The Cowtown Coliseum, the historically famous venue in the Fort Worth Stockyards, was filled to the brim on Friday night with fans attending the RFD-TV’s The American Semi-Finals. Competitors attempted to qualify for the RFD-TV’s The American, which is scheduled for Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The American will offer a $2 million purse, a world record payout for a single performance rodeo.
The purse for the Feb. 14-17 American Semi-Finals in the Stockyards also commands respect. It was $941,375, making it one of the higher paying rodeos in the world (in a quiet way). For example, The American Semi-Finals’ purse was larger than the renowned Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in Wyoming. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s 2016 Cheyenne rodeo offered competitors $832,839.
The American Semi-Finals was a cash cow for competitors such as former Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier Timber Moore of Aubrey, Texas, who clinched the tie-down roping title after turning in a blistering final round time of 7.08 seconds. He earned more than $51,000.
Kelsey Lutjen of Casa Grande, Ariz., clinched the barrel racing title with after turning in a 13.804. She pocketed more than $56,000.
Other champions were bareback rider Tilden Hooper, steer wrestler Rowdy Parrott, team ropersh Cody Snow and Wesley Thorp, saddle bronc rider Clay Elliot and bull rider Claudio Marcelina de Montanha Junior.
For more on bull riding and Fort Worth area:
www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/seconds-north-texas-is-key-for-pro-bull-riding/article_c953273e-f56d-11e6-b625-9f1d1d36a6d4.html
www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/professional-bull-riders-to-open-bar-at-arlington-s-texas/article_4bf22e06-f54b-11e6-90b2-0fe9f305bb56.html