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Credential Categories

TRFAM recognizes separate credential categories for Press Media and Private/Social Media Credential Holders. Approval for one category does not guarantee approval for the other, and each category is subject to separate review and approval by TRFAM.

For purposes of this Policy, "Press Media" refers to approved editorial, news, association, or broadcast media representatives covering the Event for a recognized publication, media outlet, news organization, broadcast platform, approved industry association, or approved event partner.

Press Media Credentials are reserved for those covering the Event for traditional news, editorial, broadcast, magazine, association, or industry coverage intended for dissemination to the general public, association members, or the Western performance horse industry.

For purposes of this Policy, "Private/Social Media Credential Holder" includes any photographer, videographer, content creator, social media manager, digital media representative, marketing agency, social media management company, brand representative, or other individual capturing photo or video content for private, promotional, client-based, commercial, rider, owner, sponsor, brand, business, or personal social media use.

Press Media Credentials do not require payment of the Private/Social Media Credential fee. However, any individual who is approved to work in any private, promotional, client-based, commercial, rider, owner, sponsor, brand, business, or personal social media capacity must pay the Private/Social Media Credential fee, regardless of whether that individual is also approved as Press Media.

Eligibility

TRFAM may issue Press Media Credentials to members of the working press. For purposes of this Policy, a "member of the working press" shall be a paid employee, contractor, freelancer, or approved representative of a known and established media organization, approved industry association, or approved event partner.

A "media organization" is a person or entity engaged in disseminating information to the general public through a newspaper, magazine, accepted publication, radio, television, digital news platform, or other recognized medium of mass communication.

Approved industry association representatives may include representatives of recognized breed associations, discipline associations, or event partners involved in TRFAM, including but not limited to the American Quarter Horse Association, National Reined Cow Horse Association, National Reining Horse Association, and Premier Women's Rodeo.

Journalists, photographers, videographers, broadcast representatives, and association representatives who receive credentials must be on assignment for a reputable media organization, approved industry association, or approved event partner as outlined above.

Freelance reporters, photographers, videographers, or other media representatives must be able to provide a letter of assignment upon request. Photographers may be required to submit a letter of assignment to the TRFAM Digital Media Team before being considered for a credential.

TRFAM will not consider Press Media Credential applications from individuals whose primary purpose is private photography, client photography, rider or owner promotion, sponsor promotion, brand promotion, social media management, commercial content creation, influencer content, personal promotion, or content sales. Individuals seeking to capture content for those purposes must apply through the Private/Social Media Credential process.

TRFAM reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to determine whether an applicant qualifies as Press Media, approved association media, Private/Social Media, or dual-use.

Application Requirements

All journalists, photographers, videographers, broadcast representatives, association representatives, and media representatives who wish to attend the Event as Press Media must submit a Press Media Credential application.

Each applicant must clearly identify the publication, media outlet, broadcast platform, association, or organization they are on assignment for.

Each applicant must provide a clear, current headshot with their application. The headshot must accurately identify the applicant and may be used by TRFAM staff, security, production personnel, and event management to verify the credential holder throughout the Event.

Applicants may be asked to provide examples of recent coverage, links to published work, circulation or audience information, a letter of assignment, editor contact information, association contact information, or other information requested by TRFAM.

If a photographer, writer, videographer, reporter, or media representative is working on behalf of multiple editorial outlets, associations, or approved organizations, all outlets and organizations must be disclosed in the application.

Application Deadline

Press Media Credential applications must be received by July 20, 2026.

TRFAM will not guarantee that media representatives who submit applications after the deadline will be accommodated. Submitting an application does not guarantee that a credential will be issued. Only a limited number of Press Media Credentials will be approved.

Credential Acceptance

TRFAM encourages qualified media organizations, approved industry associations, and approved event partners to apply for Press Media Credentials. However, if there is a limitation on the number of credentials issued for the Event, TRFAM may consider the following criteria, in order of significance, when issuing approvals:

• Media organizations with a large national audience
• Local media in the host city
• Media outlets that regularly cover The Run For A Million or related qualifying events
• Sport-specific specialty media
• Western performance horse industry publications
• Recognized breed associations, discipline associations, or event partners involved in TRFAM
• Editorial outlets with a demonstrated history of professional event coverage

An acceptance or rejection email will be sent to the applicant and/or editor listed on the application no later than 10 days after the application deadline. Please contact [email protected] if you have a question about the status of your application.

Dual Credential Use

Press Media Credentials and Private/Social Media Credentials are separate credential categories.

Press Media Credentials are issued for editorial news, association, broadcast, magazine, or industry coverage only. Press Media Credentials do not authorize the credential holder to capture content for private, promotional, client-based, commercial, rider, owner, sponsor, brand, business, social media management, influencer, or personal promotional use.

