The Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo concluded July 24 in Salt Lake City. The barrel racing action was top-notch with three National Finals Rodeo qualifiers taking home the winning honors. Kassie Mowry took home the Gold Medal at the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo aboard Force The Goodbye.
By Ann Bleiker, courtesy Utah Days of ’47 with modifications from Barrel Horse News
Kassie Mowry Wins Gold at Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo
SALT LAKE CITY (July 24, 2024) – It was a Golden Night at the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo presented by Zions Bank. Less than 24 hours after Salt Lake City learned they would be hosting the 2034 Winter Olympics, rodeo champions stood atop the medal stand to close out the 2024 edition of the Only Gold Medal Rodeo in the World.
The Gold Standard in Rodeo featured a total of 288 competitors, who took their shot at a share of close over three-quarters of a million in prize money and a gold, silver or bronze medal that was awarded on Wednesday, July 24.
The barrel racing was a race to the finish with EquiStat All-Time Leading Rider Kassie Mowry of Dublin, Texas, laying down the fastest time of the night with a 16.75-second run. Mowry relied on her trusty stead Force The Goodbye aka “Jarvis” who turned in times this week in Salt Lake of 16.71, 16.86 and then the gold medal run, the fastest time of the performances, with a 16.75.
“I’ve had some great horses in my career and this horse tops it all,” said Mowry after winning Gold. “He’s just taken me for a ride and we’re having a lot of fun.”
This was Mowry’s first time to step on the medal stand in Salt Lake City. Joining her was Taycie Matthews with the silver after stopping the clock in 16.93 seconds and Dona Kay Rule captured the bronze in 16.98 seconds.
Prior to 2017 when the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo started awarding medals, the only two other opportunities rodeo athletes had to compete for gold, silver and bronze were in 1988 and 2002 when the Olympic Games were in Calgary and Salt Lake City, respectively. As part of the Cultural Arts Festival in each location, a rodeo was held pitting U.S. vs Canada.
The full field at Days of ’47 was divided into four groups with eight contestants each performance. The top two scores or times per performance advanced to the Gold Medal Round. Scores/times from the semifinal performances did NOT carry forward to the Gold Medal Round (only to break ties). The eight competitors in each event in the Gold Medal Round competed in a sudden-death format with the winner collecting a Gold Medal and $13,000 cash.
The Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo presented by Zions Bank, took place at the $17.5 million state-of-the-art Days of ’47 Arena at the Utah State Fairpark, custom designed and built for rodeo. The venue — an outdoor arena located in the heart of Salt Lake City — features more than 10,000 stadium-style seats.
Utah Days of ’47 Barrel Racing Results:
Barrel racing: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 16.75 seconds, $13,000; 2. Taycie Matthews, Wynne, AR, 16.93, $9,000; 3. Dona Kay Rule, Minco, OK, 16.98, $5,000; 4. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 17.21, $2,750.
Gold: Kassie Mowry
Silver: Taycie Matthews
Bronze: Dona Kay Rule
