Meredith Wrobleski and her gelding Hez Runnin Ta Heaven top the State Fair of Texas 5D Barrel Race, held in Dallas, Texas August 17.
An annual kickoff to the State Fair of Texas activities is various horse shows held at the Fair Park Coliseum in Dallas, Texas, from donkey and mule shows to a youth rodeo and a 5D barrel race.
The barrel race boasted 189 Open entries and paid out more than $14,000. Fifteen-year-old Meredith Wrobleski topped the leaderboard in both the Open and Youth aboard 2013 gelding Hez Runnin Ta Heaven with a 15.387.
“I have had him a little over six months,” the Richards, Texas barrel racer said. “Heaven was trained by Heather Roland. I am luck enough to have Lorissa Merritt to help me find Heaven. My favorite thing about Heaven is how easy going he is. He is sometimes so easy going I have to remind him we are at a barrel race to run!”
Meredith Wrobleski and 2013 gelding Hez Runnin Ta Heaven (Jl Dash Ta Heaven x Sheza Cashin Nonstop x Cash Not Credit) stopped the clock with a 15.387 to win the 1D in the Open and Youth worth a total of $1,119. Photo by Emily Hobbs Photography.
Wrobleski bought “Heaven” from 2024 National Finals Rodeo qualifer Halyn Lide earlier this year. Now entering her freshamn year of high school, Wrobleski’s goal is to make the National High School Finals aboard Heaven.
“I have had some challenges with getting with a new horse but I’m thankful to have a great circle that wants nothing but the best for me and Heaven. Especially Laura Avery who I am beyond grateful for,” she added.
Wrobleski’s 15.387 set the pace for the race, putting Avery’s 15.906 top of the 2D. During the youth rodeo held the day before the 5D barrel race, Wrobleski won the 13-15 year old barrel racing division with a 15.573.
“I did not expect to win the race but I felt like he was going to be fast because I ran him the day before in the youth rodeo. Both runs went great,” Wrobleski said. “That was my first time at the State Fair for the youth rodeo and the Open and they were both ran very well.”
