2023 WPRA Pro Rodeo World Standings Updates

The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association officially kicked off its 2023 season October 1, 2022, and we’ve got all the barrel racing updates and stories from the WPRA world standings race.

—> Find complete results and standings from the 2023 WPRA barrel racing pro rodeo season here.

Scroll down for updates from the 2023 season.

CINCH Playoffs Governor’s Cup Plays Big Role in Season Standings

SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA, September 29, 2023 — The 2023 CINCH Playoffs Governor’s Cup continued Friday with fast action in the barrel racing. Boasting a lucrative $1.1 million total payout, the CINCH Playoffs has the capacity to alter the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association’s barrel racing world standings in the last week of the 2023 regular season. National Finals Rodeo qualifications will be determined at the end of September, and this last weekend of the season is making a big impact.

Beisel On Fire: Emily Beisel and Ivory On Fire Win Round Two of Governor’s Cup

Emily Beisel made it look easy in Round Two at the Governor’s Cup and went two-for-two picking up the win with a time of 13.69, worth $10,000. Beisel rode Ivory On Fire, who helped her share the win in Round One and the 7-year-old mare trained by Shelby Ridling showed no signs of being affected by pressure. Beisel and “Liza,” who’s by Ivory James and out of the Fire Water Flit mare Lil Miss Firewater, are currently leading the aggregate going into the Governor’s Cup Semifinals.

The top eight in the aggregate will advance to tomorrow’s semifinals where the top four in the round will advance to a clean-slate finals. The winner of the finals will earn $25,000, second place with pick up $19,000, third place will win $12,000 and fourth place will bank $6,000. With the WPRA top 15 bubble within a few thousand dollars difference there are big opportunities to be had in Sioux Falls.

Beisel came into Sioux Falls in the No. 7 position in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association’s world standings and after Round One moved into the No. 5 position. Unofficially, after Round Two she’s only $47 shy of the No. 4 spot currently held my EquiStat All-Time Leading Rider Kassie Mowry.

Beisel is no newcomer to pressure situations or the pro rodeo road. The Oklahoma cowgirl as garnered more than $1.2 million lifetime earnings, has won seven NFR rounds, qualified to the NFR four times — 2023 will mark her fifth qualification — and won the RAM National Circuit Finals in 2017. Beisel will head into Las Vegas, Nevada, in a safe position in the world standings within striking distance of a world title opportunity.

Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, the No. 1 cowgirl in the WPRA standings, didn’t let off the pedal in Round Two. After sharing the win in Round One with Beisel, Tonozzi and SR Industry Titan came in gunning for another round win. They finished the set in the No. 2 slot with a time of 13.86 and splitting second and third with Wenda Johnson and Steal Money. Tonozzi and “Titan” have been on a roll recently and he’s been a steady asset to her team this season. The 2013 sorrel stallion bred by Matt and Bendi Dunn and had been owned by WJR Trucking Inc., since the beginning of his career. However, he sold to 70 Ranch Performance Horses on September 28, 2023. Titan first gained notoriety as an aged-event horse under the skillful hand of $4.3 million rider Troy Crumrine, who rode the stallion to $188,442. He then became a pro rodeo and National Finals Rodeo money-earner with Wenda Johnson at the 2020 Wrangler NFR. Now, with Tonozzi as his jockey he’s adding more pro rodeo money to his impressive record. Not including any money won in Sioux Falls, Titan has amassed more than $275,470 in EquiStat lifetime earnings.

Bubble Watch:

The WPRA top 15 is a race to the finish this year. The “bubble” to make it into the top 15 and secure a spot to the NFR is a race within a few thousand dollars, and with the lucrative payouts offered up at the Governor’s Cup there’s pressure on the line. Paige Jones currently sits in the No. 15 position with $100,412.67. Jones has ridden Famous Hayday to two solid times so far in Sioux Falls — she hasn’t yet picked up a paycheck, but she has solidified her spot in the aggregate and therefore a qualification to tomorrow’s Semifinals. She’s one step closer to making her first NFR. Sara Winkelman is in the No. 16 position with $91,276.20, however, she is not entered in Sioux Falls. No. 17 cowgirl Kelly Allen made her bid at the Governor’s Cup with hopes of earning an NFR qualification in the last days of the season, and while she turned in an aggregate time of 28.24 it was one spot out of advancing to the Semifinals. There’s still a ringer in the ranks, though. No. 18 cowgirl Ashley Castleberry advanced in the No. 6 position in the aggregate with a time of 28.09 on two runs. Castleberry hasn’t yet picked up round money in Sioux Falls, but she’s still in the game for a chance to earn the $25,000 paycheck. She would need at least $15,131 to overtake Jones’ lead.

