Taycie Matthews and Fame Fire Rocks, better known as “Poprocks,” claimed the 2025 Women’s Rodeo Championship barrel racing title and a $60,000 payday inside AT&T Stadium on May 17, bringing her total WRC earnings to $70,000 on the week.

Matthews, 22, guided Poprocks through three rounds and a championship short go in Cowtown Coliseum before lighting up the final stage in Arlington with a 12.674-second run—more than three-tenths faster than the next closest time.

“She just keeps getting stronger every time she runs,” Matthews said. “This week showed me how gritty she really is.”

Poprocks, the decorated AQHA/WPRA Horse of the Year and a key player in Matthews’ NFR and college finals qualifications, returned to the spotlight after a long rehab process. For Matthews, who had stepped back from the rodeo trail to work and allow her standout mare to heal, the week felt like a full-circle moment.

“I’ve just been riding and working, and we’ve been getting her back right,” Matthews said. “I knew this week would be tough, but I also knew I could trust her when it mattered most.”

Poprocks stayed sharp in the early rounds, winning Round 1 with a 13.186, and placing in Rounds 2 and the semifinals before uncorking her fastest run of the week when it counted most.

“She’s funny—she gets nervous with a lot of noise and energy, but when she hears the crowd and the music, she kicks into gear,” Matthews said. “It’s like she knows.”

Matthews credited the opportunity and atmosphere at the WRC for helping reenergize her goals heading into the summer.

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“I’ve always loved this event,” she said. “It’s special to get to run here. There’s nothing like AT&T Stadium and getting to do it on my favorite horse in the world.”

With Matthews’ previous wins, including a reserve finish at The American Rodeo in Globe Life Field in March, multiple regional slot race runs, big jackpot and rodeo showings, Matthews estimates that Poprocks has earned nearly $200,000 since her return to the arena in December 2024.

Poprocks was trained by Janna Beam Brown and campaigned early on in her career, before the Matthews family, including mom, Kim, sister Jaylie and Taycie all took the reins at various points and found success on Poprocks. Eventually, Taycie became Poprocks’ full-time rider and went as far as the National Finals Rodeo with the mare. Prior to WRC, Poprocks’ QData reflected $428,954 on the books, and her $70,000 payout in Arlington will help boost her into an elite club of barrel horses halfway to the million-dollar mark. Click here for Fame Fire Rocks’ full QData report.