FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
NOVEMBER 25, 2013
For more information contact:
PR@RFDTV.com or 214.477.6999
Gutsy performances highlight
barrel racing and tie down roping qualifying events for THE AMERICAN
The beauty of RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN Presented
by Polaris RANGER lies in opportunity, and when a shot at a one-day
rodeo paying out $2 million knocks, Talmadge Green, Sandy Hook, Miss., answers.
For Green, a $2 million earner in barrel racing
and a 42-year veteran of the sport, winning The American barrel racing
qualifier held in Jackson, Miss., at the Kirk Fordice Equine Center on Nov. 23
put him one step closer to achieving a dream during a year wrought with
personal tragedy. On Sept. 16, Green’s fiancé, Megan Stockstill, passed away unexpectedly
due to complications from childbirth leaving Green and the couple’s week-old
son, Sterling, behind.
Joining the best of the best to compete in the
richest one-day rodeo in history on March 2, 2014 at AT&T Stadium in
Arlington, Texas, would be an incredible milestone for Green, who at age 52, has
distinguished himself as an exceptional youth barrel racing coach. Riding
former barrel futurity standout RLJ High Intedsity[sic], owned by Dino and Joan Chouest of Cut Off, La., Green dominated a tough 108-entry field with
a silky-smooth 14.185-second tour of the cloverleaf pattern.
“I’ve had the horse a year this December and
he’s a really good horse. Megan rode him at some rodeos and this was my ninth
run on him; I’ve won four barrel races on him and never finished worse than
fifth. I’m very fortunate with the Chouest family and my other clients to have
some of the best open horses in the country here,” said Green.
Jackson was the fourth barrel racing qualifier
of five slated for The American semi-finals. The final stop will be in Buckeye,
Ariz., on Jan. 19 where Green hopes to qualify one additional horse as well as
two of his young students Max and Allie Chouest.
The
top finishers from each event after the semifinals will advance to RFD-TV’s THE
AMERICAN Presented by Polaris RANGER on March 2, 2014 at AT&T
Stadium in Arlington, Texas. THE AMERICAN is the richest one-day rodeo in
history, with a payout of $2 million.
Top finishers in barrel racing
in Jackson who advance to THE AMERICAN Semifinals in Mesquite, Texas on Feb.
22-23, 2014:
- No. 2: Kebo Almond, Williamson, Ga.,
qualified on HM Cornerstone, a horse he rode to the 2011 NBHA World
Championship and the 2011 Barrel Futurities of America World Futurity
Championship. Almond, 2013 NBHA World Champion Green and 2012 NBHA World
Champion Clint Sherlin join Mark Bugni, who qualified in Lincoln, Neb., in
October, as the four male riders thus far advancing to run in Mesquite. - No. 3: Robyn Herring, Huntington, Texas, rode
her stallion Firewaterontherocks (aka, “Happy”), a notable sire of barrel
racing horses. She won the 2011 Reno Rodeo title riding Happy. Herring’s
best season in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association came in 2012
when she finished No. 17 in the world. - No. 4: Jessi Eagleberger, Stringtown,
Okla., rode Breezin Flit Bar. Eagleberger’s best finish was No. 18 in the
2010 WPRA final season standings. - No. 5: Tammy Fischer, Ledbetter, Texas, rode
MP Quick Money. A mother and horse trainer, Fischer has made six trips to
the National Finals Rodeo (2002-2003, 2006, 2008-2009, 2011), earned the
Calgary Stampede barrel racing championship, as well as Rodeo Houston and
Texas Circuit championships.
The
Tri-State Expo’s Bill Cody Arena, in Amarillo, Texas on Nov. 22-24 hosted the
third of five qualifiers to take place in the tie down roping event. The
concept of qualifying for The American is custom-made for Valentine, Neb.,
cowboy Boe Brown, 32. The horse trainer and rancher who has been roping since
age 9 hopes to venture beyond circuit competition and mix it up with the fiercest
tie down roping talent in the world should he make the cut. The former PRCA
Badlands Circuit Champion in tie down roping credits a strong work ethic and
lots of practice for his success to date.
“At
the end of the deal there’s a lot of money to be won,” said Brown of what
motivated him to enter the qualifier. “On my first one I was 11.1 then improved
to be 8.6 and 8.4 on my second and third runs. I ride a horse that I’ve had for
about a year now that we call Coyote.”
Top finishers in tie down roping from Amarillo
who advance to THE AMERICAN Semifinals in Mesquite, Texas on Feb. 22-23, 2014:
- No. 2:
Kyle Dickens, Loveland. The collegiate cowboy just venturing into the
professional ranks of rodeo finished second in the 2013 Colorado Professional
Rodeo Association tie down standings behind fellow qualifier Darnell Johnson (6th),
also of Colorado. - No. 3:
Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla. Creager experienced his best season in the
PRCA in 2010 when he won the Justin Boots Championships in Omaha, Neb., to
secure his first NFR qualification and finish ninth in the PRCA world with
$124,009. Creager has PRCA career earnings of $420,927. - No. 4:
Tyler Prcin, Alvord, Texas, may be the most enthusiastic of any of The American
qualifiers. Prcin recovered from a series of potentially career-ending injuries
to make it to Mesquite. Just two years ago the 21-year-old athlete had surgery
to repair OCD in both knees by Dr. Tandy Freeman. Prcin then had surgery on his
right hip and in April of this year Dr. Freeman had to go back into his right
knee to repair the OCD again. “I came back mid-September,” says Prcin, who
credits time at the gym and a knowledgeable physical therapist for helping him
regain his competitive form. “The pot at end of the rainbow would be
outstanding,” says Prcin of what he hopes to achieve by qualifying for the
semi-finals. “The deal is outstanding for the sport of rodeo too.” - No. 5:
Marshall Leonard, Shongaloo, La. A certified paramedic, Leonard made his
professional debut in 2009 only to be sidelined by various injuries to himself
and his horses. In 2013 Leonard made a triumphant comeback thanks to a new
horse he calls Juin.
RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN
Presented by Polaris RANGER will take place on March 2nd at AT&T
Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Tickets are on sale and prices range from $20 to
$150, not including taxes.
They can be purchased at the AT&T Stadium Box Office, all Ticketmaster
locations and online at www.americanrodeo.com.
The Semifinals is the last
opportunity for an athlete to qualify to compete in RFD-TV’S THE AMERICAN
Presented by Polaris RANGER. It takes place on Feb. 22-23, 2014 in
Mesquite, Texas. Tickets for The Semifinals are available now for $14, $20 and
$30 not including taxes. They can be purchased at the Mesquite Rodeo Box
Office, all Ticketmaster locations and online at www.americanrodeo.com.