CINCH Playoffs Barrel Racing Results

Round Two

1. Emily Beisel / Ivory On Fire / 13.69 / $10,000
2. (tie 2/3) Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / SR Industry Titan / 13.86 / $6,250
3. (tie 2/3) Wenda Johnson / Steal Money / 13.86 / $6,250
4. Taycie Matthews / Fame Fire Rocks / 13.88 / $2,500
5. Summer Kosel / Firewaterfrenchfame / 13.90
6. Jessica Routier / Fiery Miss West / 13.95
7. (tie 7/8) Ashley Castleberry / Skyy Blue / 13.99
8. (tie 7/8) Stevi Hillman / Sand In My Socks / 13.99
9. Paige Jones / Famous Hayday / 14.01
10. Kelly Allen / Wildchildsgotcashuno / 14.02
11. Hailey Kinsel / BCK Spyder Monkey / 14.44
12. Sue Smith / Diamond Center / 19.30 *

* denotes penalty

Aggregate on two runs (top eight advance):

1. Emily Beisel / 27.64
2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / 27.81
3. Taycie Matthews / 27.98
4. Wenda Johnson / 27.98
5. Summer Kosel / 27.99
6. Ashley Castleberry / 28.09
7. Paige Jones / 28.20
8. Jessica Routier / 28.23
9. Kelly Allen / 28.24
10. Hailey Kinsel / 28.81
11. Stevi Hillman / 32.82
12. Sue Smith / 33.26

UNOFFICIAL WPRA World Standings after CINCH Playoffs Round Two:

*NOTE: all standings are unofficial as they have not been verified by the WPRA. Results from other pro rodeos taking place the last weekend of September are not taken into account for these forecasted standings.

1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / $264,563.42
2. Jordon Briggs / $160,824.2
3. Lisa Lockhart / $134,593.55
4. Kassie Mowry / $133,802.17
5. Emily Beisel / $133,755.26
6. Taycie Matthews / $125,161.40
7. Wenda Johnson / $117,950.02
8. Jessica Routier / $116,437.96
9. Ilyssa Riley / $110,619.33
10. Stevi Hillman / $109,031.93
11. Sissy Winn / $109,022.49
12. Hailey Kinsel / $105,775.77
13. Sue Smith / $105,643.94
14. Summer Kosel / $103,681.61
15. Paige Jones / $100,412.67
16. Sara Winkelman / $91,276.2
17. Kelly Allen / $86,101.86
18. Ashley Castleberry / $85,282.6
19. Carlee Otero / $79,056.3
20. Dona Kay Rule / $78,860.34

Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi and Emily Beisel Share CINCH Playoffs Governor’s Cup Round One Win

SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA, September 28, 2023 — The 2023 CINCH Playoffs Governor’s Cup kicked off Thursday with fast action in the barrel racing. Boasting a lucrative $1.1 million total payout, the CINCH Playoffs has the capacity to alter the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association’s barrel racing world standings in the last week of the 2023 regular season. National Finals Rodeo qualifications will be determined at the end of September, and this last weekend of the season is making a big impact. After just one round at the Governor’s Cup, the bubble on the WPRA’s top 15 gets tighter and a regular-season earnings record was broken.

Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi rode SR Industry Titan (Firewaterontherocks x Mulberry Canyon Moon x Marthas Six Moons) to share the first-round win with Emily Beisel and Ivory On Fire (Ivory James x Lil Miss Firewater x Fire Water Flit) with times of 13.95. Tonozzi and Beisel each earned $8,750. With that money, Tonozzi not only holds onto her No. 1 position in the world standings but broke the regular-season earnings record previously set by Tiany Schuster in 2017 with $250,378. Unofficially after the win, Tonozzi has banked $258,063.42 in world standings earnings. 

“Titan” is a 2013 sorrel stallion bred by Matt and Bendi Dunn and owned by WJR Trucking Inc.. He first gained notoriety as an aged-event horse under the skillful hand of $4.3 million rider Troy Crumrine. The Waynesfield, Ohio, trainer and four-time Barrel Futurities of America World Champion rode the stallion to more than $188,442 in EquiStat earnings. In 2019, Crumrine and Titan won the BFA Derby championship, worth $61,640. In 2020 the stallion became a first-time NFR earner with Wenda Johnson when the Pawhuska, Oklahoma, cowgirl rode him to $16,077 at the Wrangler NFR inside Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. But this year, he’s been a steady asset to Tonozzi’s pro rodeo string, picking up more than $24,000 in pro rodeo earnings, according to EquiStat.

