This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Colorado Springs—Utah saddle bronc rider Jesse Wright will compete in the $5.9 million Wrangler National Finals Rodeo after veteran Rod Hay pulled out of the field because of a leg injury.
Wright, who is from Milford, finished 16th on the 2010 money list. The top 15 qualify for the National Finals in Las Vegas, starting Dec. 2.
Hay finished ninth on the saddle bronc money list despite shattering his right leg during a rodeo at Innisfield, Alberta on June 20.
Hay has informed the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association that he has not healed quickly enough to compete in the National Finals.
"I needed to get more mobility in my leg and feel comfortable that I could be competitive," Hay said in a press release.
"If I'm going to go there, I want to be a threat and believe I have a chance. People pay a lot of money to go to Las Vegas, and they want to see that guys are competing to win. I didn't feel I would be at that level."
This will be the first NFR appearance for the 21-year-old Wright, the 2009 Rookie of the Year and younger brother of 2008 world champion Cody Wright.
Jesse Wright had finished just $428 behind No. 15 Sam Spreadborough on the money list and originally missed qualifying. But Hay's injury will give him a chance to compete in the NFR, which runs through Dec. 11 at the Thomas & Mack Center.
"I bet it was very hard for Rod [to withdraw]," said Wright. "I have never been in that type of situation, but I bet he thought about it a long time."
— Steve Luhm