ProRodeo Sports News - Sept. 7, 2018

R OUND THE SHORT

BY THE NUMBERS

The number of top bareback rides this season out of the top three that cowboys have recorded while being aboard C5 Rodeo’s Virgil. Virgil has the No. 2 ride of 91.25-points with Richmond Champion, while Tim O’Connell’s 91-point ride on Virgil is No. 3. Devan Reilly has the top-scored bareback ride this season with a 93-point ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Killer Bee. Virgil was the 2017 PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year. The year Dick Yates (team roping), J.D. Yates (team roping) and Kelly Yates (barrel racing) qualified for the National Finals Rodeo. They are the only father-son- daughter trio to compete in the NFR in the same year. J.D.’s son, Trey Yates, is in good position to qualify for his first Wrangler NFR this year. Trey was fourth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings among team roping headers with $93,765 as of Sept. 4. The amount of money Trevor Brazile earned in 2012 to win the all-around title at the Pendleton (Ore.) Roundup, which remains the rodeo’s all-around money record. The Pendleton Roundup records date back to 1910. The 2018 Pendleton Roundup takes place Sept. 12-15.

Breaking PRCA records is nothing new for bull rider Sage Kimzey. The Strong City, Okla., cowboy added another to his resume, as he established the PRCA record for money earned in a season before the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo with $274,099, including ground money. Kimzey set the previous record last season with $237,152, including ground money. “Anytime you can mess with the history books it is always fun,” said Kimzey, 24. “That’s definitely a pretty good one for sure. There are a lot of different ones that mean lots of different stuff to lots of people, but with that one you are looking at every cowboy from history. Not only does it mean I did well, but also that our sport is going in the right direction. That’s really good.” As impressive as Kimzey’s season money total is, the four-time reigning world champion still hasn’t met his regular-season-money expectation. The 2018 PRCA regular season ends Sept. 30. “I was aware of what the (bull riding) regular- season record was before this year, and my goal is to win $300,000,” Kimzey said. Kimzey can increase his money total while King Kimzey Bull rider breaks regular-season money record

competing in the Wrangler Tour’s Justin Finale in Puyallup, Wash., Sept. 6-9. The top 24 competitors in the Tour standings in each event earned a spot at the Justin Finale. “I’m excited for Puyallup for sure, it should be a lot of fun,” he said. Last season, Kimzey set the bull riding record

for most money won after the Wrangler NFR at $436,479, which is also a record he wants to break again. “It would be awesome if I could bump that up to half a million dollars just in one event, just riding bulls in the PRCA that would be an accomplishment for sure,” he said.

Bull riders Elliott, Farrell to be inducted in Chadron State Hall PRCA Bull Riding World Champion Dustin Elliott (2004) and Wrangler National Finals Rodeo bull riding qualifier Will Farrell (2003) will be among the eight individuals inducted into the Chadron (Neb.) State College Athletic Hall of Fame following Chadron State’s football game with New Mexico Highlands, Oct. 27. At Chadron State, Farrell and Elliott combined to win three national college bull riding titles in four years. Farrell was the champion in 1999 and 2002, and Elliott won the crown in 2001. Elliott qualified for the Wrangler NFR four times – 2004-06 and 2010. Farrell finished 15th in the world standings in his lone appearance at the NFR.

583 NUMBER OF PRCA-SANCTIONED RODEOS HELD SO FAR IN 2018

ProRodeo Sports News 9/7/2018

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