Clark Strikes Gold on First Trip to Salinas
By Jolee Lautaret
SALINAS, Calif. – Long scores in the timed events are a tradition at California Rodeo Salinas, a challenge to the athleticism of both horse and cowboy at California’s oldest and most lucrative pro rodeo.
Steer wrestler Josh Clark, 36, had never backed into the box at the huge Salinas Sports Complex arena before, but the Montana cowboy wasn’t intimidated. He knew he had an ace in the hole in his grey horse, Badger.
Badger carried Clark to his second major ProRodeo win this season, and second on the ProRodeo Tour, on Sunday afternoon, July 21, as he won California Rodeo Salinas in 21.5 seconds on three head.
“I bought him from Austin Manning in Idaho back in 2016 and he had been to Salinas before,” noted Clark. “In fact, they bragged about how great he was at Salinas when I bought him, but I hadn’t been able to make it work to get there before this year.”
Competing in back-to-back rounds on Friday, Clark placed fifth in the first round with a 7.3-second run. An 8.1 on the second steer was enough to keep Clark in town for Sunday’s short go round while hauling partner, and hazer, Jule Hazen left to compete in Utah.
A great hazer is essential – Cameron Morman picked up the slack for Hazen in the finals – and a horse that is not only fast, but broke is crucial too.
“I’ve been to Cheyenne (Wyo.) several times which has its similarities to this,” Clark said. “It helps that the steers are older, pretty true in their pattern and you’ve got to have a horse broke enough to move around out there.
“The best thing about Badger, he scores really well. Whether it’s short or you have to sit there awhile, he won’t even blink until you tell him to go,” Clark explained. “Those setups are fun with him.”
Coming into the final round in the middle of the pack, Clark was confident after seeing his draw.
“I knew my steer was really good. J.D. Struxness had won the second go on him, so I knew I just had to be smart at the barrier, sneak up there and make a good run and let the rest happen however it’s supposed to,” he said. “He did just that, winning the final round with a 6.1-second run to clinch the average win and earn $7,505 and one of ProRodeo’s most coveted buckles.
“It’s pretty cool . . . it’s kind of a surreal experience,” Clark said. “You don’t get that many chances to win these big, major rodeos like this.”
Clark enjoyed a good winter with consistent checks along with a split win in Fort Worth so he was able to take some time off in the spring, letting his horses enjoy a nice break. An accident in practice put him out for about a month but he and Hazen have been back on the road since early June.
“We’ve tried to keep it pretty simple over the Fourth and the last few weeks, but now we’re at it pretty much every day,” Clark said.
Clark entered the week ranked 23rd in the PRCA | RAM World Standings, but the big California pay day should push him close to the Top 15 as he pursues his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification.
“That’s the plan we set out with at the first of the year,” he said.
The final day of the 109th annual California Rodeo Salinas brought an arena record in bareback riding when Clint Laye scored 89.5 points on Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Trip Wire, besting the previous mark held by Cody DeMers by half a point; he also broke the average record set by Tim O’Connell a year ago by the same margin with 174 on two horses.
The 2019 rodeo also set a record for total payout, delivering $45,000 more than the previous record set for the 2013 rodeo.
Other winners at the $453,680 rodeo were all-around cowboy C.J. DeForest Jr., ($7,025, tie-down and team roping); bareback rider Clint Laye (174 points on two head); team ropers Brooks Dahozy and Walt Woodard (50.3 on five head); saddle bronc rider Ryder Wright (168.5 points on two head); tie-down roper John Douch (35.7 on three head); barrel racer Shelley Morgan (64.76 seconds on four runs); and bull rider Stetson Wright (172.5 points on two head).
For more coverage of California Rodeo Salinas, check out the Aug. 2 issue of ProRodeo Sports News.
Courtesy of PRCA