Published: July 11, 2008 06:24 pm            

BRETT HOFFMAN: Brazile in driver’s seat

After stuffing his saddle bag with nearly $24,000 during Cowboy Christmas, Trevor Brazile is in the driver’s seat in the world all-around race.

As he attempts to win his sixth world all-around title in the past seven years, Brazile, a Decatur cowboy, won the tie-down roping title at the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo, pocketing $9,467. He also finished in the money at the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Ariz.; the Livingston (Mont.) Round-Up; and the Molalla (Ore.) Buckeroo.

When the world standings were released Monday, Brazile led Josh Peek in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s world all-around race by $31,696 ($129,931 to $98,235). Brazile’s earnings of $23,813 was the second highest in the PRCA during Cowboy Christmas, the week known for the large number of lucrative rodeos held during the Independence Day weekend.

Former National Finals Rodeo saddle bronc riding qualifier Cody Wright of Milford, Utah, was the PRCA’s big winner during Cowboy Christmas after earning $24,288.

South Dakota Barrel racer Jill Moody, who competes in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, was the highest earner during Cowboy Christmas with $25,698.

Thirty-one PRCA rodeos were held from June 30 through July 6 in cities ranging from Springdale, Ark., to Greeley, Colo., Window Rock, Ariz., and Ponoka, Alberta.

A great loss

Clem McSpadden, a member of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and an immensely popular political figure in his native Oklahoma, died July 7 at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston after a lengthy struggle with cancer. He was 82.

McSpadden, of Chelsea, Okla., was general manager of the National Finals Rodeo for 18 years in Oklahoma City (1967-84), a past president of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and one of the sport's legendary announcers for more than half a century. He was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1990.

Stace Smith update

The National Finals Rodeo bronc Painted Feature, owned by the (Stace) Smith Harper & Morgan Rodeo. Co., helped five-time world champion Billy Etbauer win the saddle bronc title at the Rodeo of the Ozarks in Springdale, Ark., on July 4. Etbauer won $5,244. Smith, an Athens resident, is the PRCA’s 2007 Stock Contractor of the Year. He provides the stock for the Walker County PRCA Rodeo in Hunstville and the MDA Benefit Rodeo in Athens.

A rich rodeo

The Calgary Stampede rodeo concludes its 10-day run with a lucrative final round on July 13. The Stampede, with its tournament-style format, will feature 10 competitors in each event finals. Four competitors qualify in each event after both Monday and Friday’s show and two qualifiers make the cut Saturday. In the finals, the winner of each event receives $100,000.

Paint horse update

The Big Sensation, a 5-year-old sorrel overo stallion owned by Tammy Dyer of Pilot Point, won the all-around open division award at the World Championship Paint Horse Show, which wrapped up July 5 in Fort Worth. The stallion was shown by Beth Case, Tracy Baer, Jason Martin and Charlie Cole. The Big Sensation earned top-five finishes in junior hunter under saddle, junior hunter hack, junior western riding, junior pleasure driving and junior working hunter at the American Paint Horse Association’s championships. Dyer earned a three-horse aluminum trophy trailer.

Cutting horse update

The National Cutting Horse Association Summer Spectacular, the third jewel in the sport’s Triple Crown Series, runs July 14 through Aug. 3 at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in Fort Worth.

One horse to watch is High Brow CD, a stallion that’s eligible to win the Triple Crown. With rider Austin Shepard, High Brow CD won the December Futurity (the first jewel of the series) and tied for first at the April Super Stakes. The finals for the 4-year-old open division will be Aug. 3. For information, log onto www.nchacutting.com.

In the hall

Tom Reeves, the 2001 world champion saddle bronc rider who coached the Ranger College men’s team to the 2007 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association title, was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame on July 12 in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Hall will celebrate its 30th anniversary.

Brett Hoffman is a 20-year rodeo columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a member of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. He can be reached at brett@myrodeoinsider.com.

        

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