WACO, TEXAS – While the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association World Champion Barrel Racer will not be crowned until next month in December, card members were already getting a jump start on the 2025 season this weekend at the WPRA World Finals in Waco, Texas.
Information provided courtesy WPRA with modifications from Barrel Horse News
Winning the Boot Barn Card Race was former world champion Fallon Taylor aboard Furytyme (Furyofthewind x Three Tymes A Lady x Tres Seis). Taylor conquered the cloverleaf pattern during the first round in a time of 15.702, was a 15.898 in the second round and wrapped up the weekend with a 15.990 in the final round to win the average in a time of 47.590. Taylor earned a total of $6,921 in the Card Holder Race. She just edged out Andrea Busby, who will be making her first trip down the alley at the Thomas and Mack in December at the National Finals Rodeo. Busby finished the weekend with a 47.632 for second in the aggregate, worth $3,775.
While card holders were starting their quest for the 2025 Wrangler NFR there were others that were looking to fill their permit and become eligible to buy their card for 2025. Ginger West won the permit average along with the first round aboard Barreras Superman (Barreras Fortune x EE Rare Lil Angel x Rare Bar). West won the average in a total time of 47.933. The average alone paid $1,248 to easily fill her permit. Along with her first round win, short round win and the aggregate title she earned $2,915.
An added bonus is that her horse Barreras Superman was also voted the Professional Choice’s Outstanding Barrel Horse of the WPRA World Finals.
Winning the Junior average race was Tabitha Dyal, who hails from the state of New York. Dyal was riding former world champion Mary Walker’s horse Latte Ditto, that is a clone from Walker’s champion horse Perculatin aka “Latte.” Dyal won both rounds en route to the average title finishing with a two run total of 32.134 seconds. She won the first round with a 15.997 and was 16.137 in the second round.
Winning the Junior world title was Makayla Maddie of Auburndale, Florida, who finished the year with $21,151 in earnings.
Complete results from the WPRA World Finals can be found at www.wpra.com.
Elite Open Winners
Held in conjunction with the WPRA World Finals the Elite Open offered up additional opportunities for contestants to cash in paychecks in the open races. Helen Nowosad and Down Ta Drift topped Friday’s Open Race 1 with a 15.693, worth $1,608. Taylor and Furytyme finished second with their 15.702 for $1,354. Dally Taylor and JL Barrista topped Saturday’s Open Race 2 with a 15.549, worth $3,737. Makenzie Mayes finished Sunday’s Open Race 3 in the No. 1 position with a 15.674 for $1,142.
