LAS VEGAS — DECEMBER 9, 2024 — Back to the pay window, Kassie Mowry and Force The Goodbye won back-to-back rounds with the Round Five win at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, presented by Teton Ridge. Mowry and “Jarvis” could not have been more consistent turning in the same time that won them last night’s round as well, a 13.43. They added another $33,687 to their earnings and are currently sitting second in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world standings.
Mowry, the all-time leading barrel horse rider with more than $7.3 million in career earnings knows how to ride under pressure, yet she says she hasn’t been feeling the pressure recently. Having hit a barrel in Round One, Mowry says going for the go-round wins have allowed her to relax and have fun.
“I feel like the pressure is off, and I think that’s why I’m able to relax,” she said. “I got here [to the NFR]. That was the pressure was getting here. I got here, and after that, it’s just been what he wants to do.”
Mowry rode Jarvis, the more than $1.1 million horse, at the 2023 NFR running him in five rounds and picked up two round wins and $85,679. In 2023, Mowry started the NFR aboard CP He Will Be Epic winning $42,593 before switching to Jarvis in Round Five. Jarvis was out of the money in Rounds Five and Six, but finished second in Round Seven, and then won back-to-back rounds in Round Eight and Nine. This year, she started aboard Jarvis and other than the tipped barrel in Round One has collected a paycheck in every round aboard the 2018 gelding, who’s by The Goodbye Lane and out of VF Forcit First, who’s by Burrs First Down.
As No. 11 out on the ground Mowry and Jarvis made their 13.43 look effortless. While Mowry recalls a small bobble in the pattern, yet it didn’t slow down Jarvis.
“He felt great going to the first barrel,” Mowry said. “The only thing I really remember was just the step going into it. I think he just kind of hit a rut, and he tripped a little bit, but he recovers. He recovered really fast. I think he just ran that much harder. It felt smooth as silk after that. I didn’t really have to do anything to help him. I just stayed out of his way and just kept coaxing him out the gate. I mean, he was running.”
One characteristic Mowry says is needed in order to be successful inside the Thomas and Mack Center’s arena is good timing, and the duo from Dublin, Texas, have exhibited good timing for the past four rounds.
“You have to have good timing. It’s hard to stay with your horse, because things happen so quick [on the pattern inside the Thomas and Mack].” Mowry said. “Barrel racing is just a game of angles. If you get off your angle, it’s hard to get back on track. So, a little trip here, a little slip or go by a little bit, it’s hard to get back on track. You have to really try to stay with your horse. It’s really hard to do here.”
The goal hasn’t been to win rounds, but rather showcase Jarvis for the world. To give him the opportunity to display his athleticism for 10 rounds. Jarvis is not only showcasing his talent, but he’s winning rounds, too. But for Mowry, showing off Jarvis is the most important and was the main goal coming into this year’s NFR after her late-fiance, and Jarvis’ owner Michael Boone died earlier this year.
“Well, this year was very important. My fiance, this horse belonged to him, and he knew how special this horse was. Last year we saw it, and he just really wanted the horse to show everybody and make a name for himself. He knew he could do it. He was right, clearly,” Mowry said. “He wanted me to give this horse a chance at a full 10 rounds. Last year I did five rounds on him. I started on him halfway through, and he wanted him to have a chance at the full 10 rounds and really get comfortable and start when everybody started. Not start halfway through. That’s really hard to start on a new one, kind of in the middle. My goal, was to get here and give this horse this opportunity, and this horse has just taken the opportunity and ran with it.”
Boone was known for his keen eye and instincts for choosing, training and campaigning winning futurity horses. An all-time leading owner of barrel horses, Boone has EquiStat lifetime earnings of more than $2.6 million.
Round Five was a crowd-pleaser with no one hitting barrels and all times being sub-13-second times. Carlee Otero rode Blingolena to the second place finish with a 13.51, worth $26,623.74. Otero last qualified for the NFR in 2014 and came into this year’s NFR in the No. 14 position. She’s steadily climbed the ranks and has picked up three go-round paychecks and a total of $89,871.22 in NFR earnings. It’s moved her from No. 13 to No. 5 in the WPRA world standings.
