The weekend of October 14-16, 2005 marked the premier Wildfire Ranch Barrel Race. The event was host to over 600 runs, and while this number was shy of its maximum capacity, the advertised, guaranteed payout of $13,600 held true. As proof, if the event had filled, it would have boasted a 91% payout of the entry fees, instead, the event paid $35,360 boosting the payout to an unheard rate of 122% over the entry fees!
When the event started Friday morning, the weather was beautiful and the ground conditions were ideal. One advantage to being an owner/producer is that Wildfire Ranch maintains the ground 365 days a year and through experience has developed an understanding of how to maintain and manipulate their particular ground conditions better than anyone! Also, Coufal-Prater in Temple, Texas donated three new John Deere tractors for the event and with each of them pulling Reveal drags; the three-man ground crew was able to keep the ground consistent for the duration of the event. This consistency became evident as daily fast times were repeatedly broken throughout each day, with many of them being fourth and fifth runs on the ground. A perfect example of this is Tyra Kane’s fastest time of 17.132 in the 1 p.m. rotation on Sunday in which she was the fifth run following the drag!
The large Wildfire arena accommodated the standard W.P.R.A. pattern with ease. Off-setting a center support column prior to the event allowed for a well-defined entrance/exit alley to be built in the center of the arena. With safety and efficiency top priority, the set-up also included a staging area for the next five runners to warm up, as well as entrance and exit gates manned by Wildfire personnel. All of these aspects combined with a well-organized format provided the foundation for a great event.
There were three categories in which the barrel racers could snag their share of the loot including Bloomer Bucks added money, daily round money, and of course the three-run average added money. The event actually provided the contestants 244 ways to win part of the payout!
First, Bloomer Trailers added $3,625 in Bloomer Bucks which were paid out in $25 increments to the fast time in each division for each hourly rotation of 50 runs. Bloomer Bucks were paid to 127 different places over the course of the weekend and the person who benefited most was Debbie Gallaway. When the weekend was over, after making three clean runs, Debbie stuffed her pockets with $250 of Bloomer Bucks alone, not to mention another $188 for placing fourth in Sunday’s third division! That’s what you call easy money!
Each day of the event was run like any 4D jackpot barrel race with 75% of the entry fee money paid out to the first eight places in each division. This portion of the payout totaled $7,245 daily and $21,735 for the event. By the end of the event, 93 barrel racers received their portion of this payout not to mention 12 buckles awarded to each day’s division winners. Over the course of the event, Tyra Kane on her horse Zip Dance won money in six different places including first, fourth and fifth in the rounds while also snagging Bloomer Bucks each day for winnings totaling $1,180 and a stunning Gist buckle. Tyra proved persistence pays off and you didn’t have to win the average to take home a nice chunk of change!
However, with $10,000 in added money, the average was definitely the place to be! The average payout totaled $10,000 which was paid out in $2,500 increments, along with four unique Gist buckles, to the average winners in each of the four divisions. After winning round money and Bloomer Bucks through the course of the event, Bobbie Wagner, riding Disco Yawl, set the pace winning the 1D average with her three-run total of 52.027 earning her a buckle and more importantly the $2,500 average money. After all was said and done, Bobbie left Wildfire $3,438 richer! Kendel Robinson on Topsies Money Man dominated the second division average with weekend winnings equaling $2,774 and a buckle. Next was Kim Schaefer on Laughing Profit. They laughed all the way to the bank to the tune of event earnings totaling $2,665. Last but not least, Wilma carried her rider, Karen McDermott to victory in the 4D average for a buckle and $2,757 in greenbacks!
All-in-all, the event was a success. Wildfire Ranch has definitely set the ground-work for a great event. Those of you who missed out on the first Wildfire Ranch Barrel Race; keep your eyes open for the next event coming up in early spring of 2006! After all, with $13,600 in added money, dollar for dollar, Wildfire Ranch provides the most bang for your barrel racing buck!
