"It's something else, isn't it?" said Milford's Cody Wright last month at Utah Cowboy Day in Nephi. "It's good to see. Houston is going to be a lot of fun."
Especially for the cowboys who win the $50,000 paydays in their respective events.
Through March 18, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, or "RodeoHouston," as it is often called, will draw hundreds of the top cowboys in the country, including 12 from Utah, to the Lone Star State. To attract more fans and make it easier for casual rodeo followers to track and understand, the $1.2 million rodeo has changed its format this year to a bracket system.
After several rounds, the top four contestants in each event will advance to a final bonus round, where the winner will win a $50,000 check that will count toward the PRCA world standings. It is similar to what the Calgary Stampede does (although winnings there don't count in the standings), and Wright knows all about that, having won $100,000 there last summer for his saddle bronc riding efforts.
Skip Wagner, president of RodeoHouston, said the change was made to lure fans who are used to the terminology and bracketing methods of other sports.
"One of the real problems in the sport of rodeo is that nobody knows who is winning or losing when you have rounds that last from Day I to Day 18," he said. "This way, after a few performances, we will know who advances."
Wright said a win in Houston will virtually guarantee a berth in the NFR, which takes the top 15 cowboys in each event.
Along with Wright, the list of Utahns scheduled to compete includes: Lehi's Rusty Allen, Oakley's Anthony Bello, Morgan's Levi Berry, Payson's Jess Davis, Ogden's Jake Hannum, South Jordan's Colby Olsen, Tooele's Shawn Proctor, Spanish Fork's Clint Robinson, Payson's Wesley Silcox, Bluebell's James Sursa and Payson's Steve Woolsey.
Tearing up Tucson
Spanish Fork's Robinson got back in the winner's circle rather quickly after December's phenomenal run in tie-down roping at the NFR, albeit in a different event. Robinson teamed with Blair Burk of Durant, Okla., to win the team roping at the 82nd annual La Fiesta de los Vaqueros in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 25 in front of 11,000 fans.
The duo recorded a time of 8.6 seconds to win the Tour Round and also took the average with a 22.2-second total on three head. Each roper earned $4,516.
San Angelo star
Oakley's Bello won the saddle bronc riding with 168 points on two head at the San Angelo (Texas) Stock Show and Rodeo last week. He tied for third in the Tour Round with an 81-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo's Sister in Law. Bello pocketed $8,378 and continues to lead the world standings in saddle bronc.
Circuit Finals
Provided they are finished in Houston, several Utah cowboys will hit the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello, Idaho, March 15-18 and represent the Wilderness Circuit. Among those who have qualified for the DNCFR are Riverton's Shayne Bennett (steer wrestling), West Haven's Justin Hodson (team roping), Goshen's Jade Anderson (team roping), Ogden's Dusty Morse (team roping), Bello (saddle bronc), Wright (saddle bronc), Hannum (tie-down roping), Riverton's Vickie Solmonsen (barrel racing), West Jordan's Teri Wood Gates (barrel racing) and Payson's Woolsey (bull riding).
drew@sltrib.com
