RODEO NEWS

McLeod-Sprague Tops Barrel Racing Leaderboard for Cowboy Christmas

By Ann Bleiker

WPRA barrel racer Megan McLeod-Sprague has been in the sport a “hot-minute,” but this is the first year she has landed atop the barrel racing leaderboard for most money won over the Fourth of July, a week known in rodeo as Cowboy Christmas.

McLeod-Sprague, who joined the WPRA in 1997, won over $29,000 at four rodeos to outdistance the rest of the field by just under $10,000.

“Honestly just having the horse for it,” stated the Marsing, Idaho, cowgirl, when asked what made this year different than the past. “I have been blessed with a lot of nice horses, but this is the first Cowboy Christmas I have had Jag for, which obviously made a huge difference. I have had some decent Cowboy Christmas runs in the past, but it was all about the horse this year and it was my time.”

Jag is her 14-year-old gelding registered Seis Corona that she bought on her birthday in December of 2021. An injury right before the Fourth of July in 2024, kept him sidelined for the big run but he has returned better than ever and is carrying his jockey to new heights.

Interestingly enough, the only rodeo where she collected a first-place check was at the Livingston (MT) Roundup Rodeo with a time of 17.13 seconds. That was worth $8,432.

“It is always fun to win first but honestly I said last year before Jag got hurt, I had a streak of 4-5 big rodeos where I finished second and realized that really in the long run those seconds get you one big first,” stated McLeod-Sprague.

Her largest check came at the Cody (WY) Stampede where she finished second behind world champion duo Hailey Kinsel and Sister. She won $9,025 in Cody, was third in St. Paul, OR good for $7,904 and was second in Basin City, WA for another $3,960. She rode Jag at all but Basin City where she called upon the services of Ticket Ta Heaven, a 6-year-old mare.

“That was the icing on the cake,” stated McLeod-Sprague about getting a check on Ticket at Basin City. “She is a young one I just picked up a month and a half ago and since I wanted to give Jag a rest before Calgary I decided to run her. She has been right there but man she turned on the after burners there and laid down a great run.”

McLeod-Sprague didn’t have time to dwell on the week she had as she immediately went to the Calgary Stampede to compete in Pool B, and she started with a bang there winning the first round on Monday, July 7.

“I did that strategically,” she said of getting placed in Pool B at Calgary. “We don’t have a lot in my circuit next weekend and I am at the NFR Open. I wanted to be in Pool B as I still needed to hit some good circuit rodeos that overlapped with Pool A timeline and Pool C wouldn’t have worked with the NFR Open.”

Prior to the Fourth of July, McLeod-Sprague was ranked fifth in the world with a first time NFR qualification on the line for the 2025 season.

“I am sure there are plenty of words to describe it, but I am going to be honest that I am speechless right…amazing…blessed…wonderful…all of it. I am still letting it soak in as a bit unbelievable,” she said when asked to describe her year. “I have definitely thought about it (an NFR qualification) and really none of us know exactly what it will take this year, but I have a pretty good idea and once I hit that number, I doubt I will let off the gas until October 1st.”

Top 5 barrel racing earners for 2025 Cowboy Christmas

*Unofficial money as still awaiting final payouts from WPRA Audit, so final figures might have some minor adjustments.

1. Megan McLeod-Sprague – $29,321
2. Paige Jones – $19,716
3. Jennifer Neudorf – $19,334
4. Summer Kosel – $18,251
5. BryAnna Haluptzok – $16,730

Top WPRA Breakaway earners for Cowboy Christmas will be announced on Tuesday, July 8, as results from some rodeos are still being entered.

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