In a joint effort between the Women's Professional Rodeo Association and the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, the limits have been lifted on entries for barrel racers, allowing all card members of the WPRA to enter. The two groups are working together to offer more opportunity for all members to compete at this prestigious event to kick off the 2010 season.

"When I was running for the director position in my circuit, that was one thing I said I would try to do was to lift the limits on rodeos that currently had limits," said WPRA Texas Circuit Director Lois Ferguson. "I would like to thank Brad Barnes and his staff for working with us to lift the limits in Ft. Worth and hope this will be a step forward for all involved."

Fort Worth Stock Show's Executive Vice President and General Manager Bradford S. Barnes, met with both Ferguson and WPRA President Kathi Myers to discuss the benefits to both groups in lifting the limits.

"The Fort Worth Stock Show's Rodeo continually strives to create the most level playing field possible for our contestants," said Barnes. "In addition to ensuring ground consistency by hand-raking after each run, for this year's rodeo we have also agreed to modify our format, allowing all WPRA card holding barrel racers to compete.

"We believe this will benefit the WPRA members by affording them the opportunity to get an early foothold on their money earnings for the season, allow more members the opportunity to compete at our rodeo and make travel arrangements easier."

Should there be less than 260 barrel racers the format would be one round with a progressive second round and the top 12 in the average would then advance to the short go. The number of entries will determine how many are taken to the second round.

For example there are 29 performances plus the finals performance (Jan. 22-Feb. 7).

If there are 200 entered, the first go will be run in the first 20 performances and the top 90 fastest times from the first go will get a second run in performances 21 through 29. The top twelve in the average on the first two runs will run in the short go (finals.). Splits not to exceed 12 per the WPRA rulebook. If 145 or less enter then there will be two runs back to back and a short go

"We are very excited about this great opportunity for all our members," said WPRA President Kathi Myers. "We appreciate Brad Barnes and the entire Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Committee changing their format to allow more of our members to compete at this prestigious event."

Entries open on January 4 at 10 a.m. MT and close on January 8 at 10 a.m. MT. Don't miss your chance to get a jump start on your 2010 season!