February 24, 2022 — FORT WORTH, TEXAS — One of the most anticipated weeks in barrel racing and rodeo is almost here—The American Semifinals and American Rodeo. Find the American Semifinals barrel racing schedule and draw, TV information and explanation of The American format below.
Follow along online with Barrel Horse News magazine and on our Facebook page for updates, results, and exclusive interviews with the winners.
The American Semifinals Barrel Racing Schedule and Draw
—> American Semifinals barrel racing Prelims/Slack draw
—> American Semifinals barrel racing Performances draw
—> American Semifinals Prelims/Slack and Buy Back results and interviews
Barrel Racing Semifinals Prelims/Slack Round
Friday February 25, 9am CST (previously 8am, delayed due to icy weather conditions)
*Cowtown Coliseum
Live streamed via YouTube channel here
Barrel Racing Semifinals Buy Back Round
Saturday February 26, 8am CST
*Cowtown Coliseum
Semifinal Performance 1
Tuesday March 1, 8pm Eastern
*Cowtown Coliseum
The Cowboy Channel
Semifinal Performance 2
Wednesday March 2, 8pm Eastern
*Cowtown Coliseum
The Cowboy Channel
Semifinal Performance 3
Thursday March 3, 8pm Eastern
*Cowtown Coliseum
The Cowboy Channel
The American Rodeo Finals Contender Round
Friday March 4, 8pm Eastern
*Cowtown Coliseum
*The Cowboy Channel & RFDTV
The American Rodeo Long Go
Sunday March 6, 1pm
*AT&T Stadium
*The Cowboy Channel & RFDTV
The American Rodeo Short Go Final Four
Sunday March 6, 4pm Eastern
*AT&T Stadium
*The Cowboy Channel & RFDTV
American Semifinals Format
—> Where: Cowtown Coliseum, Fort Worth Stockyards
Everyone who qualified at an American Qualifier race throughout the year runs in the long slack round Friday, February 25, plus any exemptions that may be chosen by Teton Ridge or The American management. The top 30 times from slack will move on to the Shootout Round performances March 1-3, with contestants split evenly throughout performances. Contestants who did not advance from slack have the opportunity to compete in the Buy Back Round on Saturday morning February 26 for an additional entry fee. The amount of contestants who advance from the Buy Back will be announced during sign-up.
According to American barrel racing sanctioning body Better Barrel Races, after those individuals run in the performances, along with the possible American Exemption Match or Exemption contestant, the top 5 or 10 times (depending on the total number of participating contestants who entered a qualification race) and the possible Exemption Match winner or Exemption contestant, will advance to The American.
$3 Million The American Format
—> Where: Contender Round in Cowtown Coliseum; Top 8 and championship Final Four at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
The Semifinals conclude March 3, and the Contender Round of The American kicks off Friday March 4 in Cowtown Coliseum, where the top contestants who advanced from the Semifinals will compete against the top 10 barrel racers in the world (chosen based on American management selection criteria) as well as the Exemption Match winner.
The top 8 move on to AT&T Stadium on Sunday March 6 for an elimination round. The Final Four, based on an average of their first two runs, will move on to the ShootOut round, where the Champion and Reserve Champion will be determined in a clean-slate finals.
The champion will win $100,000 and the reserve champion will win $25,000. In the case that the champion came from the Semifinals, they will join the group of other event champions qualifying through the Semifinals to split the $1 million bonus prize.
Click here for complete rules and guidelines on the 2022 American Rodeo and Semifinals.
Click here for the American schedule including other rodeo events.