It’s no shock Titan is a force to be reckoned with on the barrel pattern — he’s bred for the job. His sire Firewaterontherocks ran to more than $249,800 in lifetime earnings as a performer and went on to sire more than $3.3 million in winners, with Titan being his No. 3 earner. On Titan’s dam side, Mulberry Canyon Moon will go down in history as one of the greatest barrel racing producers of all time, not to mention her own outstanding performance record. Multiple NFR qualifier Angie Meadors paired up with Mulberry Canyon Moon, the 2007 Equi-Stat Leading Futurity Horse, to qualify for the NFR in 2010 and 2011. At their first NFR, Meadors and “Mulberry” won three rounds — the fourth, ninth and 10th. Even before her retirement from the arena, Mulberry, a 2003 daughter of Marthas Six Moons and out of De Streaker by Osage Streaker (TB), was producing via embryo transfer. Her 2012 A Sharp Frenchman gelding MCM Imasharpguy (“Sharpie”) followed his dam’s path from futurities to rodeos. As a performer, Mulberry earned more than $355,624 and has now produced more than $908,242 as a dam — Titan being her No. 2 leading offspring.

Beisel purchased “Liza” in 2022 from Shelby Ridling, who trained the 7-year-old mare at the start of her career. She’s gone on to have success with Beisel on the pro rodeo stage, earning thus far a little more than $14,000 in EquiStat lifetime earnings. Beisel came into Sioux Falls in the No. 7 position in the world standings and unofficially has moved into the No. 5 position. With an easy cushion on what will be her fifth NFR qualification, Beisel made a businessman decision to put a relatively young horse into a pressure situation, which could simulate an NFR run. Over the course of the night, many contestants in every event commented during live TV interviews with the Cowboy Channel on the resemblance the Denny Sanford Premier Center had with the NFR’s Thomas and Mack Center Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Taking the opportunity to expose a horse to a similar setup and atmosphere might pay off for Beisel come December.

Beisel has ridden three other horses throughout the 2023 season to her $123,755.26 in regular-season earnings — Biddin On Fame (“Beau”), Namgis D 33 (“Chongo”) and Namgis D 35 (“Pipewrench”). Of her four mounts, Chongo is likely Beisel’s most well-known, having led the Weatherford, Oklahoma, cowgirl to seven NFR round wins: 2019 Round One, 2019 Round Four, 2020 Round Six, 2020 Round Seven, 2021 Round Five, 2022 Round Four, and 2022 Round Six. All totaled, Beisel has earned more than $1.2 million in EquiStat reported earnings.

Going into Friday’s round there’s still plenty of money on the line. As it sits — unofficially — $14,310.81 separates No. 17 Kelly Allen from No. 15 Paige Jones, and $15,130.07 separates No. 18 Ashley Castleberry from No. 15. With the rounds paying $10,000 to win and the Finals round paying $25,000 to win there is still plenty of opportunity for the standings to shake up. 

CINCH Playoffs Barrel Racing Results

Round One

1/2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / SR Industry Titan / 13.95 / $8,500

1/2. Emily Beisel / Ivory On Fire / 13.95 / $8,500

3. Sue Smith / Diamond Center / 13.96 / $5,000

4. Summer Kosel / Firewaterfrenchfame / 14.09 / $2,500

5. Ashley Castleberry / Skyy Blue / 14.10 

6. Taycie Matthews / Fame Fire Rocks / 14.10 

7. Wenda Johnson / Steal Money / 14.12  

8. Paige Jones / Famous Hayday / 14.19 

9. Kelly Allen / Miss JB 165 / 14.22 

10. Jessica Routier / Fiery Miss West / 14.28  

11. Hailey Kinsel / Outta Clear Blue / 14.37 

12. Stevi Hillman / Sand In My Socks /18.83 *  

* denotes penalty 

UNOFFICIAL WPRA World Standings after CINCH Playoffs Round One:

*NOTE: all standings are unofficial as they have not been verified by the WPRA. Results from other pro rodeos taking place the last weekend of September are not taken into account for these forecasted standings.

1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / $258,313.42
2. Jordon Briggs / $160,824.2
3. Lisa Lockhart / $134,593.55
4. Kassie Mowry / $133,802.17
5. Emily Beisel / $123,755.26
6. Taycie Matthews / $122,661.4
7. Jessica Routier / $116,437.96
8. Wenda Johnson / $111,700.02
9. Ilyssa Riley / $110,619.33
10. Stevi Hillman / $109,031.93
11. Sissy Winn / $109,022.49
12. Hailey Kinsel / $105,775.77
13. Sue Smith / $105,643.94
14. Summer Kosel / $103,681.61
15. Paige Jones / $100,412.67
16. Sara Winkelman / $91,276.2
17. Kelly Allen / $86,101.86
18. Ashley Castleberry / $85,282.6
19. Carlee Otero / $79,056.3
20. Dona Kay Rule / $78,860.34

Mid-September WPRA Standings Shift

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 — September has been full of pro rodeo athletes cruising for their last bids for National Finals Rodeo qualifications or to cushion their standings ranks. While September will wrap up the regular season, there is still plenty of money up for grabs in these last weeks and no sight of the ladies of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association slowing down.

At the end of August, Emily Beisel of Weatherford, Oklahoma, sat in the No. 10 position, and as of September 25, she moved to the No. 7 position. From August 28 to September 25, Beisel earned $20,359.60.