2024 NFR Barrel Racing Horsepower
Top 10 EquiStat NFR All-Time Leaders
Halftime Report
Thus far, there has been $543,341.60 awarded in go-round money at the 2024 NFR, and that same amount is still up for grabs in the next five rounds as the event comes to it’s halfway mark. Plus, there is still $326,004.95 in aggregate money to be paid out. Of the $543,342 already awarded No. 1 cowgirl in the WPRA world standings, Hailey Kinsel as earned $136,598.60 of that and currently sits No. 1 in the aggregate. Mowry is right behind her at No. 2 in the world standings, and having earned $130,621.84 so far this NFR.
First-time NFR qualifier Andrea Busby has been solid aboard her home-bred and -raised 2015 gelding Jets Top Gun, who’s by Blazin Jetolena and out of GL Famous First Lady, who’s by Dash Ta Fame. “Benny” was the 2023 WPRA World Champion barrel horse with Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi and has been continuing to showcase his talent inside the Thomas and Mack Center with Busby. Together, Busby and Benny have earned $61,345.78 at the NFR so far and currently sit in the No. 2 position in the aggregate. As the 10 days in Vegas whittle down the aggregate race becomes more and more important, as the first place cowgirl will receive $86,391.31.
As it sits after Round Five, Kinsel holds onto her world standings lead with $340,701.14, followed by Mowry with $292,904.68. Leslie Smalygo who won Rodeo Houston and The Calgary Stampede en route to qualifying for the 2024 NFR came into the NFR No. 2 and now sits at No. 3 with $214,057.12. There is still plenty of money left to change the world standings before Round 10.
- 2024 NFR Barrel Racing Round One Results
- 2024 NFR Barrel Racing Round Two Results
- 2024 NFR Barrel Racing Round Three Results
- 2024 NFR Barrel Racing Round Four Results
2024 NFR Barrel Racing Round Five Results
1. Kassie Mowry/Force The Goodbye/13.43/$33,687.18
2. Carlee Otero/Blingolena/13.51/$26,623.74
3. Emily Beisel/Namgis D 33/13.53/$20,103.64
4/5. tie-Lisa Lockhart/Promise Me Fame Guys/13.57/$11,410.17
4/5. tie-Andrea Busby/Jets Top Gun/13.57/$11,410.17
6. Hailey Kinsel/DM Sissy Hayday/13.59/$5,433.42
7. LaTricia Duke/DM High Roller/13.65
8/9. tie-Ashley Castleberry/Skyy Blue/13.66
8/9. tie-Shelley Morgan/Bucky Wonder Horse/13.66
10/11/12. tie-Leslie Smalygo/Justaheartbeattofame/13.68
10/11/12. tie-Halyn Lide/Jettin Ta Heaven/13.68
10/11/12. tie-Abby Phillips/VF Expensive Taste/13.68
13. Dona Kay Rule/High Valor/13.70
14. Wenda Johnson/Steal Money/13.81
15. Tiany Schuster/Famous Mic Guy Ver/13.89
2024 NFR Barrel Racing Aggregate Results
- Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 67.54 on five runs
- Andrea Busby, Millsap, Texas, 68.38
- Tiany Schuster, Krum, Texas, 68.65
- Ashley Castleberry, Montgomery, Texas, 68.71
- LaTricia Duke, Zephyr, Texas, 69.26
- Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas, 72.29
- Carlee Otero, Perrin, Texas, 73.38
- Emily Beisel, Weatherford, Okla., 73.57
- Shelley Morgan, Eustace, Texas, 73.85
- Abby Phillips, Marshall, Texas, 74.24
- Dona Kay Rule, Minco, Okla., 74.65
- Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, Okla., 78.99
- Halyn Lide, China Spring, Texas, 79.55
- Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 83.81
- Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, Okla., 70.64 on four runs
2024 WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings (After Round Five)
- Hailey Kinsel/$340,701.14
- Kassie Mowry/$292,904.68
- Leslie Smalygo/$214,057.12
- Ashley Castleberry/$203,055.25
- Carlee Otero/$202,760.36
- Tiany Schuster/$193,840.94
- Emily Beisel/$184,108.60
- Andrea Busby/$177,171.55
- Lisa Lockhart/$162,297.81
- Abby Phillips/$151,036.94
- LaTricia Duke/$150,540.62
- Halyn Lide/$140,659.17
- Dona Kay Rule/$131,480.98
- Wenda Johnson/$127,969.63
- Shelley Morgan/$126,622.72