If an applicant is seeking credentials, or intends to capture content, in more than one capacity, including but not limited to working as both Press Media and a Private/Social Media Credential Holder, the applicant must disclose all intended uses of the content during the application process.

Any individual who is approved to work in any private, promotional, client-based, commercial, rider, owner, sponsor, brand, business, or personal social media capacity must pay the Private/Social Media Credential fee, regardless of whether that individual is also approved as Press Media.

If an individual is acting in both a Press Media capacity and a Private/Social Media capacity, the individual will be subject to the stricter restrictions, access limitations, content-use requirements, and conduct standards set forth in the Private/Social Media Photographer Policy.

TRFAM reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to determine whether an applicant's intended coverage qualifies as Press Media, Private/Social Media coverage, or dual-use coverage. Failure to accurately disclose the intended use of captured content may result in denial of credentials, revocation of credentials, removal from the Event, denial of future credential applications, and any other remedy available to TRFAM.

Access

Press Media Credentials do not allow access to the barns, stables, warmup arenas, back gate, back paddock, CINCH Saloon, Bit N Spur Lounge, Grand Ballroom, South Point Showroom, private concerts, private events, production areas, staging areas, interview areas, or any other restricted area unless expressly approved in writing by TRFAM.

Credentialed Press Media will receive admission to the Event, access to approved media work areas, and access to any spaces specifically designated for media within the venue.

A Press Media Credential allows access to ticketed performances for purposes of entry only. A Press Media Credential does not provide a reserved seat. Only reserved seat tickets will grant the credential holder a seat for the competition.

Press Media Credentials must be worn and visible at all times during the Event. Credentials may not be given, loaned, shared, sold, transferred, or reassigned to another person for any reason. Failure to adhere to this requirement may result in the loss of credentials for all parties involved and removal from the facility.

Production Restrictions and Limited Access Areas

The Run For A Million is a live event, a major Western performance horse competition, and a production environment. In addition to the TRFAM Digital Media Team and TRFAM Official Photographers, the Event includes filming for The Last Cowboy television series and the CBS broadcast team, which will air coverage of the Event on August 22, 2026.

Because of these production components, certain areas that may normally be available to photographers, videographers, media, or social media teams at other events may be restricted or completely off limits at The Run For A Million.

Credentialed access does not guarantee access to all production areas, competition areas, warmup areas, back gates, arena gates, platforms, interviews, barns, concourses, staging areas, or any other location within the venue. TRFAM reserves the right to restrict, modify, or revoke access to any area at any time in order to protect the safety of competitors, horses, attendees, staff, production personnel, and the integrity of the Event and its broadcast.

All Press Media Credential holders must immediately comply with any instruction from TRFAM staff, South Point staff, security, the TRFAM Production Team, the TRFAM Digital Media Team, TRFAM Official Photographers, the Truly Original Production Team, CBS production personnel, or any other authorized Event representative.

Content Posting and Publication Use

All content captured under a Press Media Credential must be published, posted, aired, or distributed only by the approved publication, media outlet, broadcast platform, association, organization, or approved event partner for which the credential holder is on assignment.

The Press Media Credential holder may share, repost, or otherwise share back the content from the approved publication's, media outlet's, broadcast platform's, association's, organization's, or event partner's official page to their own business or personal page, provided such sharing complies with this Policy and does not imply official endorsement, sponsorship, partnership, or affiliation with TRFAM unless expressly authorized in writing by TRFAM.

All content must still comply with TRFAM's editorial-use restrictions, content standards, sponsor visibility requirements, production restrictions, intellectual property restrictions, and all other provisions of this Policy.

Photographers

Press Media photographers must be on assignment from a known and established media organization, approved industry association, or approved event partner, and must use professional camera equipment.

All photographs taken at the Event under a Press Media Credential are to be used solely for non-commercial editorial, association, broadcast, magazine, or industry coverage by the publication, media outlet, broadcast outlet, association, organization, or website for which the individual is credentialed.

Photography is for approved editorial or association use only and may not be sold, distributed, licensed, posted, or used for any private, promotional, client-based, commercial, rider, owner, sponsor, brand, business, or personal social media use.

If a photographer is working on behalf of multiple editorial outlets, associations, or approved organizations, they must disclose all outlets and organizations in their application. If the photographer is also working for any rider, owner, sponsor, brand, business, private client, social media management company, or other non-editorial entity, the photographer must disclose that use and must apply through the Private/Social Media Credential process.

Failure to comply with these requirements may result in immediate loss of credential privileges for all future TRFAM events. Additionally, the media outlet, association, or organization associated with the photographer in violation of these policies may lose the ability to credential a photographer at future TRFAM events.

Interference of Photographers and Videographers

TRFAM Production Team, TRFAM Official Photographers, TRFAM Digital Media Team, Truly Original Production Team, CBS production personnel, and other authorized production representatives have priority in movement and placement to capture photos and video of the Event.

