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Rinehart Scrambles out from Under Black Cloud in Hermiston

by Jim Bainbridge | Aug 10, 2014

HERMISTON, Ore. – This season has seemingly been nothing but bad luck for veteran steer wrestler Jake Rinehart.

The Highmore, S.D. cowboy has been battling all season to position himself to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Rinehart, who was 30th in the Aug. 4 Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings, received a much-needed jolt to his season when he won the average with a 12.6-second time on two head at the Farm-City Pro Rodeo Aug. 9.

“It’s always great to win, there’s no doubt about that,” said Rinehart, 32. “I’ve just had bad luck, that’s only thing I can say. I’ve had some bad luck for sure, but I just try to treat everything like a new day. The past is the past.”

Rinehart pocketed $3,587 in winnings – $2,324 for capturing the average and $1,263 for placing in a tie for fourth with Beau Clark in the second round with a 5.2-second run.

“I had some good luck for one and I was able to draw good,” said Rinehart about the key to his Hermiston success. “I’ve been lucky at Hermiston before, and it was great to do it again.”

Rinehart also won in Hermiston two years ago, and rode his 9-year-old horse Rio for his latest Farm-City Rodeo victory.

Rinehart, who joined the PRCA in 2005, has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo three times in 2007, 2009 and 2011. He placed 17th in the final Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings a year ago.

“I just have to keep going and hopefully everything will turn around,” the 6-foot-7, 285-pound Rinehart said. “I’m not going to beat myself up or my horses, but I’m going to try like hell to see what I can do (to make the Wrangler NFR). I really believe the experience I have will definitely help me.”

Other winners at the $206,032 rodeo were all-around cowboy Rhen Richard ($791, tie-down roping and team roping), bareback rider Steven Peebles (87 points on Calgary Stampede’s Special Delivery), team ropers Charly Crawford and Shay Carroll (9.4 seconds on two head), saddle bronc riding co-champions Samuel Kelts (83 points on Kesler Rodeo’s No. 828) and Rusty Wright (83 points on Calgary Stampede’s Tokyo Bubbles), tie-down roper Clint Robinson (16.9 seconds on two head), bull rider Steve Woolsey (88 points on Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Wild Eyes) and barrel racer Carlee Pierce (34.05 seconds on two runs).

For in-depth coverage of the Farm-City ProRodeo, be sure to read the Aug. 29 edition of the ProRodeo Sports News.

Courtesy of PRCA

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