Bull Rider Ky Hamilton Returns for Round 6, Splits Third

LAS VEGAS – Bull rider Ky Hamilton wasn’t supposed to compete in Round 6 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo – until he did.

Just 16 hours after losing consciousness and suffering a concussion when he was bucked off in Round 5, Hamilton was back in the yellow bucking chutes Wednesday morning and winning money.

Hamilton split third in Round 6 with his 85.5-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Love The Grind’s Bouchon at the Thomas & Mack Center.

“I was happy with my ride,” Hamilton told the ProRodeo Sports News. “I will be ready (for Round 7).”

Round 7 is at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday night. To maintain the tradition of the ten rounds of the NFR, an additional make up-round was added. There was no public access to Round 6 Wednesday morning. Due to the tragic events that occurred on the UNLV Campus on Wednesday, Dec. 6, the original starting date – Dec. 7 – was cancelled.

Hamilton was knocked out during his ride aboard Honeycutt Rodeo’s Bales Hay’s MAGA Tuesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. Hamilton, who smacked heads with the bull, was sent to University Medical Center Trauma Center in Las Vegas for evaluation and observation.

With his $15,601 payday Wednesday morning, Hamilton remains atop the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $417,614. Stetson Wright is second in the world standings – but was forced to miss the last eight rounds of the NFR because of a right hamstring strain.

Josh Frost ($293,789) and Sage Kimzey (284,037) are third and fourth.

Hamilton leads the average with 426.5 points on five head. The average pays $78,747.

Hamilton won two rounds at the 2023 Wrangler NFR – Round 4 with an 89-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Fred. He also won Round 1 with his 86.5-point ride aboard Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Vitalix Theodore on Dec. 8.

Hamilton, who has earned the most of any competitor so far this year’s NFR at $163,449, counting ground money, at this year’s NFR, is making his fourth NFR appearance.

Courtesy of PRCA