WPRA NEWS

Sammy Thurman Brackenbury – 1933 – 2024

We are saddened to read that 1965 World Champion Barrel Racer and 2019 ProRodeo Hall of Fame Inductee Sammy Thurman Brackenbury has passed away. She recently celebrated her 91st birthday on Dec. 11. She lived life to the fullest from chasing mustangs on the deserts of Arizona and Nevada, to a WPRA Barrel Racing World Championship, to roping and falling off horses in the movies Sammy Thurman Brackenbury did it all.

Sammy Thurman Brackenbury

Brackenbury qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 11 consecutive times, winning the world title in 1965. The only daughter of PRCA cowboy Sam Fancher, Brackenbury became one of the first women to rope in an RCA rodeo when her father entered the team roping at the Santa Maria Rodeo and his partner failed to show.

NFBR Tickets Now On Sale

Oct 3, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping National Finals Breakaway Roping Tickets On Sale Now By Ann Bleiker COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –Tickets for the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping presented by...

WPRA Announces 2025 Committee and Contract Awards

Oct 2, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year Wrangler National Finals WPRA Announces 2025 Committee and Contract Awards By Ann Bleiker COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – With the regular season behind us we turn our attention to what can be considered the reward...

Contract personnel announced for National Finals Breakaway Roping

Sep 29, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year Wrangler National Finals Contract personnel announced for National Finals Breakaway Roping By Ann Bleiker COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The PRCA and WPRA are proud to announce the contract personnel selected for the...

2025 Governor’s Cup

Sep 24, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearRODEO NEWS Champions Crowned at Governor’s Cup By Ann Bleiker A whole year of blood, sweat and tears came down to the final weekend in professional rodeo and showdown Sunday at the 2025 Governor’s Cup presented...

Natalie Morales takes on barrel racing in “Never Too Late” Series on CBS Mornings

Sep 22, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year RODEO NEWS Natalie Morales takes on barrel racing in "Never Too Late" Series on CBS Mornings By Ann Bleiker Natalie Morales, who is now a correspondent for CBS News, decided to take her love for horses and riding...

Race to the Finish

Sep 16, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year RODEO NEWS Race to the Finish By Ann Bleiker Professional rodeo isn’t for the faint of heart and every individual within range of the top 15 is laser focused on the goal at hand to make the Top 15 and earn a trip...