News & Notes from the Rodeo Trail, March 18
By Tracy Renck
PRCA Stat of the Week: $95,167
The amount of money bareback rider Kaycee Feild earned during the 2019 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo; The American in Arlington, Texas, and RodeoHouston, the most of any contestant at those three rodeos.
What to Watch For
RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, Kissimmee, Fla., March 21, 1 p.m. (ET) and 7:30 p.m., performances; March 22, 1 p.m.; March 23, 1 p.m.
News & Notes from the rodeo trail
There is an upcoming PRCA Rodeo Day camp in Red Bluff, Calif. The camp is slated for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (PT) on March 23. All abilities welcome for ages 8 and up. Registration required at prorodeo.com/jrrodeo.
Country music legend George Strait, along with Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen, set an NRG Stadium attendance record during the March 18 performance. RodeoHouston confirmed 80,108 fans attended the concert and closed out the 2019 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The concert-only performance broke the previous record from 2013, which was also set by Strait and his special guests Martina McBride and Randy Rogers Band with 80,020 fans, according to a news release. The March 18 performance marked Strait’s 30th performance at the rodeo since 1984. RodeoHouston stated that the NRG Stadium record is separate from the Paid Rodeo/Concert attendance records, as this is a concert-only performance with additional floor seats of the stadium.
CLOIS RENNY (C.R.) BRIDGES, a former PRCA member, passed away March 8 at his home in Weatherford, Texas. He was 86. Bridges was born March 19, 1932 in Elgin, Okla., to Buster and Katie (McCafferty) Bridges. Bridges attended schools in Fletcher (Okla.) before joining the Army in 1949 and serving through 1952 during the Korean War. Bridges began riding horses at an early age and started tie-down roping at 12. He competed in various rodeo events throughout his life. He was a member of the IRA (International Rodeo Assocation), PRCA, SWTPA (Southwest Team Penning Association) and Rodeo Cowboy Alumni. He was selected 2018 Cowboy Legacy Honoree. Bridges continued to team rope into his early 80s. Bridges made his livelihood by training, selling and buying registered and grade horses for roping, cattle work and pleasure. He shipped many horses from the West to the East coast for potential buyers. He demonstrated his instinctive riding ability while training, roping or exhibiting saddle horses at sales. He always enjoyed riding a “good broke horse.” Bridges was preceded in death by his parents Buster and Katie Bridges; his first wife, Peggy; brothers, Billy, Herschel, Hilden, Charles, Edwin, Donald Ray and Clifton Bridges; sisters, Lucille Cable, Hazel Love, Ruby McBee and Lois Schumann. He is survived by his wife, Sally, three sons and one daughter: John Bridges and daughter-in-law Rachel Bridges, Beau Bridges and wife, Sarita; Buster Bridges and wife, Hillary and Eileen Emrich and husband, Robert; 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to Rodeo Cowboy Alumni, P.O. Box 1809, Freer, TX 78357.
Bringing exceptional talent at an affordable cost is a long-standing tradition at the Greeley (Colo.) Stampede. One way this is done is with the popular Park Stage, which offers free concerts with park admission every day. The acts for 2019 are as follows: Koe Wetzel (June 27); Eli Young Band (July 3); Kimberly Dunn (July 4); Lonestar (July 5); Resurrection – A Journey Tribute (July 6). The 2019 Greeley Stampede is June 26 through July 7.
4. Next Up
March 21: Walker County Fair & Rodeo, permit section, Huntsville, Texas
March 21: Nacogdoches (Texas) Pro Rodeo & Steer Show, begins
March 21: RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, Kissimmee, Fla., begins
March 22: YMBL Championship Rodeo, Beaumont, Texas, begins
March 22: Walker County Fair & Rodeo, Huntsville, Texas, begins
March 22: Cotton Blossom Roundup, Nashville, Ga., begins
March 22: Southeastern Pro Rodeo, Ocala, Fla., begins
March 22: Ozark Empire Pro Rodeo, Springfield, Mo., begins
March 22: Ellis County Livestock Show & Rodeo, Waxahachie, Texas, begins
March 22: Cave Creek (Ariz.) Rodeo Days begins
March 23: Rose City Roundup, Tyler, Texas, begins
2019 PRCA | RAM World Standings Leaders
Unofficial through March 18, 2019
AA: Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas ($65,282)
BB: Kaycee Feild, Genola, Utah ($104,013)
SW: Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont. ($85,708)
TR-1: Ty Blasingame, Ramah, Colo. ($71,832)
TR-2: Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas ($70,166)
SB: Ryder Wright, Milford, Utah ($102,260)
TD: Michael Otero, Weatherford, Texas $70,966)
SR: Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas ($25,009)
BR: Trevor Kastner, Roff, Okla. ($78,340)
Courtesy of PRCA