The Pedigrees of The Top 9 American Rodeo Qualifying Horses
Here’s the list of all 9 horses competing at The American Rodeo, with five coming through the qualifying system and eligible for $2 million in potential side payout. The Invitees AM Regina George Rider: Carlee Otero ChitiChiti BangBang Rider: Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi Buncha Dinero Rider: Hayle Gibson-Stillwell DesignerLeapToHeaven Rider: Tricia Aldridge The Qualifiers Wildchildsgotcashuno Rider: […]
Final Five: Meet The American Rodeo Western Qualifiers
The final five qualifying athletes to The American Rodeo locked in their positions through the Las Vegas Western Regional Contender Finals and are set to run for up to $2.1 million in earnings at Globe Life Field on May 22-23. They’ve got to advance out of the tough field of 15 as one of 5 […]
Reigning Champion Kassie Mowry Out of 2026 American Rodeo, Top 5 Invitation Won’t Roll Down
Kassie Mowry, the reigning American Rodeo barrel racing champion, will not compete at The American Rodeo at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on May 23, BarrelRacing.com has confirmed. Mowry, the 2025 WPRA world champion, was an invited “Top 5” Athlete set to enter the American Rodeo Showdown Round (Round of 10) on Saturday. The […]
Next 5: Meet The American Rodeo Contender Central Finalists
Get to know the next five athletes with a chance at $2 million advancing from the Central Contender Finals in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, April 17-18: Heidi Gunderson, Samantha Willoughby, Katelyn Scott, Hadlee Landers and Mindy Holloway. The Central five join the Eastern and Western five in the contender bracket—the only path to the full $2 […]
‘He Walked in Like He Owned That Arena’ Sydney Graham, Dupont First in NFR Conversation After Redding Win
Sydney Graham and her 7-year-old stallion Dupont First won the Redding Rodeo in May with a 17.28-second run worth $5,960, vaulting from No. 11 to No. 7 in the WPRA world standings. It wasn’t by accident. Graham had her strategy set before she even pulled onto the rodeo grounds. “My game plan usually only involves […]
‘He’s My Best Friend’ Kappie Bryant and Pancakes Celebrate Hard-Earned $68K Week at PWR
Kappie Bryant and her gelding Smooth as Rico Suave, better known as “Pancakes,” claimed the inaugural 2026 Premier Women’s Rodeo Championship Pro Barrel Racing title and a $60,000 payday inside Cowtown Coliseum on May 15, bringing her total PWR earnings to $68,500 on the week. Bryant guided Pancakes through Rounds 1 and 2 and a […]
Frank’s The Man: Stephanie Fryar and Some Streakin French Win Rodeo Corpus Christi
Stephanie Fryar and Some Streakin French, better known as Fast Frank, won the average title at Rodeo Corpus Christi Saturday night, banking $10,653 on the weekend with a 26.53 on two head. Fryar and Frank placed fifth in Round 1 at 13.37 for $2,747, then tied Kappie Bryant for the short-round win at 13.16 to […]
“This Is Going to Be Your Colt”: Cheyenne Wimberley and HP Valentino Win 2026 Ruby Buckle Central Futurity Round 2
Cheyenne Wimberley and HP Valentino topped the 2026 Ruby Buckle Central Futurity 1D Round 2 in 16.861 Friday at the Lazy E Arena. The win paid $8,000 to owners Jason Martin and Charlie Cole of Highpoint Performance Horses in Pilot Point, Texas, with $1,000 in stallion incentive to Winners Version and $1,000 to breeder Kelly […]
Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi and Katniss’ Son Blazzin The Way Win the 2026 Ruby Buckle Central Futurity 1D Average
Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi and her family’s homebred Blazzin The Way put a stamp on the 2026 Ruby Buckle Central Futurity at the Lazy E Arena, taking the 1D Round 1 and the 1D Average. The 5-year-old sorrel stallion by Blazin Jetolena and out of Ima Famous Babe—Tonozzi’s late NFR mare known to her family and […]
No Limits: Josh Andrews Lands High Seller BPH TheSkyIsTheLimit at Ruby Buckle Select Sale
Josh Andrews arrived at the Ruby Buckle April Sale at the Lazy E Arena on Thursday with one goal: walk out a Ruby Buckle stallion owner. He left with BPH Theskyisthelimit, a 2016 palomino Dash Ta Fame stallion consigned by Taylor Necaise, for $250,000, marking the high seller of the day. The 10-year-old palomino is […]
Heidi Gunderson Pushes Through Loss, Wins Ruby Buckle Central Derby Average with Wonder If Im Lucky
Heidi Gunderson and Wonder If Im Lucky won the 2026 Ruby Buckle Central Derby average on Tuesday in 33.634, with the Round 2 winner clocking the fastest run of the Derby on a standard pattern in 16.693. The pair stacked an eighth-place 16.941 in Round 1 with the Round 2 title for an unofficial $24,564 […]
Michelle Alley Rebukes the Doubt, Tops Ruby Buckle Central Derby Round 1 with Lipstick N Stilletos
Michelle Alley and Lipstick N Stilletos topped the 1D kept up their winning streak on the 2026 year in Round 1 of the 2026 Ruby Buckle Central Derby on Monday. They clocked a 16.747, worth $6,250 to owner Heather Moeller of Iola, Texas, plus $781 to RR Mistakelly’s stallion incentive program and $781 back to […]
First Five: Meet the Contenders From Lexington With a Shot at $2 Million
Get to know the top five athletes with a chance at $2 million advancing from the Eastern Contender Finals in Lexington, Kentucky, April 11-13. Dusky Lynn Hall Qualifying Horse: Chasin A Win Dusky Lynn Hall is headed back to Arlington after winning the Eastern Regional Finals aboard Chasin A Win, a horse she calls “Spit,” adding […]
Lipstick N Stilletos Crosses $500K as Michelle Alley Struts Into NFR Contention
Michelle Alley and Lipstick N Stilletos have entered NFR qualifying conversation at the halfway point in the ProRodeo season, plus crossed a major lifetime earnings mark off the list for the 6-year-old powerhouse mare. After leaving RodeoHouston sitting at $488,838 in QData recorded career earnings, Stiletto pushed past the $500,000 mark over the next few […]
Makenzie Mayes and “Rousey,” Win $100K+ in Hondo Rodeo Knockout
Makenzie Mayes made the most of a high-dollar opportunity in New Orleans, banking $101,500 at the Hondo Rodeo with a dominant three-round performance aboard “Rousey” (Chicado Moon). The 22-year-old barrel racer won Rounds 1 and 2, added another check in the finals and secured both the Maverick Award and the three-head average title inside Caesars […]