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It might
be a bit of a challenge but it is mathematically possible
for someone to catch Tammy Bruso for the year-end title
of Southeastern Circuit Champion barrel racer.
Bruso leads the circuit by about
$4,500 entering the Dodge Southeastern Circuit Finals
Rodeo to be held this year in Davie, Fla., and sponsored
by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The SECFR kicks off
November 5-7, 2009. Bruso has had a breakout year in
2009, not only leading the regular season standings
in the Southeastern Circuit but also finishing 13th
in the WPRA NFR standings as well.
With many of the expansive Southeastern
Circuit's larger rodeos in Florida, it should come as
no surprise that seven of the top 12 barrel racers hail
from the Sunshine State. But the top three come from
the northern part of the circuit with Bruso hailing
from Dothan, Ala. - a town situated in the southeastern
corner of that state; second ranked Wendy Reed from
Roopville, Ga., and third ranked Jana Jarreau from Greenwell
Springs, La.
Bruso built her lead with big checks
from Montgomery, Ala., Franklin, Tenn., and victories
at Okeechobee, Fla., and Perry, Ga. With a busy national
rodeo schedule, Bruso only entered 20 rodeos in her
home circuit. Amongst her wins outside the Southeastern
Circuit were Canby, Ore., and Abilene and Corpus Christi,
Texas.
The only competitor in the field
with a chance to catch Bruso for the year-end title
is Reed-but she would need nearly a clean sweep of the
three go rounds and finals. Reed also went to a limited
number of circuit rodeos, just 21, but made the most
of her runs. During the circuit's lucrative spring run,
she placed at all the rodeos she entered.
Reed's partner in barrel racing
is Uno - registered as Kid Me Nonstop. Uno is a 10-year
old mare with breeding stock paint papers. Uno's sire
is a son of Judy's Lineage and her dam, a daughter of
Nonstop Jet.
In 2009, Uno and Reed took victories
at a number of rodeos, including the Arcadia All Florida
Championship Rodeo and Hamilton, Ga. The pair also took
a big check from the Old Fort Days Rodeo in Fort Smith,
Ark., where they were featured as the "Rising Star"
on The WPRA Today.
The partnership was not always so
smooth. The horse belonged to Reed's mother, a barrel
racer herself, who wanted to get the mare sold.
"The first time I rode her,
she bucked me off and cracked my ribs," remembers
Reed. "But after I healed, Mom talked me into riding
her again and I'm glad she did now."
After the rocky start, Reed and
Uno were winning 1D checks at the jackpots within a
month.
"She was such a natural, as
most of the great ones are," says Reed. "Several
local barrel racers tried to buy her then, but luckily,
I had first choice to buy her."
Reed bought her WPRA permit in 2006
and was named the circuit rookie of the year the following
year. She and Uno will make their second consecutive
SECFR in 2009 after finishing ninth a year ago. The
duo would love a chance at the Dodge National Circuit
Finals Rodeo as well. Only the year-end and finals champs
qualify to the DNCFR, held annually in Pocatello, Idaho.
"I've never run at Davie,"
says Reed, "but I'm really excited to go!"
Unlike in some circuits where the
same competitors tend to qualify year-in and year-out,
there are only three ladies who qualified in 2008 and
will be back in 2009-Reed is one of them, Bruso is not.
Only Okeechobee cowgirl Wendy Culberson has been there
every year since 2005.
A repeat trip may not give any advantage
in 2009: the 2008 Finals were held in Okeechobee, Fla.
Action this year will take place in the Bergeron Rodeo
Grounds in Davie with nightly go round buckles held
at the Seminole Hard Rock at Seminole Paradise. For
more information, visit www.secprorodeo.com.
One thing is certain: competition
will be as hot as the south Florida weather as contestants
vie for the chance to join those from the other circuits
who have already punched their tickets to the DNCFR
in 2010.
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