Just a day before the beginning of the finals of RFD-TV’s The American, No. 1 saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper said he wanted make the most of every horse and enter the National Finals ranked in the Top 5.
After winning The American and splitting the $1 million qualifier prize money tie-down roper Shad Mayfield, it looks like in all likelihood, he will do just that.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had more than $20,000 in my account at one time, $600,000 is going to be life-changing,” Casper said. “I don’t have the slightest clue what to do with it....I’ve always kind of scraped from the bottom of the pan, it’s just gonna be nice to be comfortable for awhile.”
(Rebecca Cornelius Photo)
Capser entered the weekend with more than $66,000 to his name and $50,000 of the $600,000 he earned at The American will go toward the PRCA world standings. The Texas cowboy now has more than $119,000 this year and in 2019, the fifth place saddle bronc rider entering the Wrangler NFR was Rusty Wright with $118,191.
Casper was the top qualifier after an earning an aggregate score of 178.25 and he used a 91.25-point ride on Get Smart to best the 90.25 mark set by Ryder Wright.
“Get Smart is an unbelievable horse, been great for a long time,” he said. “I’ve always been wanting to get on this horse and I finally got to get on him here.”
(Photo by Kord Etbauer)
Casper is now 36-for-36 on the season and 35 of those rides have scored more than 80 points.
“I owe it all to good horses, I’ve never drawn so good in my life,” he said.
The Texas cowboy said it has been a rough couple of years for him in ProRodeo. In his three seasons, he made just $100,695 and said he is especially thankful for his parents, wife and children for supporting him when things were difficult.
“I just kept telling her (his wife Lesley), our time is coming,” Casper said with a smile, “and it’s finally here.”