Another Oklahoma cowgirl Wenda Johnson picked up cash in the month of September to move up the ranks in the world standings as well. Johnson moved from No. 11 to No. 8, earning $18,013.32 between August 28 to September 25. This move in the world standings came a month after Johnson lost her NFR money-earner Macgyver Moonflash (First Moonflash x Touched By The Moon x Black Moons Arising). “Mac” was originally owned by Tres Mesa Horses of Fort Worth, Texas, and trained on the barrels by Luis Hernandez. The gelding raced on the track until he was 3 and then sold to Tres Mesa Horses, where his career as a barrel horse began under Hernandez and then Johnson. The 2013 gelding sold to Highpoint Performance Horses in August 2021, and Johnson continued to campaign Mac at the pro rodeos — as she had done the majority of his pro rodeo career. On August 1, 2023, Johnson went to Facebook to announce the news of Mac’s passing due to “an infection in his leg severely affected his tendon, resulting in a loss of life.”

Since the loss of Mac, Johnson has gone on to move up the standings aboard her other NFR money-earner and First Moonflash-bred gelding Steal Money (First Moonflash x Im Chica Stoli x Stoli). “Mo” was also previously owned by Tres Mesa Horses and trained by Luis Hernandez and sold with Mac to Highpoint Performance Horses in August 2021. Together, Johnson and the 7-year-old gelding have earned tremendous notoriety in the pro rodeo world, collecting more than $75,083 in NFR earnings at the 2022 event alone. They are continuing that winning streak in the 2023 regular season. 

Stevi Hillman moved from outside the top 15 in the No. 17 position to No. 10 after a huge September. Hillman kicked off September picking up $4,895 in Ellensburg, Washington, and $2,513 in Puyallup. From there, Hillman and 6-year-old mare Sand In My Socks earned $11,375 in Pendleton after topping the finals and the average on the tough field known as “The Green Mile.” From September 21-23 in Amarillo, Texas, Hillman and “Sandi” also picked up $1,487, plus $1,856 in Springhill, Louisiana. From August 28 to September 25, Hillman earned $26,280.92, moving her into an NFR-qualifying position. Sandi, who’s owned by 70 Ranch Performance Horses, was trained and campaigned during her futurity year by EquiStat All-Time Leading Rider Kassie Mowry and won $100,000 in her first competitive run as a 3-year-old to win the 2020 Barrel Futurities of America SuperStakes slot race with Mowry for then-owners Isabella Quarter Horses. The 2017 mare by BHR Frenchies socks and out of JC Pick Six by Tres Seis went on to win more than $260,000 with Mowry. Sandi sold to 70 Ranch Performance Horses in 2022 and joined Hillman’s string for the 2022 NFR. This year, Hillman and Sandi have earned more than $30,000 in pro rodeo earnings, which doesn’t include all of September’s earnings. Along with other mounts, Hillman has earned $109,031.93 in WPRA earnings thus far in 2023.

Other ladies moving up the standings rank or cushioning their leads were Sissy Winn, who moved from No. 16 to No. 11 with $35,687.61 won from August 28 to September 25. No. 1 cowgirl Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi never let up on the gas pedal, adding $33,295.92 to her commanding lead in the WPRA world standings from August 28 to September 25.

Currently, the bubble sits at $100,412.67, with Paige Jones in the No. 15 spot followed closely behind by Sara Winkleman in the No. 16 position with $91,276.20. As of press time, there are a little over a dozen pro rodeos left in the season, but the biggest rodeo with the potential to change the world standings is the CINCH Playoffs Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the final weekend of the season. With a payoff as follows, it’s sure to shake up the standings:

2023 CINCH Playoffs Governor’s Cup Total Payoff for each of the first two performances per event: $25,000
1st Place $10,000
2nd Place $ 7,500
3rd Place $ 5,000
4th Place $ 2,500

Total Payoff for Semi-Finals per Event (5th through 8th place): $10,222.20
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
4th Place
5th Place $2,555.55
6th Place $2,555.55
7th Place $2,555.55
8th Place $2,555.55

Total Payoff for the Finals per Event (equal money in team roping): $62,000.
1st Place $25,000
2nd Place $19,000
3rd Place $12,000
4th Place $ 6,000

WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings as of September 25, 2023

1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / $249,563.42
2. Jordon Briggs / $160,824.2
3. Lisa Lockhart / $134,593.55
4. Kassie Mowry / $133,802.17
5. Taycie Matthews / $122,661.4
6. Jessica Routier / $116,437.96
7. Emily Beisel / $115,005.26
8. Wenda Johnson / $111,700.02
9. Ilyssa Riley / $110,619.33
10. Stevi Hillman / $109,031.93
11. Sissy Winn / $109,022.49
12. Hailey Kinsel / $105,775.77
13. Summer Kosel / $101,181.61
14. Sue Smith / $100,643.94
15. Paige Jones / $100,412.67
16. Sara Winkelman / $91,276.2
17. Kelly Allen / $86,101.86
18. Ashley Castleberry / $85,282.6
19. Carlee Otero / $79,056.3
20. Dona Kay Rule / $78,860.34

WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings as of September 19, 2023

1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / $246,882.54
2. Jordon Briggs / $160,522.61
3. Lisa Lockhart / $134,593.55
4. Kassie Mowry / $133,802.17
5. Taycie Matthews / $122,661.4
6. Jessica Routier / $116,437.96
7. Emily Beisel / $112,880.86
8. Ilyssa Riley / $110,265.52
9. Wenda Johnson / $107,983.65
10. Sissy Winn / $106,743.75
11. Hailey Kinsel / $105,775.77
12. Stevi Hillman / $105,687.32
13. Paige Jones / $100,147.31
14. Summer Kosel / $97,996.15
15. Sue Smith / $97,392.3
16. Sara Winkelman / $91,276.2
17. Ashley Castleberry / $84,789.04
18. Kelly Allen / $84,775.05
19. Carlee Otero / $79,056.3
20. Dona Kay Rule / $78,860.34

WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings as of August 7, 2023

1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / $188,921
2. Jordon Briggs / $141,354
3. Kassie Mowry / $129,995
4. Lisa Lockhart / $115,147
5. Hailey Kinsel / $98,240
6. Emily Beisel / $92,389
7. Taycie Matthews / $91,578
8. Jessica Routier / $91,179
9. Sue Smith / $89,617
10. Ilyssa Riley / $89,505
11. Paige Jones / $81,772
12. Summer Kosel / $77,407
13. Wenda Johnson / $76,782
14. Sara Winkelman / $75,410
15. Kelly Allen / $73,850
16. Sissy Winn / $73,436
17. Dona Kay Rule / $65,807
18. Jackie Ganter / $63,568
19. Stevi Hillman / $62,168
20. Shelley Morgan / $58,201

Beisel Best Over Fourth of July

courtesy WPRA with modifications from Barrel Horse News

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – Emily Beisel turned in A-plus performances over the Fourth of July known as “Cowboy Christmas” to lead the barrel racing in total money won at rodeos that were contested between June 26 and July 5.

This is the second time for Beisel to capture this accomplishment having done so in 2019, as well. Beisel won a total of $25,277 edging Paige Jones by just over $500. Jones finished with $24,776 and Carlee Otero was third with $22,795. Beisel collected her biggest check North of the border at the Ponoka Stampede in Ponoka, Alberta, Canada. She took the title aboard Namgis D 33 and added $16,835 to her 2023 earnings. She also picked up checks at the Cody (Wyoming) Stampede — $4,019, Home of Champions (Livingston, Montana) — $2,410 and the Molalla (Oregon) Buckaroo Rodeo — $2,013. 

The timing of Beisel and Jones finishing 1-2, couldn’t have been better especially when looking at their horsepower and the ranch their mounts came from. As the 2003 WPRA World Champion Janae Ward Massey posted on her social media page: “What a 4^th of July in the rodeo arena for Youree Ranch horses. Emily Beisel and Paige Jones banked over $50,000 between them on Bazinga, Pipewrench, Chongo and Beau. Way to go girls, can’t wait to see you in the bright lights of Vegas! You make the ranch proud.”

The Youree family has played a big part in the history of the WPRA and their horse breeding program continues to make headlines.

Cowboy Christmas Barrel Racing Leaders – Top 10

1.     Emily Beisel   $25,277

2.     Paige Jones     $24,776

3.     Carlee Otero   $22,795

4.     Stevi Hillman $17,161

5.     Tracy Nowlin  $16,484

6.     Dona Kay Rule           $16,029

7.     Ashley Castleberry     $14,352

8.     Ilyssa Riley     $13,703

9.     Hailey Kinsel  $12,893

10.  Tarryn Lee      $12,234

WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings as of July 6, 2023

1. Jordon Briggs / $99,303.33
2. Hailey Kinsel / $73,690.53
3. Kassie Mowry / $71,323.62
4. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / $67,547.33
5. Emily Beisel / $65,728.77
6. Sissy Winn / $63,127.88
7. Paige Jones / $60,376.20
8. Ilyssa Riley / $57,618.75
9. Dona Kay Rule / $57,293.51
10. Wenda Johnson / $53,200.57
11. Jackie Ganter / $52,038.94
12. Kelly Allen / $51,284.56
13. Lisa Lockhart / $51,094.01
14. Sara Winkelman / $45,350.94
15. Taycie Matthews / $45,238.50
16. Shelley Morgan / $45,208.35
17. Summer Kosel / $44,858.68
18. Molly Otto / $43,424.90
19. Margo Crowther / $43,032.10
20. Jimmie Smith / $42,596.97

WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings as of June 7, 2023

1. Jordon Briggs / $87,509.07
2. Kassie Mowry / $66,744.25
3. Sissy Winn / $51,821.39
4. Jackie Ganter / $51,117.74
5. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / $44,243.40
6. Hailey Kinsel / $43,259.04
7. Kelly Allen / $41,836.04
8. Wenda Johnson / $41,801.98
9. Molly Otto / $38,621.61
10. Jimmie Smith-Tew / $37,680.84
11. Dona Kay Rule / $35,483.33
12. Taycie Matthews / $35,080.63
13. Summer Kosel / $33,618.43
14. Emily Beisel / $32,528.95
15. Margo Crowther / $32,448.85
16. Shelley Morgan / $32,211.50
17. Ilyssa Riley / $32,211.50
18. Sara Winkelman / $31,711
19. Lisa Lockhart / $31,680.01
20. Jessica Routier / $31,461.65

Kassie Mowry Wins San Antonio and San Angelo, Moves to No. 2

EquiStat All-Time Leading Rider Kassie Mowry dominated the winter stock show rodeos. As of February, Mowry wasn’t even in the top 20 of the WPRA standings, but fast forward to May 1, and she’s sitting in the No. 2 position. Over the course of those three months, Mowry earned $37,963 — a large portion of that coming from the building rodeos. Her two biggest wins came in San Antonio and San Angelo, held February 9–25 and March 31–April 15, respectively. 

The San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo is an important stop in the schedule for those looking for an NFR qualification. The rodeo held over the course of February boasted $1,440,001 in total payout, making it the second-highest paying Texas stock show rodeo. 

Aboard CP He Will Be Epic, the Dublin, Texas, trainer made her way through the bracket system in San Antonio, picking up $2,500 from the long rounds. They topped the Wildcard round with a 13.96, worth $5,000, and advanced to the Finals, where they turned in a 13.95 to take home the championship, worth $22,500. 

San Angelo, the last building rodeo of the season, offered up $699,710 in total payout. Mowry and “Will” continued their winning streak. They came out strong, splitting second place in the first round with Timber Allenbrand from a 15.82, worth $5,171. Mowry followed that with a first-place check in Round Two with a time of 14.04, worth $6,582. They went into the Finals and turned in a 14.00 for second place behind Lindsay Sears’ 13.88 and earned $3,657. Will’s efforts earned Mowry the San Angelo Rodeo aggregate title with a 43.86 on three runs, worth $9,873 for a total of $25,283 in earnings. 

Across the stock show rodeos, Mowry earned the $47,783 from San Antonio and San Angelo, and then $1,540 in Fort Worth, $13,500 at Rodeo Houston and $4,063 at Rodeo Austin.

WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings as of May 1, 2023

1. Jordon Briggs / $87,894.72
2. Kassie Mowry / $65,264.70
3. Jackie Ganter / $50,368.28
4. Sissy Winn / $48,563.78
5. Hailey Kinsel / $43,259.04
6. Brittan y Pozzi Tonozzi / $43,035.88
7. Molly Otto / $38,621.61
8. Jimmie Smith-Tew / $35,658.49
9. Wenda Johnson / $33,396.37
10. Kelly Allen / $33,387.75
11. Dona Kay Rule / $32,725.38
12. Margo Crowther /  $32,448.85
13. Shelley Morgan / $32,211.50
14. Jessica Routier / $31,866.65
15. Lisa Lockhart / $31,680.01
16. Sara Winkelman / $28,812.35
17. Ilyssa Riley / $28,016.85
18. Taycie Matthews / $27,451.79
19. Summer Kosel / $27,362.08
20. Emily Beisel / $26,005.06

Jordon Briggs Wins Rodeo Houston, Takes Lead in Standings

2021 world champion Jordon Briggs has steadily been moving up in the world standings since January, but she skyrocketed to the No. 1 position after winning the $50,000 Rodeo Houston title. 

Rodeo Houston is the biggest winter rodeo of the year, boasting a $1,936,000 total payout from February 28–March 19. This year marks Briggs’ second consecutive Rodeo Houston title after winning the 2022 event as well. 

While a Rodeo Houston win has solidified an athlete’s NFR qualification in years past, it’s important to note Briggs won her first WPRA world title in 2021 without a Rodeo Houston qualification at all. Now, it seems the $2.1 million EquiStat leading rider is taking advantage of her shot inside the NRG Stadium in Houston. 

Her world champion mount Famous Lil Jet was a force to reckon with in Houston. “Rollo” kicked off the rodeo in Super Series 1 topping the first round with a 14.93, worth $3,000. 

