Conrado Cashing in at Calgary Stampede

By Jolee Jordan

Calgary, Alberta — The Calgary Stampede is an integral piece of the community of Calgary and it’s no surprise given that both entities histories are so intertwined —the town of Calgary was formed just two years prior to the first Calgary Exhibition in 1884.

The first Calgary Stampede was held in 1912, drawing 80,000 spectators which was more than double the population of Calgary at the time. The Stampede was originally held in September and ran off and on until the 1920’s when it was combined with the Exhibition and the newly formed event of chuckwagon racing to create the massive event today known as the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

More than a million visitors annually attend the Calgary Stampede but just 20 rodeo contestants per event each year get to experience the thrill of competing in Stampede Park, hoping to cash in on their share of the $2 million purse.

For the WPRA barrel race, those competitors are chosen from 2018 WPRA World and WPRA Tour standings, from 2018 Canadian Pro Rodeo standings and 2019 WPRA World standings with two spots saved for the reigning Calgary Stampede champ and 2019 Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo (RNCFR) champion.

All competitors are divided into two pools of 10 cowgirls. Each pool competes in four preliminary go rounds, each round paying four monies. After the final round, the top four money earners move onto to Showdown Sunday to be held July 14. The other six cowgirls get one more shot on Wild Card Saturday with the two fastest from that round also advancing to Sunday.

The final Sunday is one of the most exciting in pro rodeo—a two-run, sudden death shoot-out, the ten ladies make one run before the field is narrowed to four. The four come back less than an hour later for the final dash to the championship. The final winner takes home $100,000.

All money won counts towards WPRA World standings, with half of the big $100K prize going to standings, meaning the Stampede can make the difference between ending the season in September or in Vegas in December at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR).

The Stampede kicked off its 2019 run on Friday, July 5 with ten hopefuls in the WPRA barrel racing, looking to etch their names in history. Among the competitors in Pool A were 2017 WPRA World Champ and current World No. 1 Nellie Miller, 2018 WPRA Reserve World Champion Jessica Routier, 2017 Canadian champion Carman Pozzobon and 2018 WPRA Rookie of the Year Jimmie Smith.

Day One

After a good rain storm, sloppy conditions faced competitors on opening day of the 2019 Stampede. Wrangler NFR cowgirl Ivy Conrado drew first to run in the mud and she and JLo threw down in their first mud run ever. Stopping the clock at 17.57 seconds, Conrado held on throughout the entire competition to earn the round win.

“It was pretty muddy out. I’ve never run my mare in the mud before so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was first out and they did a really good job on the ground so I kind of just let her go. She did great,” Conrado told the Wrangler Network following the win.

“Definitely is, gives you some confidence,” she said of winning on the opening day. “It took a couple rounds for me to get a win last year. I’m super excited to be back and get another bronze.” The Stampede gives bronzes to each round winner throughout the rodeo.

Perhaps the bigger excitement for Conrado was the wild ride on the victory lap. She actually passed the flag bearer as the horse charged around the huge Stampede arena, a theme that would continue throughout the rest of Pool A.

Jessie Telford took second in the round after running second in the draw and posting a 17.72. In fact, four of the money holes went to cowgirls in the first half of the draw. The Stampede tractors at the midway point each day.

2017 WPRA World Champion Nellie Miller took third with a run of 17.85 seconds. Miller and her mare Sister ran in the bottom half of the draw.

Sarah Rose Waguespack and Jessica Routier filled out the money with times of 17.94 and 17.98, respectively.

Day Two

The second round started hot with Brittney Barnett and her speedy horse Paint posting a fast time of 17.42 to lead the way. Her time at the top was short lived however as Miller and Sister blasted through the course in 17.32.

“It was great, she worked really hard. The ground dried out a little bit from yesterday so that helped us. She just felt really confident,” Miller told Ted Stovin with the Wrangler Network.

“It’s a huge crowd and we don’t get to run in front of that many people very often. It’s super exciting for us and my horse feeds off the crowd and she just loves it.”

Barnett held on for second place while Jimmie Smith bounced back from a long first round run to win third at 17.53 seconds. Routier and Conrado tied for fourth and fifth to earn their second checks.

At the halfway point of Pool A, Miller leads the way with $9,000 won while Conrado is second at $7,500. Barnett and Telford are tied up with $4,500 for the third and fourth spots.

Day Three

The third go round looked a lot like the second: Miller and Sister winning back-to-back rounds. The little blue roan mare fired through the pattern, making her signature quick move behind the second to edge past Conrado and JLo, who were pretty flawless on their run as well.

The two cowgirls finished up in 17.29 and 17.30, respectively.

