For the Record: Fort Worth, Texas

Since 1950, the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth, Texas, has hosted some of the biggest names in ProRodeo and witnessed some fast times and high scores, as cowboys competed for this iconic rodeo’s large payout.

Winning big at Fort Worth can set the pace for the rest of the year with it being one of the biggest rodeos of the 2018 season, paying out $666,973. It’s not unheard of for cowboys to leave with more than $15,000.

Bareback rider Gary Tucker (pictured above) has one of the oldest records at Fort Worth with his 90-point ride that he made in 1973. His score was unmatched until 2004 when Jason Jeter also scored 90 points.

Tucker was the 1969 world champion and competed at the National Finals Rodeo seven consecutive times (1966-72). Jeter competed at the NFR in 2001-05 and 2007, winning the average in 2002.

Cowboys have from Jan. 25 through Feb. 9 to win a piece of the prize money, but only the best make the arena record book.

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Rodeo records

Total payout: $666,973, 2018

All-around: $17,635, Butch Myers, steer wrestling and tie-down roping, 1989

Bareback riding: 90 points, Gary Tucker, 1973; Jason Jeter, 2004 (338.5 points on four head, J.R. Vezain, 2018; 403/5, Evan Jayne, 2007)

Steer wrestling: 3.2 seconds, Byron Walker, 1981; Lee Laskosky, 1997; Stephen Canik, 1998; Beau Clark, 2012 (11.3/3, Jason Miller, 2009)

Team roping: 3.9 seconds, Clay Tryan/Patrick Smith, 2007; Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, 2016 (14.3/3 Matt Sherwood/Randon Adams, 2008)

Saddle bronc riding: 91 points, Cody Wright, 2011 (255.5/3, Jake Wright, 2017; 332/4, J.J. Elshere, 2009)

Tie-down roping: 7.4 seconds, Kyle Hughes, 2002 (24.8/3, Matt Shiozawa, 2011)

Barrel racing: 16.19 seconds, Taylor Jacob, 2013 (49.11, Sarah Rose McDonald, 2015)

Bull riding: 95 points, Bobby Del Vecchio, 1982 (172/2, Wesley Silcox, 2006; 257/3, Dustin Larsen, 2005; 322/4, Bubba Monkres, 1992)

Courtesy of PRCA