High Score • 4 Open
Adan Banuelos
Reyzin Hotty Toddy
227
Judges7576757676
13181 Hwy 177
Byars, OK 74831
Office: (580) 301-6969
8am to 4:30pm CST
2027 • South Point Arena, Las Vegas
Cutting Horse Challenge
$250,000 • One Go • August 17-21, 2027
The National Cutting Horse Association's best riders and horses go head-to-head, one go, for lucrative prize money and awards.
$250,000On The Line
15Qualified Riders
One GoNo Second Round
Aug 17-212027 • South Point Arena
The Format
Fifteen riders. One go. $250,000.
In 2027 the Cutting Horse Challenge brings some of the National Cutting Horse Association's best riders and horses to go head-to-head, one go, for lucrative prize money and awards.
There is no second round and no averaging. Every rider walks to the herd once, under the lights, with $250,000 on the line. The field qualified at the 2026 Brazos Bash, where a 227 led the qualifier and 221.5 took the fifteenth spot on a tie breaker.
The Run For A Million returns to South Point Arena in Las Vegas August 17-21, 2027.
The 2027 Field
Qualified riders
Fifteen riders qualified at the 2026 Brazos Bash. Each is shown on the horse and the run that earned the spot, with the score from all five judges.
15 Qualified • 2026 Brazos Bash
James Payne
Nice Work Babe
226
Cass Tatum
Boomer Cat
225
Russ Westfall
Ripp Tide
224
Kenny Platt
LBR Hangem
224
Boyd Rice
Von Katness
224
Cookie Banuelos
Shezsomethinsweet
224
Lance Cooper
Stevies Best Bet
224
Tarin Rice
Call Me Stevie
224
Spud Sheehan
Deluxe Style
223
Brandon Westfall
Spookys Honey Badger
222
Grant Setnicka
Zigzagg
222
Monty Buntin
Jae Zee
222
Michael Cooper
Lil Sue Von
222
Lloyd Cox
Sho Boat
221.5
Advanced on the tie breaker, 370 across five judges
Scores from the official 2027 Run For A Million Qualifiers sheet. Photos from the 2026 Brazos Bash at Bosque Ranch.
The Sport
What is cutting?
The term cutting refers to the act of separating one cow from a herd of cattle. The sport involves a horse, a rider, and a herd. Cattle are herd animals, and one cow will instinctively try to return to the group. Keeping it away requires incredible intelligence and physical ability on the part of the horse.
This is the only equine competition where the horse is required to think for itself.
Into the herd
The horse and rider quietly ride into the herd, select one cow, and cut it off from the group, letting the unpicked cattle return to the herd behind them.
The rider lets go
Once the cow is separated, the rider is no longer allowed to use the reins. From this moment, the run belongs to the horse.
The horse takes over
A trained cutting horse thinks on its own, anticipating and reacting to every move the cow makes to keep it from rejoining the herd, until the rider decides to let it go.
Judges score each run on many factors, including degree of difficulty and how well the horse anticipates and reacts. The Run For A Million is the richest event in the history of reining and the most exciting and thrilling event in cow horse and cutting.
August 17-21, 2027 • South Point Arena
Fifteen riders. One cow at a time. A quarter million on the line.
The 2027 field qualified at the 2026 Brazos Bash at Bosque Ranch.