Upon arrival, approved Press Media Credential holders may be required to check in with the Event Concierge, media representative, or other designated TRFAM representative for instructions regarding approved placement, access, and media flow.

The arena, sidelines, gates, concourse, and production areas can become crowded. Any individual, whether credentialed or not, who interferes with the competitive flow, operations, production, broadcast, photography, videography, safety, or any aspect of the Event, including the ability of the TRFAM Production Team, TRFAM Official Photographers, TRFAM Digital Media Team, TRFAM officers, employees, agents, the Truly Original Production Team, CBS production personnel, or any other authorized Event representative to properly capture photos, video, or perform their duties, may be required to immediately leave the Event, including during awards ceremonies.

TRFAM may provide official competition photographs and awards ceremony photographs to approved news media upon request and at a fee.

Main Arena Seating

During any public-facing events held in the Main Arena, an individual, group, company, media outlet, association, or organization may not reserve, block, rope off, or otherwise restrict seating within the arena.

For the purposes of this Policy, "roping off" refers to any action that designates seats as unavailable to others through the use of physical barriers, including but not limited to ropes, tape, signage, bags, camera equipment, tripods, personal belongings, verbal claims, or any other method used to restrict public access to general seating.

The use of personal tables, workstations, equipment cases, bags, or other items that block access in the seating area is also prohibited.

Concourse, Main Arena

No individual, group, company, media outlet, association, or organization may obstruct access to or hinder the ability of any attendee to watch public events or ticketed events in the Main Arena. This includes, but is not limited to, actions that block aisles, walkways, viewing areas, entrances, exits, ADA areas, or any other areas designated for public movement or public access.

No individual, group, company, media outlet, association, or organization may block, rope off, reserve, or restrict any accessible areas within the Main Arena or concourse. This includes all areas designated for ADA access, general public seating, public viewing, and public movement. The restriction applies to physical barriers such as ropes, tape, signs, personal belongings, camera equipment, tripods, verbal claims, or any other means used to limit access to these areas.

The use of personal tables, workstations, equipment setups, or other items in the concourse is prohibited unless expressly authorized in writing by TRFAM.

Main Arena Gates and Warmup Areas

No individual, group, company, media outlet, association, or organization may obstruct, stand in, or gather at the North or South Gates during public events or ticketed events in the Main Arena. This includes blocking access or standing in areas designated for ingress and egress of competitors, horses, staff, production personnel, or emergency personnel.

No individual, group, company, media outlet, association, or organization may stand on the platforms at either set of gates. These platforms are designated for the TRFAM Production Team, the Truly Original Production Team, CBS production personnel, the TRFAM Digital Media Team, and other authorized Event personnel only. Standing on these platforms is prohibited, as it may interfere with competitors, production, event operations, or safety.

No Press Media Credential holder is allowed to shoot, film, livestream, interview, stage content, or gather content in the back gate or warmup arenas unless expressly approved in writing by TRFAM.

Use of Photographic, Audio, and Video Materials

A Press Media Credential confers on the credential holder a limited, non-exclusive, and non-transferable license to take photographs, audio, and video of the Event for approved editorial, news, association, broadcast, magazine, or industry coverage only.

The credential holder and the entity that assigned or engaged the credential holder may use such photographs, audio, and video only for news coverage of the Event, magazine stories about the Event, association coverage, editorial coverage, broadcast coverage, and reprints of news pages from such entity's publication, provided that such use does not create, and is not likely to create, confusion in the minds of the trade or public that the credential holder, the assigning entity, the reprints, or any elements therein are sponsored or endorsed by, or associated or affiliated with, TRFAM.

A Press Media Credential does not grant the credential holder or assigning entity any license to use TRFAM trademarks, copyrights, logos, or intellectual property except as expressly permitted for approved editorial, association, or news coverage.

Neither the credential holder nor the entity that assigned or engaged the credential holder may sell, license, distribute, or otherwise provide photos, video, audio, or other content taken at the Event to third-party entities, including but not limited to commercial entities, private clients, sponsors, competitors, owners, brands, businesses, social media management companies, or the general public.

Any secondary use of any picture, audio description, video, film, or drawing of the Event taken or made by the accredited organization or individual to whom this credential has been issued, including but not limited to non-editorial, advertising, sales promotion, commercial, client-based, private, social media management, or merchandising use, is prohibited without prior specific written approval from TRFAM.

Any Press Media entity collecting photography, video, or audio materials, including photographs, web images, film, traditional video, audio, or digital media, from the Event may use that material only for traditional print news media, television newscasts, approved editorial coverage, approved association coverage, or that traditional media outlet's website or digital news coverage.

