Familiar Territory atop the Standings for Kinsel

By Ann Bleiker

WPRA barrel racer Hailey Kinsel returns to Las Vegas and the Thomas and Mack in a familiar place – No. 1 in the world.

            While she didn’t move into that position until the very last weekend of the regular season winning the Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, it is a spot she cherishes and doesn’t take for granted.

“My goal for the end of the year was to qualify for the Mandan and Sioux Falls rodeos and do well at those as we all knew the payouts would be huge,” noted Kinsel of Cotulla, Texas. “Having Sister ready to fire at those became the focus of the back half of the year. It worked in my favor, and a jump in the standings was an added bonus to winning big money at those two events to wrap up the regular season.”

            Kinsel will be making her eighth consecutive appearance at the Wrangler NFR, and this will mark her third time going in as the top ranked barrel racer. The previous times were 2018 and 2021 where she won the first of her four world titles in 2018 and finished reserve world champion in 2021. She was ranked second going into the 2019 and 2020 NFR, leaving as No. 1 and her fourth world title came in 2022 when she jumped from fifth to 1st.

            In addition to her world titles, her resume includes an NFR average title, RAM Top Gun title, an NFR arena record holder (Las Vegas and Arlington, TX), and over $2 million in career earnings to date. She has accomplished all of this on her standout horse DM Sissy Hayday better known as Sister. The 13-year-old palomino mare continues to lay down fast runs especially when it comes to the confines of the Thomas & Mack. In fact, the duo has amassed over $1.1 million in earnings at the NFR alone.

            “Sister kind of excels everywhere, so that’s hard to say,” Kinsel said when asked why Sister is so effective in Las Vegas. “Specifically for small arenas like the Thomas & Mack, she has a very efficient style and is very quick in her acceleration and deceleration between the turns. Mentally, she can handle the crowd energy and loud noise well.”

            Besides the Governor’s Cup win in 2024, Kinsel and Sister added a prestigious win to their resume at the Reno (NV) Rodeo.

            A fifth world title would put Kinsel only second behind the legend Charmayne James, with 11, in most barrel racing world titles.

            “It would be amazing to accomplish that feat,” noted Kinsel. “I know coming in with a small lead is a blessing, but we still have a lot of work to do in Vegas to make that dream a reality. However, I have a ton of confidence in Sister’s and my ability to do it.”