Saddle Bronc Rider Jake Finlay Splits Win in Deadwood
By: Brady Renck
Jake Finlay is about to get on the road. He’s in Canada and the next stop is Kansas. But forgive him if he’s going to soak it in what happened in Deadwood, S.D., at the Deadwood Days of ’76 Rodeo. He and his friend Damian Brennan shared the saddle bronc title with scores of 87.5 before a vibrant crowd and in a postcard perfect setting.
“Splitting it with Damian makes it special. We are good mates from the same place,” said Finlay of their Goondiwindi, Queensland, Australia roots. “And to do it in Deadwood, you really can’t compare that place to anything else. It’s an historic arena. You are in the wooden bucking chutes, and you can’t get a much prettier spot.”
Finlay forged the tie on Sutton Rodeos’ Gangster. He had watched the horse “quite a bit,” but had never drawn the ride. It turned out exactly as he had hoped.
“He kind of rolled around the post there and stacked there in front of them. And the judges seemed to like it,” Finlay, 28, who finished 32nd in the PRCA | RAM World Standings in 2022. “That horse is just so good. He puts the ball in your court, puts his head down and lets you show off. He really does.”
For Finlay, nights like Deadwood are a reminder that his dream of reaching the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo remains alive. He’s come close a few times, finishing 17th in the world in 2019 and 20th in 2020. Brennan won the PRCA Resistol Rookie of the Year award for saddle bronc riding in 2022, narrowly missing an NFR berth. Perhaps, this could be the year both of them reach the sport’s biggest stage. And having the right mindset over the final two months remains paramount.
“I am going to keep riding every horse and doing the best I can. I feel like that relieves the pressure off myself and I just go out there and ride to the best of my ability,” Finlay said. “It’s also about getting the right horses plucked out of the hat, and good health. When you have those things, you can get some money on the board. … But this one in Deadwood was special because I shared it with my mate Damian.”
Other winners at the Playoff Series Rodeo were bareback riders Sam Petersen and Jess Pope (86.5 points each); steer wrestler Dirk Tavenner (7.8 seconds on two head); team ropers Brye Crites/Rance Doyal (9.4 seconds on two head); tie-down roper Grant Turek (17.8 seconds on two head); barrel racer Ashley Castleberry (17.51 seconds); and bull rider Grayson Cole (92.5 points).
Courtesy of PRCA