Another 2018 World Champion struck gold at The American this year.
Hailey Kinsel and her horse DM Sissy Hayday “Sister” were crowned
winners of The American for the second me in their careers with a
14.217-second run. Their rst me winning was in 2017 where they
won the million-dollar side pot. They placed second in 2018 and came
back this year and reclaimed their winning tles.
The AT&T Stadium is a second home for Bull Rider Joao Ricardo Vieira.
He has had more success there than almost any other cowboy winning
over 830,000 dollars there over the past six years. He won The
American for the rst me in 2016 and again this year making him the
only Bull Rider to win The American twice. He was the only ualied
ride in the Shoot Out execung an 87-point ride on Dakota Rodeo’s
“Soup in a roup” earning him a share of the million-dollar side pot
with Team Roping pair Coleman Proctor and Ryan Motes.
Rhen Richard (see exclusive interview on page 50) roped in the All
Around tle at The American for Tie-Down Roping and Team Roping.
He placed second in the Shoot Out round for Tie-Down Roping with
a 7.35-second run and placed sixth in the rst round of Team Roping
with partner Cody Doescher making a 6.31-second run. The Roosevelt,
Utah cowboy is making the right moves toward making a consecuve
appearance the Naonal Finals Rodeo this year.
This is the rst year that a poron of the winnings from The American
count toward the competor’s earnings in the World Standings. A
total of 50,000 dollars will be added to each winner’s earnings. This
is a game changer for PRCA cowboys. Not only do they have the
opportunity to win a massive paycheck in a single day, but they now
have a chance to rise into the top spots or have a greater chance of
holding their spot.
Houston Livestock
Show and Rodeo
It’s not the popping of 3,000 wine corks or the peppery aroma of
Barbeue that blankets the NR Stadium that captures the true
essence of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (Rodeo Houston).
While these are denitely characters of its allurement, it is the bridging
of educaon and entertainment that reveals the genuine magic of
this event. Rodeo Houston prides itself on the experience that they
provide their community with superstar entertainment of all genres,
such as Cardi B and eorge Strait, and the in-depth educaon on
agriculture, wildlife, and farming and hunng.
Rodeo Houston spans over twenty days with competors able to
compete by invitaon only. Over 2.5 million people aend and that
alone aests to the enormity of Houston’s “Signature Event.” Add in
the concerts, cook os and carnivals and it’s an enre western wonder.
With the world’s biggest performing arsts, packed crowds, and rodeos
most elite athletes, follows a heavy-duty payout for the crowned
champions. Rodeo Houston paid out nearly 1.75 million dollars and
with The Super Series being sanconed by the PRCA, the winnings
in this series will be added to the competors’ earnings in the World
Standings for a chance to ualify for the Naonal Finals Rodeo.
The already most-wins cowboy, Kaycee Feild, increased protecon
to his arena-record reign adding a h win, superseding his own
history-breaking record, at Rodeo Houston to his belt. The four-me
consecuve World Champion Bareback Rider rode Korkow Rodeo’s
“Onion Ring” and scored 92 points in the Championship Shootout
round. Feild took home a total of 56,250 dollars.
It may have seemed like Dj Vu, but an accelerated version, for
Barrel Racer Nellie Miller as she recorded her fastest me at Rodeo
Houston with a 14.26-second run. This secured her back-to-back
victory. Miller le Houston with a reigning championship tle, 56,000
dollars and a returning invitaon to next year’s event.
Trevor Kastner took advantage of his eight-second dance with Cervi
Championship Rodeo’s “Smoke Wagon.” Smoke Wagon neglected to
use his signature move where he drops his right shoulder and turns
back to the le, which bucks o most cowboys that he faces, leaving
an opening for Kasnter to take the lead and score 90 points, winning
him the Bull Riding championship tle. He pocketed 58,500 dollars –
the highest single-competor payout.
The last Wright standing in the Saddle Bronc compeon was Jesse
Wright. With his bloodline giving him a healthy dose of compeon,
the 2012 Saddle Bronc World Champion was able to score 86 points
on Flying U’s “Flood Tide” in the Shootout Round. He reined in 58,000
dollars as well as the third rank in the World Standings.
It was an emoonal win for Tie-Down Roper Michael Otero as
he fullled his several-year aspiraon of winning the renowned
Rodeo Houston. The Weatherford, Texas cowboy’s rapid 8.5 second
run le him in posion to walk away with 54,250 dollars and
an achieved goal. This hey win put Otero in the lead in the World
Standings and just might take him to his rst ualicaon at the
Naonal Finals Rodeo.
Team Roping partners Ty Blasingame and Kyle Locke spring
boarded atop the World Standings with their 5-second run in the
Championship Shootout Round. The pair split 111,500 dollars in
earnings. While Locke does not rodeo full me anymore, with his
rst NFR Qualicaon since 2005 in his grasp, he might just be roped
into entering more rodeos this year.
Steer Wrestler, Josh arner, had a touch of beginner’s luck at his
rst appearance at Rodeo Houston. The Live Oak, California cowboy
knocked out a 4.6-second run in the Shootout Round. arner earned
57,000 dollars in this sole event, which is more than his best year to
date’s (2018 with 52,344 dollars) total earnings. With this win boosng
him to the third rank in the World Standings, let’s see if he can carry
on this rst me’s the charm fortune to the NFR.
These winners have etched their names alongside elite athletes of
past champions in Rodeo Houston history. They are decorated with
the victory at the rodeo whose inuence spans far beyond the sport
and connects the community to the western legacy.
Photo courtesy of Houston
Livestock Show and Rodeo
74 Rodeo LIFE