ProRodeo Sports News - October 5, 2018

Making history Tuf Cooper sets steer roping money record R OUND THE SHORT

BY THE NUMBERS

The number of unofficial first-time qualifiers sched- uled to compete at the 2018 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The audit of the final regular-season 2018 PRCA | RAM World Standings is scheduled to be completed later this month. The last time three cowboys finished in the Top 15 in two events until this year. Tuf Cooper (tie-down roping, steer roping), Trevor Brazile (tie-down roping, steer roping) and Rhen Richard (tie-down roping, team roping header) have unof- ficially qualified. In ’98 it was Ty Murray (saddle bronc riding, bull riding), Herbert Theriot (steer wrestling, tie-down roping) and Brazile (team roping heeler, steer roping). The last time a Canadian cowboy won the PRCA steer wrestling world champion- ship. That year Lee Graves, of Calgary, Alberta, took home the world title. Graves also won the PRCA steer wrestling world championship in 2005. This year, Curtis Cassidy of Donalda, Alberta, heads to the Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas, Dec. 6-15, first in the standings. This is Cassidy’s sixth Wrangler NFR qualifica- tion and his first since 2014.

Setting PRCA records is nothing new for Tuf Cooper.

The Weatherford, Texas, cowboy added another to his résumé, as he established the PRCA steer roping record for the most money earned in a season before the Clem McSpadden NFSR with $89,427. The previous record was set in 1998 by Guy Allen with $87,927. “I only went to about 30 rodeos this year in the steer roping,” Cooper said. “To break a money record is awesome for our sport and for our event. It means things are getting better. I really appreciate all of the rodeos that have the steer roping and all of the single steer ropings.”

Tuf Cooper

Last year was Cooper’s first year to compete in steer roping. “I am still fresh in the steer roping game,” Cooper said. “The group of steer ropers are such a great group of guys. They are the gentlemen of the sport. They have all been so helpful with my roping.” The four-time world champion didn’t have a specific money goal for the season. “It is always my goal to be the best that I can be in that situation or that day in all that I do,” Cooper said.

RAM NCFR to be held during country music fest The RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo will be even bigger in 2019 to give rodeo fans a chance to see some of the top country music acts in the world. The RAM NCFR will be March 21-24, 2019, while the Country Thunder Music Festival will have Toby Keith, Luke Combs and Luke Bryan, plus others, performing on the same grounds as the circuit finals in Kissimmee, Fla. The three-day music festival and four-day rodeo will be at Osceola Heritage Park, the site of the Silver Spurs Arena, where the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo has taken place since 2015. The RAM NCFR highlights the best cowboys from each of the 12 circuits in the PRCA. Keith will play March 22, Combs on March 23 and Bryan on March 24. With four other festivals already part of the Country Thunder Music Festivals brand, the organization is eager to welcome fans of the Sunshine State. “We’ve been wanting to bring Country Thunder to this part of the world for some time, and we’re thrilled for this opportunity,” said Troy Vollhoffer, Country Thunder Music Festivals CEO. “The timing was right, and we’re putting together a talent lineup and overall festival experience which fans of the Country Thunder brand have come to expect. “Florida is one of the best country music markets in North America, and we’re going to put on a show that will have these fans coming back year in and year out.” With its rich entertainment history, the natural beauty of Osceola Heritage Park will serve as the perfect back- drop for an event and fan experience of this magnitude.

643 NUMBER OF PRCA-SANCTIONED RODEOS HELD IN 2018

ProRodeo Sports News 10/5/2018

ProRodeo.com

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