Tana Trosper won the biggest check of her budding career, taking home $40,000 winning the Hooey Junior Patriot 19 & Under barrel racing.
The 16-year-old out of Ponder, Texas, ran a 15.375 in the Finals Sunday, March 10, 2024, on her 10-year-old bay mare Shiney Cartel.
“I knew I had to just drive her up in every single barrel,” Trosper said. “I knew that she was going to be kind of short today, and we definitely about got that second barrel. She turned it pretty quick, and I wasn’t ready for it.”
Once upon a time, Shiney Cartel was a racetrack mare. Two years ago Trosper bought the mare from Chani Graves where she was a third-string ProRodeo horse as Graves has a solid string. But within six months of owning her, Trosper was met with a hurdle. In hindsight, it was all worth it.
“I got ahold of her two years ago, and she got hurt within six months of me owning her,” Trosper said. “But, she was worth the wait. She came back stronger and even better.”
Shiney Cartel is a bit of a one-person horse, and as for her running style, she runs true to her spots but makes Trosper work for it every once in a while.
“If I chin out too early, she’s gonna finish it for me, but she makes me work for it,” Trosper explained. “She likes being quick, and she likes sliding and running hard.”
Trosper and Shiney Cartel also picked up $4,000 for their placing in the Semifinals. All in all, the Hooey Junior Patriot 19 & Under barrel racing paid out $238,000.
Click here for full Hooey Junior Patriot barrel racing results.
