Not many people can say they earned more than $11,000 last week.
But if you are Trevor Brazile, that's just a small portion of the money the six-time world all-around champion has won this season.
Two weeks ago, Brazile won the tie-down roping and all-around titles at the Farm-City Pro Rodeo in Hermiston. Last week, the Decatur, Texas, cowboy won the tie-down and all-around titles at the Caldwell (Idaho) Night Rodeo and the all-around title at the Canby (Ore.) Rodeo, to earn his 10th all-around title in the last month of action.
Brazile will headline the action Thursday night at the Horse Heaven Round-Up, which opens its chutes tonight at the Benton Franklin Fairgrounds.
Your ticket to the fair gets you a seat to watch some of the best ropers and riders on the PRCA circuit test their skills against 2,000-pound bulls and feisty calves.
Joining Brazile in the tie-down roping event Thursday are eight-time world champion Fred Whitfield and 2008 PRCA rookie of the year Tuf Cooper. Brazile also will team rope with Patrick Smith on Thursday.
Brazile, the winningest cowboy in PRCA history, has earned $200,463 so far this year, $12,993 ahead of the pace he set in 2007 when he broke the single-season earnings mark with $425,115.
Thursday also is Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night, with the top performer in each event taking home a bonus of $200 and a buckle -- if they are wearing pink.
There should be no excuse for not pocketing the bonus money because Kadlec Regional Medical Center is providing free pink Wrangler shirts, embroidered with the HHRU and Kadlec logos for all competitors. River Realty is sponsoring the buckles.
The rough stock will come from the Big Bend Flying 5 Rodeo Company.
In the bareback event, world standings leader Clint Cannon ($162,004) will compete tonight, taking a ride on Orphan Annie. Oregon cowboy Bobby Mote, No. 2 in the standings with $132,306, will ride Thursday on Show Dance.
Bull rider J.W. Harris, who leads the world standings, will take a spin on Power Surge tonight, while saddle bronc world leader Jesse Kruse will ride Saturday on Hell Bound.
-- Spring Fling, a three-time horse of the year, will not perform this weekend. Don Hutsell of the Big Bend Rodeo Company said the mare was injured at a rodeo in Reno in June. ... Flying 5's 1999 PRCA Bull of the Year, Yellow Jacket, died of natural causes Aug. 6 at the age of 17. The bull appeared in the NFR six times (1997-2002) and was ridden just twice in 40 outings during the 1999 season.
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Brazile beats out Grand Coulee's Proctor for rodeo title
Brazile beats out Grand Coulee's Proctor for rodeo title
LAS VEGAS -- Trevor Brazile wrapped up his record ninth all-around championship Sunday during the fourth round of the National Finals Rodeo.
Brazile, from Decatur, Texas, has earned $305,582 this season, $167,808 more than second-place Shane Proctor of Grand Coulee, Wash. Proctor had to win the bull riding round in order to stay in contention, but failed to make a qualifying ride. Proctor also competed in saddle bronc riding during the season.
"It's just nice to have it done," Brazile said. "To clinch it this early kind of lets a guy let his hair down in the single events. When you come in with the lead, and things aren't going well and they are for everyone else, it doesn't matter what your lead is. It's never a peace-of-mind thing until it's done."
Cheney cowboy shows guts after liver injury
Cheney cowboy shows guts after liver injury
HERMISTON -- It took Ryan Gray six months to recover from a lacerated liver, but it has only taken two months for the Cheney cowboy to move into the top 20 in the world bareback standings.
Gray turned in an 86-point ride Friday night at the Farm-City Pro Rodeo to move into second in the standings behind Clint Cannon's 88.
"I lacerated my liver at the NFR last year when the horse stepped on my back," said Gray, who is 17th in the world standings and less than $2,500 out of the top 15. "It was pretty severe. I'm thankful to be able to come back and do what I love to do. I feel as good as I have in five years this time of the year.
It's a draw for cowboys, stock
It's a draw for cowboys, stock
KENNEWICK -- The bareback event at the Horse Heaven Round-Up was, well, bare this year.
Just 21 cowboys entered the event over the four days, with the top scores coming Wednesday night.
Saturday, three-time world champion and current world standings leader Will Lowe was on hand to give the crowd a thrill, turning in an 80 on a young horse.
Cooper records night's top tie-down score at Farm-City
Cooper records night's top tie-down score at Farm-City
Tuf Cooper comes from one of the top roping families in the sport of rodeo, but the young man from Texas is making a name for himself, turning in the hot run of the night Thursday in the tie-down roping at the Farm-City Pro Rodeo.
Brazile lassoes Horse Heaven tie-down win
Brazile lassoes Horse Heaven tie-down win
KENNEWICK -- Fresh calves are like kindergartners on the first day of school -- scared.
The tie-down ropers had a devil of a time with their charges Friday at the Horse Heaven Round-Up, but Trevor Brazile, the reigning world champion in the event, said he just sticks with his game plan and sets up the run.
It paid off with the top run of the night at 8.9 seconds.
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