IN THE NEWS NEW WPRA Western Region Barrel Racing and Breakaway Roping Event Have you heard the news? The WPRA is hosting a Western Region barrel racing and breakaway roping event, Oct. 19-22 at the Blackhawk Arena in Salina, UT. Entries will open September 21 and will close on Oct. 12. A spin-off of the WPRA World Finals, this event will have the following races: • $5,000 WPRA Card Race – all money will count toward 2024 world and Wilderness Circuit standings • $1,000 Permit Race – fill your permit and be ready to kickoff the 2024 year as a Rookie • $5,000 WPRA Breakaway – all money will count toward 2024 world and Wilderness Circuit standings There will also be events for non- members including an open 5D and a breakaway roping jackpot. WPRA Roping Director and college rodeo coach Lynn Smith will be conducting a goat tying clinic on Oct. 18 and a breakaway roping clinic on Oct. 19. Ground rules and entry information will be coming soon to www. wpra.com. WPRA World Finals Returns
to Waco for 2023 Edition
The WPRA World Finals will once again be held at Extraco Event Center in Waco, TX, Nov. 9-12 in conjunction with the Elite Barrel Racing.
World Champions will be crowned in team roping (heading and heeling), tie-down roping, all-around, junior and futurity/derby. New features in 2023 will be a permit only breakaway roping and a $2,500 all around bonus. The WPRA Breakaway roping will serve as a 2024 qualifier for Fort Worth and RodeoHouston and earnings will count towards 2024 World and Texas circuit standings. The barrel racing will feature the Boot Barn Card Only event that will serve as a 2024 RodeoHouston qualifier and will count towards 2024 World and Texas circuit standings. The permit race is returning as well allowing members to fill their permits while running only against other permit holders. Entries will open Sept. 11 and close Oct. 30. Check www.wpra.com for additional information and ground rules. Make plans to join us in Waco.
Family members of the late Hugh Bennett stopped by the WPRA office to present a group image of the participants at the American Royal in November 1934. Bennett’s great granddaughters have had this relic in their collection and wanted to pass it on to others that might enjoy seeing those that helped lay the foundation. Hugh Bennett influenced the sport of rodeo in and out of the arena. Bennett, born Sept. 19, 1905, in Knox City, Texas, won the PRCA steer wrestling world title in 1932 and the steer roping title in 1938. He became the first secretary/treasurer of the Cowboys’ Turtle Association, serving from October 1936 until 1941. All the while, he continued to compete and with the help of his wife, Josie, who ran the office from the trunk of his car. A powerful voice in the administration, Bennett was very influential in the ascension of the Turtle Association that later became the Rodeo Cowboys Association and eventually the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1975. Forty-three years after the Cowboys’ Turtle Association was formed, Bennett remained active in professional rodeo and was a founder of the Hall of Champions in Colorado Springs, Colo. Bennett died July 15, 1994.
8 WPRA NEWS SEPTEMBER 2023
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