Over 250 Barrel Racers Competing In Provincial Finals

By Robert Thomas

Moose Jaw is about to be inundated with hundreds of people wearing cowboy hats, shirts and boots as the Saskatchewan Barrel Racing Association (SBRA) holds their provincial finals in Moose Jaw.

To be held in the Golden Mile Arena on the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds (250 Thatcher Drive East) the four day event will feature the province’s best barrel racers from Monday to Thursday.

“We have 260 contestants exactly. That’s just riders with horses we have the last time I checked we had just over 400 (horses),” event organizer Nicole Hicks said.

A CONTESTANT ROUNDS A BARREL, AND A PREVIOUS YEAR’S SASKATCHEWAN BARREL RACING ASSOCIATION FINAL HELD IN MOOSE JAW - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTI

“We are about 80 - 100 horses more this year than other years is what we figured out,” Hicks said.

Although not all will stay in hotels over the course of the four day event the number of riders, families, friends and fans should be noticeable in many of Moose Jaw’s service sector, businesses.

“Most of them will probably stay in trailers, I do know a handful of girls who have got hotel rooms but the majority will be staying in the horse trailers,” she said adding that there would still be an economic impact in stores and local restaurants.

The event should draw approximately 500 - 700 visitors to Moose Jaw.

“Peavey Mart and Cowtown will be hit up lots,” Hicks said giving a couple of examples of stores who should be expecting a spike in business due to the event.

YOUTH COMPETITOR IS ASSISTED BY THEIR MOM AT A PREVIOUS PROVINCIAL FINAL - MJ INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO

Hicks didn’t wanna talk about the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact the restrictions had on the event for the last two years, but admitted removing the restrictions is key to this year’s jump in riders and horses competing.

“I think people are kind of saying it is what it is (when it comes to higher fuel prices). You can’t change it I don’t think people are going stay at home with the fuel prices…I think it was more so because of COVID,” Hicks said.

“Fuel prices for the rodeo people and barrel racers yeah, it’s tricky and hard to go down the road a fuel prices like that, but for the most part I don’t think we’re falling down much because of that,” she said.

With a large number of participants - both riders and horses - there’s a lot to look forward to at this year’s Saskatchewan barrel racing finals.

Text said they are going to try to put through 50 runs per hour over the four days which means that if everything goes according to schedule event, should end every day between 5 and 6 PM - except on Thursday, which should be a short day.

The event times are as follows:

Monday

  • 8 am until 3 pm practice runs

  • 3 pm youth and child

    Tuesday

  • 8 am start

  • 5 pm to 6 pm finish

    Wednesday

  • 8 am start

  • 5 pm to 6 pm finish

    Thursday

  • 9 am start

  • approximately noon finish

A RIDER AND HORSE CUT IT CLOSE TO A BARREL IN AN EFFORT TO CUT DOWN THEIR TIME - MJ INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO

George Fowler, general manager for the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company says he is happy with the increased numbers of riders and horses at this year’s finals.

“The numbers look good for this year and we’re taking in more people right now, but by tomorrow we’ll know exactly what the numbers will turn out to be. But they look good,” Fowler said.

For Hicks the organizers would like to see spectators, check out the event - the event is free to attend,

“We have a full grandstand for people to come out and take a seat,” she said.

Food, Food and Food

One of the big things to look forward to this year is that there is a new concession operator in the Golden Mile Arena who will operate from breakfast before the event right up to supper, Hicks said.

She said she already tried out a chicken wrap from the new concession operator and described the food as great. Hicks hoped people would support this new business in the arena.

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