“It’s always very close and just a couple hundredths of a second can cost you a lot,” Miller said. “So any little mistake adds up. Barrel racing is always really close like that. It’s just a tough, competitive sport.”

Barnett continued her hot streak after a costly barrel in round one. Her time of 17.45 on Day Three was good enough for third. Telford and Waguespack were back in the money again, tying for fourth with runs of 17.52 seconds.

With $14,500 and $12,000 won respectively, Miller and Conrado are a lock for Showdown Sunday. The fight for the other two advancing positions is between Barnett at $8,000, Telford at $6,500, Waguespack at $4,500 and Smith and Routier with $3,500 each.

Day Four

Needing a big win to make it to Showdown Sunday for the second consecutive year, Routier came out firing as the first runner of round four. Riding her speedy yellow mare Missy, Routier laid down the fastest run of the rodeo to that point at 17.05 seconds.

Turned out to be a preview of things to come: Miller rolled in at 17.27, Smith was fast at 17.21 and Barnett stopped the clock in 17.29 before the draw rolled back to Conrado. Running from the eighth position on the ground, Conrado and JLo were smooth as silk, running out to an even faster 17.01. The time was just two one-hundredths off the arena record held by Tiany Schuster.

Telford was the second to last to run and squeaked into the money at 17.28 seconds, winning the fifth and final money hole in the final round of Pool A.

Conrado and Miller hogged up much of the cash for the group with Conrado finishing at $17,500 and Miller at $17,000.

The battle was for the final two spots into Sunday’s final rounds and the reigning Reserve Calgary Champ Routier came up with the clutch performance. After winning second in the go, she moved into a three-way tie for the third spot with $8,000 won. Barnett and Telford joined her with $8,000 won after Telford’s fifth place check on Monday.

Interestingly, the first tie breaker goes to the contestant with the most money won in any single go round. Since all three ladies had earned a second place check in a round, the second tie breaker was needed to decide who went to the Wild Card and who went to the Showdown.

The second tie breaker went to the fastest time in any round. Routier made the cut with her super fast 17.05 in round four, the second best of the rodeo. The final round also made the difference between Barnett and Telford as each posted her best run of the rodeo on Monday; it was by the slimmest of margins, just one one-hundredth of a second that the advancement went to Telford.

Up Next

Pool B begins its first of four go rounds on Tuesday afternoon. Hailey Kinsel headlines the group as the reigning WPRA World Champion as well as the reigning champion in Calgary. She is joined by Lisa Lockhart, also a former winner here.

Reigning Canadian Champion Callahan Crossley is in Pool B along with Wrangler NFR cowgirls Taci Bettis, Amberleigh Moore, and two-time WPRA World Champion Brittany Pozzi-Tonozzi. Kaylee Gallino and Emily Miller are in thanks to the WPRA Tour and Shelby Spielman represents the top ladies from the Canadian standings in 2018. Jennifer Sharp is the final competitor, racing in a spot earned by being among the WPRA World standings leaders for 2019.

For more information, visit www.calgarystampede.com and action can be watched daily on the Wrangler Network. Stay tuned to www.wpra.com for continuing updates.

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Results (In Progress)

Pool A

1st Go

1. Ivy Conrado, KN Fabs Gift of Fame, 17.57, $5,500
2. Jessie Telford, Famous Cool Whip, 17.72, $4,500
3. Nellie Miller, Rafter W Minnie Reba, 17.85, $3,500
4. Sarah Rose Waguespack, Straight Toasted, 17.94, $2,500
5. Jessica Routier, Fiery Miss West, 17.98, $1,500

2nd Go

1. Miller, 17.32, $5,500
2. Brittney Barnett, Chicks Keen PocoPoo, 17.42, $4,500
3. 3immie Smith, Lena on the Rocks, 17.53, $3,500
4. Routier/Conrado, 17.60, $2,000 each

3rd Go

1. Miller, 17.29, $5,500
2. Conrado, 17.30, $4,500
3. Barnett, 17.45, $3,500
4. Telford/Waguespack, 17.52, $2,000 each

4th Go

1. Conrado, 17.01, $5,500
2. Routier, 17.05, $4,500
3. Smith, 17.21, $3,500
4. Miller, 17.27, $2,500
5. Telford, 17.28, $1,500

Total Money Won

*Ivy Conrado, $17,500
*Nellie Miller, $17,000
*Jessica Routier, $8,000
*Jessie Telford, $8,000
Brittney Barnett, $8,000
Jimmie Smith, $7,000
Sarah Rose Waguespack, $4,500

*Advances to Showdown Sunday

Courtesy of WPRA