Tuf Cooper on a Roll in San Antonio
Tie-down roper Tuf Cooper has won or placed second all five times he’s been up at the 2020 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, amassing $15,500 in the process.
Cooper has a chance to increase that payday when he competes in the finals Saturday night.
“With all the money this winter it’s kind of changed the way that I view the season,” Cooper said. “Winter was just a bonus, but now with all the money involved in the first quarter it’s huge. Shoot, in 30 days from now you could win $150,000, and that’s first place going into the end of the season. So between Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston and The American there’s a lot of money up for grabs.”
Fans can catch Cooper and the rest of the San Antonio rodeo action on The Cowboy Channel. The final leg of the semifinals airs live at 8 p.m. (ET), Feb. 20, followed by the Wildcard Round at 8 p.m., Feb. 21. On Feb. 22, there will be a double feature with the Division 1 Xtreme Bulls airing live at 2 p.m. and the final round of the rodeo at 8 p.m.
In Bracket 5, Cooper won rounds 1 and 3 and placed second in Round 2. He returned for the semifinals and tied for first in Round 1 and placed second in Round 2.
“It’s going really well, the horses are doing well and the cattle in San Antonio have been really good,” Cooper said. “It’s just an awesome rodeo that I always enjoy going to. I love the format and bracket style and just got things started off right in the first round, and it’s gone good from there.”
The 30-year-old cowboy has an equine treasure chest to thank for his fast runs with sisters Topaz, 14, and Jewel, 12, as his mounts in San Antonio.
“They’re able to take the pressure of a big-time rodeo like that and that kind of pressure of having 15,000 people and being on a basketball court,” Cooper said of competing at the AT&T Center, home of the San Antonio Spurs. “You’ve got to walk your horse down the hallways all the way from one end to the other and they need to be calm.”
Not counting his San Antonio winnings, Cooper is third in the 2020 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $27,035.
The Texas cowboy has won plenty of major ProRodeo competitions, including claiming four world titles – three for tie-down roping (2011-12, 2014) and one for all-around (2017). He’s also won more than $2.6 million in his ProRodeo career that started in 2008, but one thing he hasn’t won is the San Antonio buckle.
“I just keep on knocking at the door and giving my best,” Cooper said. “It’s one of the best rodeos to win first at, and they give one of the coolest belt buckles.”
Cooper was quick to thank the San Antonio committee and the rodeo volunteers.
“All of us cowboys are so thankful for everyone involved,” Cooper said. “They take care of us with free stalls and golf cart rides. The San Antonio committee goes above and beyond.”
Check with ProRodeo.com for more coverage of the San Antonio rodeo.
Courtesy of PRCA