They were out of the money in the second round but came back in the third round to finish second with a 14.90, worth $2,000. That $5,000 tied Briggs with Andrea Busby — who bred Rollo and from whom Briggs purchased the sorrel gelding from in 2015 as a yearling — as Semifinals qualifiers. 

From there, Briggs and Rollo advanced to the Super Series Semifinal 2 and turned in a 14.35 to win the round and earn $3,000. 

But the show wasn’t over yet. They still had to make it through two more rounds. The Tolar, Texas, professional barrel racer finished third in the Championship long round with a 14.73, worth $2,500. 

That was good enough to advance Briggs and her ultra-consistent gelding to the clean-slate Championship Shootout. Rollo turned in another 14.73 to win the coveted Rodeo Houston title and $50,000. 

All totaled, Briggs earned $60,500 in Houston. Those earnings boosted her from No. 8 in the world standings to No. 1. As of May 1, she still holds onto that lead in the WPRA world standings.

WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings as of April 1, 2023

1. Jordon Briggs / $87,895
2. Jackie Ganter / $49,193
3. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / $43,036
4. Sissy Winn / $42,452
5. Kassie Mowry / $39,982
6. Molly Otto / $38,622
7. Margo Crowther / $32,449
8. Jessica Routier / $31,867
9. Lisa Lockhart / $31,680
10. Hailey Kinsel / $30,557
11. Kelly Allen / $26,983
12. Sara Winkelman / $25,724
13. Jimmie Smith-Tew / $25,316
14. Ilyssa Riley / $24,743
15. Bayleigh Choate / $22,400
16. Emily Beisel / $22,088
17. Taycie Matthews / $21,608
18. Amanda Welsh / $21,308
19. Dona Kay Rule / $20,694
20. Erin Wetzel / $20,446

WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings as of March 1, 2023

1. Jackie Ganter / $45,768
2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / $29,974
3. Lisa Lockhart / $29,842
4. Sissy Winn / $28,658
5. Margo Crowther / $27,535
6. Kassie Mowry / $27,302
7. Hailey Kinsel / $24,307
8. Jordon Briggs / $23,467
9. Emily Beisel / $21,148
10. Ilyssa Riley / $20,279
11. Bayleigh Choate / $19,598
12. Kelly Allen / $19,316
13. Jimmie Smith-Tew / $18,457
14. Erin Wetzel / $18,431
15. Dona Kay Rule / $16,387
16. Taycie Matthews / $15,128
17. Tiany Schuster / $14,649
18. Nicole Love / $14,535
19. Sara Winkelman / $13,829
20. Ivy Hurst / $13,325

Jackie Ganter Wins Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo, Leaps to WPRA World Standings Lead

As of January 1, 2023, Jackie Ganter was fifth in the WPRA world standings with a little more than $9,000 to her name. By February 6, she was sitting No. 1 with $36,798. Ganter and Howes A Tycoon took home the Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo championship after a grueling week and earned $25,260 to boost the Abilene, Texas, resident to the No. 1 spot. 

It wasn’t an enter-and-win, pay-to-play path, however. The qualification into the big winter “building” rodeos can be a major factor in the future success of a pro rodeo athlete’s season. The qualification into the building rodeos is earned by several factors, mostly dependent on the success of the previous year. A percentage of the prior year’s world standings, circuit standings and WPRA Tour standings are taken to the building rodeos. Ganter has battled her way back into those qualifications after working through horse injuries since 2019. Ganter earned her berth to the limited-entry Fort Worth rodeo, held January 20–February 4, by finishing in the top four of the WPRA Tour the previous year. The WPRA Tour is point-based and reflects a member’s seven best results out of 60 qualifying events with $5,000 or less added money, and it’s one of the avenues used to determine limited-entry qualifications. She also earned her way into the other winter rodeos from winning the Card Holder’s Race at the WPRA World Finals in November. 

“Fort Worth was probably the building rodeo this winter I felt the least prepared for — I felt like I had a plan at Denver and San Antonio, but at Fort Worth I felt like I’d take a few horses and see how it goes,” Ganter said with a laugh. “I didn’t really know which horse was going to run well or not, so it was shocking that was the rodeo I won.” 

With three horses in her trailer, Ganter made the trip over to Fort Worth and made the game-time decision to give “Tycoon” the call. Fort Worth, while now inside Dickies Arena, still holds the same arena dimensions as the historic Will Rogers Coliseum, where it was previously held. Ganter says the first barrel specifically can offer up difficulties. 

Ganter made her first run in Bracket 7, meaning she’d watched the previous six brackets of horses run and knew if a horse struggled with the first barrel it was likely not making it back to the Semifinals. That was the deciding factor in Tycoon getting the call for the Fort Worth rodeo, which boasted a total payout of $908,800. 

“He typically would never run by the first barrel,” she said. “He’s going to find the barrels and turn them, so I went with him because I thought he would turn the first barrel. When you put him on the right stage, he knows to deliver.”

