Who won the 2023 NFR Round 8 barrel racing?

Kassie Mowry absolutely blew the doors off the Thomas & Mack during Round 8 of the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo with a 13.30-second run aboard Force The Goodbye, a 5-year-old first-year derby horse horse known as “Jarvis.”

“He’s been to three rodeos,” Mowry said.

Mowry has been inside the 13.3 range once before at the Thomas & Mack—in 2017 aboard the stallion FireWaterMakesMehappy. And then Hailey Kinsel and DM Sissy Hayday set their iconic 13.11 arena record.

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“I went out there and laid down the best run ever,” Mowry recalls. “I heard them say ‘Arena record!’ and I knew it was the fastest time of the rodeo so I did a fist pump. But then two horses after me, Hailey Kinsel ran and stole my thunder. I don’t fist pump anymore.”

Jarvis has quite an impressive resume for being only 5 (more on the standout gelding coming in tomorrow’s feature story), but his futurity and jackpot records aren’t what convinced Mowry to swap from CP He Will Be Epic, “Will,” midway through the event.

• Listen to The Money Barrel interviews with all 2023 NFR Round winners here.

“I’m very realistic with my expectations,” Mowry said. “I know what they’re capable of, but I also know they’re green and it will come when they’re ready.

I’m not afraid for it to be a trainwreck or about them failing. I think that’s the biggest thing. I just know that’s part of the process. There’s going to be bumps in the road, so whether it’s good or bad, we don’t make a big deal out of it. It’s an experience.”

• Aggregate Watch: NFR Round 8 Cheat Sheet
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2023 NFR Round 8 barrel racing results