The Fourth of July weekend is already one of the biggest celebrations of the summer, but in professional rodeo, it comes with an extra jolt of horsepower.
It is Cowboy Christmas.
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, cowboys and cowgirls across the country are loading trailers, chasing prize money and trying to cash in during the busiest stretch of the rodeo season. With major rodeos stacked across the holiday weekend, big payouts can shake up the world standings in a hurry.
That makes this week’s Territorial Rodeo Update Top 5 Countdown especially important.
In bareback riding, Bradlee Miller and Jacob Lees have taken over the top two spots, pushing injured world champion Rocker Steiner to third. Steiner remains out while recovering from a neck injury. Wacey Schalla sits fourth but is also sidelined with a broken leg, while Keenan Hayes of Hayden, Colorado, rounds out the top five.
In steer wrestling, Tyler Waguespack continues to lead the way, followed by Holden Myers, Mike McGinn, Dalton Massey and Tyke Kipp.
Saddle bronc riding still belongs to Stetson Wright at the top, with brother Rusty Wright sitting second. Kade Bruno is third, Chase Brooks fourth and Sage Newman fifth.
In team roping, Korbin Rice leads the headers, followed by Jake Smith, Kaleb Driggers, Tanner Tomlinson and James Arviso. On the heeling side, Missouri’s Cooper Freeman is number one, followed by Illinois cowboy Douglas Rich, Junior Nogueira, Levi Lord of Sturgis, South Dakota, and Ross Ashford.
Riley Webb remains on top in tie-down roping. Kincade Henry sits second, followed by Shane Hanchey, Joel Harris and Brushton Minton.
In breakaway roping, Jaci Hammons leads the WPRA standings, followed by Kirby Rawlinson, Amy Ohrt, Alissa Erickson and Kaidyn Holland.
Kassie Mowry continues to lead barrel racing, with LaTricia Duke second, Emily Beisel third, Hayle Gibson-Stillwell fourth and Carlee Otero fifth.
In bull riding, Tristen Hutchings holds the number one spot, with Stetson Wright second. Rookie Noah Lee is third, Hayden Welsh fourth and Luke Mackey fifth. Just outside the top five is reigning PBR world champion John Crimber, who sits sixth heading into one of the biggest money weekends of the season.
With Cowboy Christmas underway, the standings could look very different by next week.
The Territorial Rodeo Update airs weekly with Derek Beck.