The 15-year-old gelding did exactly that, topping the first round of Bracket 7 with a time of 16.54, worth $1,760. The first round was on a Monday night, and they turned around and ran their second run Tuesday. Tycoon stumbled going to the second barrel, which cost them some time. They turned in a 16.74, but it wasn’t good enough to advance to the Semifinals. They did earn a Wildcard position, however, for the following night. 

“I was first out in the Wildcard, and I knew in a Wildcard round I just had to go for it,” Ganter said. “Being first in the round you can’t think your way through it, because you don’t know what everybody else is going to do. I had to just go for first [place]. He absolutely threw down a great run. It’s probably one of my favorite runs I’ve ever made on him in the whole time I’ve owned him.”

That run pushed them into the Semifinals, which were set for the next night. This meant Ganter would have to make her fourth run in a row on Tycoon — something the 2016 NFR qualifier has never asked the gelding to do before. 

“He’s legitimately never made four runs in a row. I felt like it was a lot to ask of him. I actually cried after my run, because I felt like I was asking too much of him,” Ganter said with a laugh.

Ganter says Tycoon was admittedly a little tired in the Semifinals but still conquered the Fort Worth set up and turned in a time of 16.56 to split second place with Jordon Briggs, worth $2,500 each. This also meant they advanced to the Finals and even got a day’s rest with the Fort Worth finals set for Saturday.

Ganter made sure Tycoon used that Friday for well-deserved rest and relaxation. That same weekend, a Texas ice storm blew through the arena and kept Ganter from traveling back to Abilene. She used her day making sure Tycoon was feeling his best. 

“I just hung out all day Friday with him,” Ganter said. “I Bemer’ed him, did all the therapies and tried to make him feel good and made sure I got him out of his stall as much as I could.”

Saturday rolled around, and the clean-slate finals meant it had all come down to this one moment. 

“I was really nervous,” Ganter admitted. “It had been a long, long time since I had been in a short round with that caliber of people and horses.” 

The day of rest seemed to do the trick. Tycoon had a whole new spark for Saturday’s final round. 

“He felt alive. He just showed up again,” Ganter said. “That was his fifth run that week, and he did it again and ran the same time he ran in the Wildcard. I did not see that coming. 

“It was a really cool week,” she continued. “God has a plan, and when it’s your time, it’s your time. When it’s not your time, you can’t force it to happen, but when it is you can’t stop it from happening. I guess it was just our week.” 

Ganter and Tycoon topped the Finals with a 16.30, worth $20,000. The Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo concluded February 4, and when the WPRA updated its standings February 6, Ganter had launched to the top of the standings. Not only is the win personally rewarding for Ganter, but professionally it means she’s opened the door for another potential NFR qualification. 

“It was really exciting to get that win and a lump sum of money like that,” Ganter said. “It pushed me toward the top of the standings, and now I have a chance to try to make the NFR again. At the end of the day, everything comes down to the summer, but I’m thankful for it setting me up to go into the summer and feel good about it and to try to have a successful summer and make the Finals again. It’s been a long time. I haven’t made the Finals since 2016, so I would love to make it again, but I know it comes down to the summer and what can happen there.”

WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings as of February 6, 2023

1. Jackie Ganter / $36,768
2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / $25,974
3. Sissy Winn / $23,158
4. Ilyssa Riley / $18,503
5. Hailey Kinsel / $17,807
6. Lisa Lockhart / $17,650
7. Jordon Briggs / $15,967
8. Erin Wetzel / $14,974
9. Tiany Schuster / $14,649
10. Kelly Allen / $14,368
11. Ivy Hurst / $13,325
12. Emily Beisel / $12,081
13. Abigail Knight / $11,913
14. Stephanie Fryar / $11,012
15. Sara Winkelman / $10,480
16. Shannon Griffin / $10,285
17. Darby Fox / $10,242
18. Fonda Melby / $10,157
19. Shali Lord / $10,071
20. Margo Crowther / $9,644

WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings as of January 1, 2023

1. Ilyssa Riley / $15,582.85
2. Erin Owens Wetzel / $13,693.61
3. Stephanie Fryar / $10,572.25
4. Kelly Allen / $10,177.14
5. Jackie Ganter / $9,124.33
6. Sara Winkelman / $9,077.15
7. Lisa Lockhart / $8,435.71
8. Austyn Toney / $8,383.75
9. Ivy Hurst / $8,338.93
10. Leia Pluemer / $8,227.43
11. Jordon Briggs / $7,947.22
12. Tiany Schuster / $7,788.83
13. Ashley Stpierre Rogers / $7,465.12
14. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / $7,447.40
15. Nikki Hansen / $6,526.26
16. Rachelle Riggers / $6,526.26
17. Kacey Gartner / $6,413.27
18. Cayla Melby Small / $6,256.81
19. Rainey Skelton / $6,015.22