Breakaway Ropers at Petco Park Rodeo Worked at a Rate of $5 Million an Hour
With rodeo hands dressed in Padres pinstripes-style outfits, a sold-out crowd ate up the action. Sunday's 2 p.m. finale will air live on Cowboy Channel Plus.
Some 18,000 rodeo fans at Petco Park, many in Western boots and cowboy hats, had one prime directive Saturday: Don’t blink.
Events clipped along as quick as a whip.
In breakaway roping, world champions Kelsie Domer of Dublin, Texas, and Jackie Crawford of Stephenville, Texas, tied in the rope-a-calf-and-immediately-release-it event — timed in 2.2 seconds each.
They each earned $3,062.50 for their efforts — equivalent to just over $5 million an hour.
Just off the money at the second annual San Diego Rodeo were Martha Angelone of Stephenville, Texas; Josie Conner of Iowa, Louisiana; and Hali Williams of Comanche, Texas — all pocketing $875 in a three-way tie for third.
Their times? 2.3 seconds.
With rodeo hands dressed in Padres pinstripes outfits, a sold-out crowd ate up the action — which has stirred debate over alleged animal abuse. Times of San Diego saw no signs of protest Saturday.
Sunday’s 2 p.m. finale airs live on Cowboy Channel Plus.
In bareback riding — scored and not timed — Jacob Lees of Caldwell, Idaho, collected $6,562.50 heading into Sunday’s final rounds.
In tie-down roping, Shad Mayfield of Lipan, Texas, tied with John Douch of Itasca, Texas, in 7.0 seconds — each earning $3,062.50.
In saddle-bronc riding, Dawson Hay of Exeter, California, took first aboard Scarlett Lady with 86.25 points for their 8-second ride. He earned $3,500. (Rider and horse are each scored on a 0-50 scale.)
In steer wrestling Saturday, Dakota Eldridge of Elko, Nevada, won the round in 4.2 seconds, pocketing $3,500. He has career earnings exceeding $1.6 million.
Almost as fast were the team roping duo of Andrew Ward and Jake Long, taking 4.4 seconds to take down a steer by head/horns and legs. They won $3,500.
Barrel racing was close: Jordan Driver of Garden City, Texas, finished her ride in 16.32 seconds. In another ride, Kathy Petska of Turlock finished a blink slower in 16.34 seconds. Driver won $3,500 to Petska’s $2,625.
In the night’s exciting finale — bull riding — Chase Outlaw of Hamburg, Arkansas, led round 2 with a score of 87.0, earning $3,500.
The three-day prize purse totals $800,000, according to Petco Park Insider.
Tickets are still available for Sunday’s championship rounds — ranging from $75.30 to $105.20. The event starts at 2 p.m. — with eight of the highest money earners of the first two rounds followed by the clean-slate Shoot Out round of four.
An after-party at Petco’s Gallagher Square begins at 5:30 p.m., featuring 29-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter Colter Wall. Tickets are sold separately at $67.55 each.
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