge
Debbie Day and Kat Play (Dacole Investment Company) clinched victory in the Non Pro Cutting Challenge with a score of 229, earning $27,500. This win brought Day’s total career earnings to over $950,000. Read about Day’s win here.
- 1. Debbie Day and Kat Play (Dacole Investment Company, 229.0, $27,500.00).
- 2. Ali Good and Kolt 45 (OO Ranch LLC, 226.5, $20,000.00).
- 3. Sawyer Setnicka and Zigzagg (Greg Williamson, 223.0, $16,000.00).
- 4. Bill Cowan and Double Truble (Cowan Ranch Inc, 220.0, $12,500.00).
- 5. Jennifer Cooper and Bella Louella (Michael and Jennifer Cooper, 219.5, $10,500.00).
Non Pro Reining Challenge
Emanuel Gebert, 13, from Germany, and Gunna Cash Ya (Story Book Stables) emerged victorious in a four-way run-off with a score of 224 in the Non Pro Reining Challenge, earning $31,872.91. Gebert also secured the Youth Reining Challenge title on the same horse with a score of 220.5. Read about Gerbet’s special win here.
- 1. Emanuel Gebert and Gunna Cash Ya (Story Book Stables, 224.0 run-off, $31,872.91).
- 2. (tie) Gina-Maria Schumacher and Take Out The Trash (CS Ranch LLC, 223.5 run-off, $15,474.53); Allison Rae Thorson and Pale Light (Thorsport, $15,474.53); and Sarah Rose Jons and Let Err Rip (Sotol Investments LLC, $15,474.53).
Rookie Reining Challenges
Pedro Diano, 14, claimed victory in Rookie 1 with Great Gotta Whiz (Alpha Quarter Horses LLC) with a score of 212.5; Christine Loper secured a win in Rookie 2 with Temptedtoshine with a score of 214, fulfilling a long-time goal in her final year of rookie eligibility. Read about the rookies here.
View the full Run For A Million results here.
This Week August 17–23
Reined Cow Horse: NSHA Futurity, Derby & More
Las Vegas, Nevada | August 18–23 | South Point Hotel, Arena & Equestrian Center
The National Stock Horse Association’s premier week kicks off with the Futurity, Derby, Open Two Rein Spectacular, Non Pro Bridle Spectacular, and Non Pro Boxing Spectacular, known as the “World’s Richest Horse Show,” along with the War Horse Challenge—all taking place at the same venue as The Run For A Million, one week later.
Looking Ahead
Reining: 100X Reining Classic — Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma | August 29–September 6 | Tulsa Expo Square
The 100X Reining Classic in Tulsa features the Invitational (an exclusive 3-year-old futurity now in its 5th year) and the 100X Stakes (4-year-old only) alongside the Derby.
Reining: High Roller Reining Classic
Las Vegas, Nevada | September 11–17 | South Point Equestrian Center
Established in 2008, the High Roller Reining Classic at the South Point Equestrian Center hosts various Western performance horse events, focusing on reining disciplines.
Reined Cow Horse: Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity
Reno, Nevada | September