PRCA for the Record: Riggin Smith Sets Sikeston Record in Rookie Season
Riggin Smith’s rookie season in the PRCA couldn’t have gone much better. He not only won the PRCA | Resistol Rookie of the Year in saddle bronc riding, but he set a handful of rodeo records along the way.
One of those records came courtesy of the reigning PRCA Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year, The Cervi Brothers’ Womanizer.
The 88.5-point trip on Womanizer was good enough to put Smith in the record books at the Sikeston (Mo.) Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo.
“It was a nice horse, I couldn’t have really been set up better that night in Sikeston,” said Smith, 22. “I was the last out on the last perf, on a horse that was going for Horse of the Year and ended up getting it. It was everything that I wanted it to be, I didn’t ride her as good as I could have, but I guess it was good enough that day.”
Smith’s ride broke the record that was previously set in 2008 by five-time World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Billy Etbauer.
“I’ve been to that rodeo quite a few times, with it being in my circuit,” Smith said. “I knew that Billy (Etbauer) had the record there, and to beat his record was a feeling that I’ll never forget. He’s the greatest bronc rider of all time, in my opinion. He did it so well for so long in this sport. He showed all of us what really doing the basics can get you.”
Smith is scheduled to ride in Sikeston, Mo., Thursday, Aug. 12. The rodeo runs Aug. 11-14 and will be broadcast on The Cowboy Channel and streamed on the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus App each night of the rodeo at 9 ET.
Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Records
• Total payout: $198,888, 2009
• All-around: $6,355, Jesse Bail, 2007
• Bareback riding: 92 points, Jake Brown, 2019
• Steer wrestling: 3.3 seconds, Jule Hazen, 2010 (7.5/2, Chancey Larson, 2001)
• Team roping: 4.0 seconds, Cody Graham/Jason Thompson, 2011 (9.4/2, Zac Small/Tyler Worley, 2015)
• Saddle bronc riding: 88.5 points, Riggin Smith, 2020
• Tie-down roping: 7.4 seconds, Cody Ohl, 2005; Justin Maass, 2009 (16.4 on two head, Cade Smith and Cimarron Boardman, 2017)
• Barrel racing: 15.91 seconds, Ryann Pedone, 2020
• Bull riding: 95 points, Jesse Bail, 2000
Courtesy of PRCA