The Fort Worth (Texas) Stock Show Rodeo is counting down to its final four performances, which take place at 2 and 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday.

The finale will feature the top contestants in each event through the cumulative scores from the preliminary rounds. For instance, the short-round qualifiers in bareback riding will be based on the top cumulative scores from three go-rounds, while all the other events will have qualifiers based on a two-round aggregate.

First-round payouts have been issued in bareback riding and barrel racing – the women competed in one full go-round, with the top times returning for the progressive (second) round. The other events will have all their go-round and average payouts done over the next two days.

It all adds up to a lot of money to be divided among many contestants in just a short time. Because this is one of the top-paying events in ProRodeo, and because it’s so early in the 2012 season, the world standings will change considerably when the PRCA releases them Monday.

It’s exciting for fans who keep tabs on such things, but it’s even better for the contestants who are going to pad their pocketbooks.