KEEP IT FUN Choate Collects Most Money Over the Fourth of July Among All Barrel Racers By Kristen M. White, photos by Jeremy Wombold T he Fourth of July run of rodeos can be a mixed bag. Contestants can drive a lot of miles or not so many, enter a dozen rodeos or just a handful – and they can win big or win very little. They’ll tell you they never expect to do well over
National Finals Rodeo in her first year. “Who doesn’t want to make the NFR, especially their rookie year? That would be so freaking cool!” the Fort Worth, Texas, cowgirl said. “If I was to make the NFR, Ponoka would probably be the rodeo that gave me that leg up and it’ll always hold a special place in my heart. “I was just having fun there. I didn’t take anything too serious,” she added. “My first run was the fastest and I didn’t know what to expect. I just wanted to make a businessman run … and Dash said no, we’re winning it!” Her time of 17.27 seconds held for the round win. She just edged Wenda Johnson in 17.31 seconds. And Choate said she knew she wanted to get back for the next round and do it again. “Sunday rolled around, and then I was in the top 12 shootout and then I thought, ‘Wait, I have to run again? I’ve never run twice in one day – what do I do?’” Choate recalled. She and Dash took another turn around the pattern and she said she couldn’t have asked for a more picture perfect rodeo. Choate won the second round in a time of 17.43 seconds, with Johnson hot on her heels again in 17.47 seconds. Then, in the showdown round, Choate stopped the clock in 17.39 seconds for that win too (Johnson finished fourth that go). The decision to only run in a few rodeos was something that Choate and Ann Thompson, who helps many contestants do their entering,
Cowboy Christmas. Hope, yes. Expect, no. Bayleigh Choate certainly didn’t expect to have a hugely profitable run, and she never expected she’d end up the big money winner for barrel racers. Yet that’s exactly what she did. Choate collected checks totaling $25,506, competing in just four rodeos. But the big one, the Ponoka Stampede, treated her very well and was enough to put her at the top for winners in barrels. Shelley Morgan had the next biggest haul with $20,352. It was a clean sweep for Choate at the Canadian rodeo. She won the first two rounds to win the average, and also won the showdown round. She and the horse she ran there, Dash (Hail to be Famous) couldn’t be beat. “It was kind of crazy,” Choate said honestly. “I never expected to do that well. I turned out of almost everything, and it was really good. I’m so grateful to have a good Fourth, especially being my rookie year. It was cool to see my name up there for a minute.” Oh yes – did we mention Choate is a rookie? With a healthy lead of about $20,000 in the rookie standings, Choate is in good position for that accomplishment. Now she’s got a new goal on the horizon, the
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