The American
Kaique Pacheco & County Jail
The American Rodeo Names Champions
Contributed Courtesy The American Rodeo
History was made. Champions emerged. Lives were changed. What separates The American Rodeo from the rest? Being the richest single-day event in all of western sports. Saving the best for last, The American Rodeo capped off a spectacular day of riding, roping, and racing during its Finals Championship Round with Brazilian bull rider Kaique Pacheco winning the bull riding and the life-changing/historic $2 million bonus for eight seconds of work at AT&T Stadium on Sunday March 6. “I can’t describe the moment,” said the 27-year-old Pacheco, who earned more than $2.1 million. “I always dreamed about winning The American Rodeo and I finally made that happen.” The day was filled with real-life cowboys and cowgirls giving Super Bowl caliber performances at the state-of-the-art home of the Dallas Cowboys. The American Rodeo paid out more than $3 million on its final day. Each of the event winners earned $100,000 while second place paid $25,000. Presented by Teton Ridge, The American Rodeo is a true open competition format, bringing together top professional rodeo champions and every day, hard-working cowboys and cowgirls in a winner-take-all showdown mean to crown the finest talent the world has to offer. Emphasis on WORLD. Champions from three different countries – United States, Canada, and Brazil – were crowned. Sunday’s long round and short round included competitors from 24 different states and two Canadian provinces. All three rough stock events – bareback,
saddle bronc and bull riding – were decided by a paper-thin half-point in scoring. “It was a good day to have a good day,” said Shelley Morgan, sharing the post-event press conference podium with, and speaking for, her fellow champions. Pacheco had the richest day of all. The humble Brazilian cowboy, who came to the United States in 2014 to take care of his family, got into the final four based on his buck off time. Pacheco went 89 points on his bovine opponent “County Jail” to best seven-time PRCA world champion Sage Kimzey by a half-point. “Before the event, I don’t think about it too much,” he said of riding for record-setting money. “I am really happy to ride my bulls and do my job. I just try to make a ride on every bull I get on. This means a lot.” Pacheco, the 2018 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) world champion, also won the Barretos Rodeo in 2015, the biggest rodeo in Brazil. He now holds titles on three of the biggest stages in rodeo. “I grew up with the sport,” he said. “My father rode bulls, my uncles were bull riders and bull fighters. I was determined to be a bull rider, too. I love the sport.” Courtesy FWSSR, by Dusty Saddles Photography
Primo
Tildon Hooper & Gun Fire
BAREBACK
After posting the top score of 89 points in the long round, Hooper had first choice among the Finals horses. The pick was easy. A familiar friend… “Gun Fire.” “Not at all,” Hooper said of any hesitation. And for good reason. A year ago, Hooper and “Gun Fire” won The American Rodeo bareback title. “That’s an awesome horse,” said HoopContinued on page 13
May 2022 SouthWest Horse Trader
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