Such media entity may not offer any live video, audio, or other coverage of the Event through any means, including radio broadcasts, television broadcasts, webcasts, social media live, livestreams, podcasts, or other digital platforms, without the advance written permission of TRFAM.

This policy includes all events, programs, warmups, and other on-site activities that are part of or involve the Event.

Credential Image

The credential holder shall not, at any time, display, post, share, publish, or otherwise reproduce the credential image, credential badge, barcode, QR code, access pass, wristband, or any other credentialing material on any digital platform, including websites, online media, social media sites, or applications, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, or YouTube.

Real-Time Reporting and TV/Video Coverage

TRFAM has exclusive broadcast rights to all TRFAM events and works closely with its official broadcast vendor or vendors, referred to herein as the "TRFAM Official Broadcaster."

No camera crews other than those of TRFAM, the TRFAM Official Broadcaster, Truly Original Production Team, CBS production personnel, or approved news crews will be allowed to film or broadcast the arena events and surrounding seating areas during the Event.

"Real-time" is defined as live and continuous description, transmission, or depiction of an event. The real-time transmission of streaming video, digital images, text-casting, live updates, real-time audio, play-by-play, statistics, or other live coverage of any Event by anyone other than TRFAM or the TRFAM Official Broadcaster is not permitted without advance written approval from TRFAM.

This includes, but is not limited to, livestreaming on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter/X, Snapchat, or any other current or future platform.

Content Standards

All Press Media Credential holders are responsible for reviewing all photos, videos, captions, posts, stories, reels, livestreams, articles, and other content before publication or distribution.

By accepting a credential, the credential holder agrees not to publish, post, sell, distribute, or otherwise use any photo, video, or content that, in TRFAM's sole discretion, portrays TRFAM, the Event, the Western performance horse industry, competitors, horses, owners, sponsors, vendors, staff, production teams, attendees, the venue, or the sport in a negative, misleading, embarrassing, unsafe, or unfavorable light.

This includes, but is not limited to, content where the primary subject may appear acceptable, but another person, horse, sponsor display, staff member, attendee, or background element appears unsafe, unflattering, inappropriate, misleading, or damaging to the Event or industry.

TRFAM reserves the right to request the removal of any content that violates this Policy. Failure to remove such content upon request may result in revocation of credentials, removal from the Event, denial of future credential applications, and any other remedy available to TRFAM.

Credential Misuse

Misuse of a TRFAM Press Media Credential will result in the immediate loss of the credential, removal from media areas, possible removal from the Event, and possible loss of credential privileges for future events for the journalist and the assigning media organization.

TRFAM reserves the right to revoke credentials at any time for violation of this Policy, failure to follow instructions, unsafe conduct, interference with the Event, misrepresentation of credential purpose, undisclosed dual-use coverage, or any conduct deemed by TRFAM to be inappropriate or inconsistent with the best interests of the Event.

Release of Liability

I am aware of the propensity of an equine to behave in ways that may result in injury, harm, or death to persons on or around them. In addition, I am further aware of the unpredictability of the equine's reaction to such things as sound, sudden movement, and unfamiliar objects, persons, or animals. Knowing all of the above, it is my intention to enter into this agreement with full knowledge of the risks and dangers associated with being around equine activity.

In consideration for being granted Event Media Credentials, I, the undersigned, hereby expressly waive, release, and discharge The Run For A Million, Inc. "TRFAM," Gaughan South, LLC, dba South Point Hotel and Casino, and their respective agents, representatives, officers, employees, subcontractors, directors, affiliates, members, officials, successors, and assigns, collectively referred to as the "Released Parties," from any and all claims, demands, actions, causes of action, liability, injury, disability, death, or property damage arising out of or in connection with my participation in or presence at the Event, including but not limited to any claim arising from the ordinary negligence of the Released Parties.

I covenant and agree not to make or bring any claim, demand, or cause of action against any Released Party, and I hereby forever release and discharge the Released Parties from any and all liability arising from such claims. This waiver and release does not apply to any claims arising from gross negligence, willful misconduct, or any other liabilities that applicable law prohibits from being waived by agreement.

Additionally, I agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Released Parties from any and all losses, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, claims, actions, judgments, settlements, interest, awards, penalties, fines, costs, or expenses of any kind, including reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred in enforcing any right to indemnification under this Agreement. This indemnity obligation includes any claims arising from my participation in or presence at the Event, including claims based on my own negligence or the ordinary negligence of the Released Parties, as well as the costs of pursuing any insurance claims related to the Event.

I further acknowledge that I am responsible for obtaining and maintaining my own personal health insurance and liability coverage.

Acknowledgment

By applying for, accepting, or using a Press Media Credential, the credential holder acknowledges that they have read, understand, and agree to comply with this Policy. The credential holder further acknowledges that failure to comply with this Policy may result in removal from the Event, revocation of credentials, denial of future credentials, and any other remedy available to TRFAM.