Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Ganter, Guillory Gets Big Boost in Texas

By Ann Bleiker

As the saying goes, “This Thing Is Legendary,” is in reference to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Two WPRA members added their names to the legendary list of winners and in doing so also vaulted to the top of their respective events in the WPRA ProRodeo World Standings.

Jackie Ganter of Abilene, Texas, has had a fast start to her 2023 rodeo season and she is laser focused on earning her third qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December. Ganter captured the Boot Barn Card Holder race title in November at the WPRA World Finals and has now added her first career Fort Worth title to her resume.
            “It is an honor and privilege for Tycoon and I to be the 2023 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Champions,” wrote Ganter on her Facebook page. “Tycoon deserves this. I believe in him and respect him for coming back from every setback better than before.”
            Tycoon is Ganter’s 13-year-old gelding registered as Howes A Tycoon. She won her first WPRA Card Holder race in 2018, just a few months after purchasing the gelding. But in recent history Tycoon has had several soundness issues. One injury after another kept him off Ganter’s roster prior to November but he returned with a vengeance and carrying his jockey to new accomplishments.
            “When Tycoon is sound, he just shows up,” Ganter said after her in at the WPRA World Finals.
            It was a true test for the duo in the Final round in Ft. Worth going up against arena record holder Wenda Johnson; 2021 WPRA World Champion Jordon Briggs aboard the two-time AQHA Horse of the Year Rollo; Emily Beisel and Chongo; Shelley Morgan and Kiss who won the 2022 NFR average title; Sissy Winn, who turned in the fastest time of the rodeo during the second semifinals; Sarah Rose Waguespack, making her own comeback; and of course the famous duo of Hailey Kinsel and Sister, who won four WPRA World Titles.

Kinsel and Sister set the bar as the fourth runners out stopping the clock in 16.35 seconds but it was short lived as Ganter and Tycoon stopped the clock in 16.30 seconds to capture the title. All totaled Ganter left with $25,260, which vaulted her to No. 1 in the world standings in the barrel racing.
            On the roping end, it was Cheyanne Guillory who continued with the hot hand. Guillory was coming off her second Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping, where she won the most money during the 10 rounds, and entered the Final round in Fort Worth having already tied the arena record during bracket 4 when she stopped the clock in 1.7 seconds.
            While her final run wasn’t quite that fast she was the only contestant in the field of eight to turn in a time of less than two seconds during the championship round. She stopped the clock in 1.9 seconds as the second gunner out. Ashley Goforth would come the closest to matching her stopping the clock in 2.0 seconds, as the next to last cowgirl to go. As a result of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo committee paying equal money to the breakaway ropers, Guillory roped a cool $26,193 to take back home to Kingston, Oklahoma, and shot to the top of the leaderboard in the WPRA ProRodeo Breakaway World Standings.
            And last but not least, the Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed Award presented by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame was awarded following the barrel race on the final night. This prestigious award is only given at the NFR and at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. While the NFR is selected over the course of the nine rounds, the award in Fort Worth is based off the Final round only.

Sissy Winn became the first WPRA member to win back-to-back Best Dressed Award titles in Fort Worth taking the title in 2022 and again in 2023. This isn’t an easy feat as the first big hurdle is being one of the eight barrel racers to make the Finals.
            “Winning the Jerry Ann Taylor award last year was such an honor,” Winn said. “I knew I wanted to try to win it again if I got the chance.”
            This year’s outfit included a bright blue hat, a white shirt with blue and black sequin trim on the sleeves and jeans embellished with red, white and blue rhinestone stars and white rhinestone writing spelling out “Land of the free because of the brave” on the outside of the leg.

Winn learned sewing from her mother, and they enjoy collaborating on her outfits. Winn was all smiles winning the custom-made bracelet and $5,000 in cold hard cash.