Top Canadian Barrel Racers In Moose Jaw Starting Friday
Calgary Stampede 2021 champion Bertina Olafson competing in a tough competitive field
If you like the rodeo sport of barrel racing and missed the recent Saskatchewan Barrel Racing Association (SBRA) finals in Moose Jaw or you want to see more top barrel racers in action then this Friday - Monday is going to be something you are going to like.
Over those four days the top barrel racers in Canada are set to invade the Moose Jaw Exhibition grounds (250 Thatcher Drive East) as the Aurora Wind Feeds/BUCKEYE Nutrition Barrel Futurity Derby and Slot Race is holding its inaugural event.
Featuring the likes of the 2021 Calgary Stampede champion Bertina Olafson, Canadian Finals Pro Rodeo (CFR) finalist and top four qualifier at the Calgary Stampede Rusty Woodward, Micki Vanderled a top CFR competitor, 2021 SBRA Open Division provincial champion Angela Tapp amongst others the event is a must see says co-organizer Nicole Hicks.
“Absolutely this is a major competitive event especially in Canada,” Hicks said. “It’s going to be one of the fastest barrel races you are going to find with the top competitors in the country…his event is going to be the top riders from jackpot and rodeo events.”
She said the competition should be tight with “all of the horses entered are going to be the top horses in the country.”
“These are the best horses and riders and it is probably going to come down to a 1/1000 of a second between the winner and second place.”
Competition is expected to be tight as each ride in Saturday’s slot racing event have a $500 entry fee per run. The winner of the slot races takes home not only bragging rights but a $10,500 prize. There are 150 entries for the major prize.
Although not as large as the $50,000 prize awarded at the Calgary Stampede the $10,500 prize in Moose Jaw is amongst the top prizes in the country, she said.
Action from the recent Saskatchewan Barrel Racing Association provincial finals in Moose Jaw - MJ Independent file photo
“This is a major amount of prize money in Canada.”
Asked about the popularity of barrel racing Hicks said the patterns and speed of the horses and riders make it “an exciting event to watch.”
Hicks said the FREE outdoor event is open to the public to attend and the event co-organizers - Hicks and Kara Drake encourage people to come and watch as it adds to the event.
“The bigger the crowd the better…a lot of these horses are rodeo horses and they feed off of the crowd’s energy.
The event is of an international caliber but due to the COVID - 19 border restrictions US competitors are unable to attend.
The event runs:
Friday September 3rd from 4:30 pm to finish
Saturday September 4th from Noon to finish
Saturday September 4th the main event Slot Races 4 pm to finish
Sunday September 5th from Noon to finish
Sunday September 5th from 4 pm to finish
Monday September 6th from 10 am to finish
Unlike the recent SBRA provincial finals which were held indoors at the Golden Mile Arena this event will be held outdoors to the north in the old rodeo grounds.
“This is the same size as they ran in Calgary (at the Stampede).”
he course for the event will be a barrel racing standard of 90 feet wide by 105 feet long compared to the recent indoor event that was 79 feet wide by 50 feet.
George Fowler, general manager of the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company said “this won’t be quite as big (competitor wise) as the last one but it will have a significant impact to the restaurants, stores and some of the hotels.”
Fowler said although the prize money is good it is not the main reason riders compete in barrel racing.
“They like the riding. The (prize) money is secondary until you get into the big money,” Fowler said.
The event will be held in the outdoor arena, just north of the Golden Mile Arena, with grandstands and bleachers for seating.