Bronc futurity, horse sale and barrel race coming Memorial Day weekend
GOODING, Idaho – The first Dirty Rotten Buckers bucking horse futurity in Gooding was a huge success last year, and everyone around town has been anticipating this year’s event.
What most didn’t know, though, was that organizers were just adding to the fun.
“We’ve known for a long time that people love coming to the Gooding Pro Rodeo, but we learned something new last spring,” said Don Gill, manager of the fair and rodeo. “We found a lot of people were very interested in the Dirty Rotten Buckers futurity. We also had some interest in expanding it.”
That’s exactly what’s happening over Memorial Day weekend. The futurity will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 25, and will feature two levels of competition. The first is an opportunity for stock contractors to show off their horses, which will be vying for a large payout that includes $7,500 in added money, which is local dollars that are mixed with entry fees to make up the overall purse.
The second contest will be between the cowboys, who also will be competing for their share of the purse that also includes $7,500 in added money.
“This is a great chance to see the next superstars in rodeo, whether we’re talking about the horses or we’re talking about the bronc riders,” Gill said. “You may very well get a chance to see a future world champion.”
The Women of the Wild West will also be heavily involved in the weekend experience. The organization will have its horse sale Sunday, May 26; the preview will begin at 9:30 a.m., and the sale will begin at 2 p.m. There will be a trade show featuring vendors, live music, a VIP lounge and warmup barrel races that begin at 7 p.m. that evening.
“We’re going to have over 20 vendors on site,” Gill said, noting the event is presented by Dan and Kalena Webb with Every Which Way Performances Horses. “This whole weekend is set up for people to just enjoy the nice holiday weekend at the fairgrounds and have a good time together.”
Festivities will conclude with the Women of the Wild West 5D Barrel race, with competition beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27. It will have $25,000 in added money, which, like the bronc match, will be mixed with entry fees for the overall purses in the various divisions. The highest prize pool will be the open 5D race, which will have a $150 fee per entry and $17,000 in added money.
For more information, contact Jamie Lancaster at (435) 227-6435 or Danny Thomason at (208) 539-1743.
“It’s a great way to get a taste of what everyone will experience with the Gooding Pro Rodeo this summer,” Gill said, pointing out the rodeo takes place Aug. 14-17. “I think it’s just going to give us all the jolt we need in anticipation of rodeo week.”