World Champion Header Clay Smith Sidelined with Broken Leg

Clay Smith, who won the PRCA Team Roping Header World Championships in 2018 and 2019, is sidelined indefinitely after breaking his right leg while roping at the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Ariz., June 28.

“Clay just got out of surgery (at HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz.) a little bit ago,” said Britt Smith, Clay’s younger brother, Wednesday afternoon. “He broke his tibia and fibula.”

Britt described to the ProRodeo Sports News what happed to his brother on his run with heeler Jake Long.

“The neck rope was either malfunctioning or put on wrong and it came around and caught his leg,” Britt said. “It went around his horse’s chest and caught his right spur. They have not said yet how long Clay will be out. They tie the neck rope on the steer, and when it breaks off the steer’s neck it is supposed to go on the ground, and it went up to the right and caught his spur.”

Smith is eighth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $40,931 and Long is second with $73,995.

Smith started roping this season with Long at the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo, which concluded June 25.

Courtesy of PRCA