ProRodeo Sports News - August 20, 2021

SHORT ROUND

F our-time PRCA World Champion Tuf Cooper is out action after suffering an injury to his left hand in Logan, Utah, Aug. 14. Cooper, who won tie-down roping world championships in 2011-12 and 2014 and the all-around world title in 2017, expects to be out for at least four weeks. “I got a coil in my left hand getting off (my horse),” said Cooper, 30, who was competing at the Cache County Fair and Rodeo. “It locked down on all four of my fingers. My index finger is the one that took most of the damage. It fractured my (left) index finger and broke the fingernail off, and I had to get I think 30 stitches to fix it. They got me stitched up and cleaned up real nice at the hospital in Logan. I’ve never had anything like this happen to me before.” Cooper, who is second in the PRCA | RAM World Standings in all-around and tie-down roping, is planning to see a hand specialist in Colorado Springs, Colo. “I’m hoping to see him on (Aug. 18), and if not Wednesday, definitely by (Aug. 20),” Cooper said. “He was thinking I would be out four weeks, but that’s just what he told me over the phone. I will have a better idea of how long I will be out when I see him in person. “After I see the specialist, I will go home and rehab my left hand. Worst-case scenario, I will be ready for the last couple weeks of the season. Hopefully, I will get to return before then, but I’m going to do what’s best for my hand.” The PRCA regular season concludes Sept. 30. Tuf Cooper sidelined with hand injury Out of Action

Cooper

ProRodeo Tour Finale to pay $1 million in Salinas On Aug. 16, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association announced the

That hard work will pay off with the chance of competing for a share of nearly $1 million. The rodeo purse will pay out $596,000, which includes entry fees paid by the event, and each contestant in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping (headers

ProRodeo Tour Finale will pay $1 million to contestants and other PRCA members at California Rodeo Salinas, Sept. 23-26. The ProRodeo Tour presented by

Pendleton Whisky is the culmination of the most prestigious tour on the PRCA circuit. The Tour Finale will punch tickets to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas for a majority of ProRodeo athletes. Over the course of the season, contestants competed in up to 55 ProRodeo Tour rodeos that paid out more than $18 million in hopes of qualifying for the Tour Finale.

and heelers), saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding will receive a $1,500 appearance fee that will not count toward the PRCA | RAM World Standings. The Tour Finale also will host breakaway roping, with ropers competing for a purse of $38,000, including entry fees. They will also receive a $500 appearance fee that will not count toward the world standings.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/20/2021

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