First-time NFR qualifier Tricia Aldridge and 5-year-old Adios Pantalones unofficially broke the go-round record ran by a stallion inside the Thomas & Mack with a 13.42-second run in Round 4.
Aldridge was quick to give credit to those who came before her in the yellow arena including Highpoint Barrel Horses’ late Slick By Design, who held the previous record in 13.48. Aldridge made the decision in the fall of 2025 to stand “Adios,” at Highpoint in 2026, and she’s pumped to be part of the team.
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“I’ve told Jason (Cole) and Charlie (Martin) that it’s just such an honor watching their program and to see what they’ve built,” Aldridge said. “I hope that I can just be even a small piece of success with what they’ve built. And they’ve just been such a legacy to the barrel racing. And so I hope that to them that this horse is worthy and I’m really proud of all that he’s done for me.”
Aldridge entered the 2025 NFR at No. 11 in the World Standings with $141,182 earned on the regular season, and she’s already earned $61,508 and the $10,000 NFR bonus, drawing checks in three out of four rounds to be seated No. 6 in the standings with $212,690 total. With a solid aggregate position, it’s not out of the question for Aldridge to be within range of a World Championship.
And with the level of confidence the horse carries inside those little yellow walls, anything is possible. The horse is cocky, but Aldridge makes sure her whole team keeps him hyped up.
“His ego is the size of Texas,” Aldridge said, laughing. “I think sometimes people think it’s cocky when I tell him he’s a champion. But that’s the jockey Adios needs. I tell him every day—I pet him, I tell him he’s a champion, he’s a winner, he can do it, then he goes out there and does it for us.”
“If you can say it and put it out there, it doesn’t matter where you come from or if you have money or it doesn’t matter, any of those things. If you work hard, you can get there.”
Tricia Aldridge
Seeing fans show up in droves to support the yellow horse has been the realization of years of dreaming for Alrdige, and she’s loving every minute of it.
“I’m just super thankful for my team that’s here, everybody that’s here supporting me and all the fans,” Aldridge said. “I’ve gotten to see so many fans and I’m just thankful for the experience and all the people that Adios has brought into my life.”
At this point on the week, the World Championship race is far from undecided, and Aldridge has entered the chat as a player. Keep up with aggregate results, daily payout and times, and updated World Standings Daily here.