|
|
Regular
Posts: 63
| Has anyone else noticed the barrel racing qualifier entry numbers are down for the American Rodeo? Anyone have an idea of why this is? |
|
| |
|
 Tried and True
Posts: 21185
  
Location: Where I am happiest | I think entry numbers are lighter everywhere at every venue. Although who wouldnt want to win a million, it is $500 to enter and your horse basically has to make 4 of the best runs of his life to get to that million. Thats a pretty tall order. Although we sure do hope to have one some day to try it! |
|
| |
|
 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
 
Location: In the Hills of Texas | At first it was a fun thing to go to and to dream. Now reality has set in and if you don't have a Louie you might as well save your money. |
|
| |
|
Location: Not Where I Want to Be | Nevertooold - 2016-09-07 7:24 PM At first it was a fun thing to go to and to dream. Now reality has set in and if you don't have a Louie you might as well save your money.
Winner
The premise was built on everyone having a shot at the big time.
But eventually the average folk figure out that they really don't have a chance at the big time, they just have a chance ot contribute to the pot for the big timers. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1611
| Nevertooold - 2016-09-07 7:24 PM
At first it was a fun thing to go to and to dream. Now reality has set in and if you don't have a Louie you might as well save your money.
exactly....
Most people are realizing even if you make it to the semis your still out a crap ton of money for the trip and staying with little to no payback just to say "I made it to Texas." |
|
| |
|
 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | I wish they had late entries. I want to enter, but can't dedicate myself to that entry, then have my horse come up lame. I only have 1 that woudl stand a chance. PLUS Ft Worth SUCKS!!! Well for me it does.  |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1611
| clover girl - 2016-09-08 9:37 AM
I wish they had late entries. I want to enter, but can't dedicate myself to that entry, then have my horse come up lame. I only have 1 that woudl stand a chance. PLUS Ft Worth SUCKS!!! Well for me it does.
You can vet out and they will credit it to you at the next qualifier and one girl even did it for the next year. You don't lose your money... |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 393
Location: Oklahoma | I think it's because there more of them (18 I believe) I would have entered Loveland again this year but I'm choosing to do Memphis since it is closer to me, and it's not till December. Yes obviously it is extremely hard to win the American but just saying I made the semi finals is something I want on my resume. |
|
| |
|
I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | I think people are also starting to play a bit more smartly and are opting to run at the Qualifiers that are best suited to allow their horses to excel, instead of just going to the closest one. |
|
| |
|
Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | Lets not forget there have been quite a few qualifiers to make it to the final top 10 and even the final 4. We also have to remimber Robyn Herring not only made it to the final 4 on Firewaterontherocks but would have won the million if it werent for a pulled over 3rd barrel. So it darn sure can be done. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1611
| ThreeCorners - 2016-09-08 11:46 AM
Lets not forget there have been quite a few qualifiers to make it to the final top 10 and even the final 4. We also have to remimber Robyn Herring not only made it to the final 4 on Firewaterontherocks but would have won the million if it werent for a pulled over 3rd barrel. So it darn sure can be done.
I don't think anyone is saying it can't be done because it sure can.
Most ppl just over estimate their horse's ability.
Robyn and Happy both are two that I def consider professionals in our sport even tho they don't have the "title" tho lol
|
|
| |
|
Location: Not Where I Want to Be | ThreeCorners - 2016-09-08 11:46 AM Lets not forget there have been quite a few qualifiers to make it to the final top 10 and even the final 4. We also have to remimber Robyn Herring not only made it to the final 4 on Firewaterontherocks but would have won the million if it werent for a pulled over 3rd barrel. So it darn sure can be done.
So Robyn and Happy are your example of avg. Joes?
Chuckle |
|
| |
|
Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | 1DSoon - 2016-09-08 1:59 PM ThreeCorners - 2016-09-08 11:46 AM Lets not forget there have been quite a few qualifiers to make it to the final top 10 and even the final 4. We also have to remimber Robyn Herring not only made it to the final 4 on Firewaterontherocks but would have won the million if it werent for a pulled over 3rd barrel. So it darn sure can be done. So Robyn and Happy are your example of avg. Joes?
Chuckle
Oh puh-lease! Do you need reading comprehension? I said quite a few qualifiers have made it to the top 10 and also the top 4. Meaning......Robyn and Happy were not the ONLY ones to come through the qualifiers to make it to the top 4...alive for the million!! And yes, she would have won the million had it not been for that downed first barrel. BUT...Happy is not the only tuff as nails horse out there who is not running at the NFR. So yes, it CAN be done! |
|
| |
|
I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | 1DSoon - 2016-09-08 1:59 PM
ThreeCorners - 2016-09-08 11:46 AM Lets not forget there have been quite a few qualifiers to make it to the final top 10 and even the final 4. We also have to remimber Robyn Herring not only made it to the final 4 on Firewaterontherocks but would have won the million if it werent for a pulled over 3rd barrel. So it darn sure can be done.
So Robyn and Happy are your example of avg. Joes?
Chuckle
I don't think The American, or the Qualifiers were ever supposed to support the "average Joe". This is an opportunity for those who don't rodeo full time, but are sure enough tough enough to run with the best of the rodeo world to do so. I bet there's a bunch of folks who had never heard of Jimmy Bryant, or Flas Red Jet who know who they are after their performance in the Semi-finals two years back... |
|
| |
|
Location: Not Where I Want to Be | WrapSnap - 2016-09-08 3:31 PM 1DSoon - 2016-09-08 1:59 PM ThreeCorners - 2016-09-08 11:46 AM Lets not forget there have been quite a few qualifiers to make it to the final top 10 and even the final 4. We also have to remimber Robyn Herring not only made it to the final 4 on Firewaterontherocks but would have won the million if it werent for a pulled over 3rd barrel. So it darn sure can be done. So Robyn and Happy are your example of avg. Joes?
Chuckle I don't think The American, or the Qualifiers were ever supposed to support the "average Joe". This is an opportunity for those who don't rodeo full time, but are sure enough tough enough to run with the best of the rodeo world to do so. I bet there's a bunch of folks who had never heard of Jimmy Bryant, or Flas Red Jet who know who they are after their performance in the Semi-finals two years back...
exactly right.
But it was set up to benefit the players the more the average joes entered.
The world needs pot builders, but it didn't take long for the pot builders to realize they were pot builders.
|
|
| |
|
 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I have a really good horse, who can make some amazing runs, but she's not where I can expect her best run at a race with that much pressure. She just hasn't been seasoned to run at the big shows like she runs at the smaller ones at home. Also, the qualifier in Texas is at an arena she doesn't like and doesn't suit her... so she wouldn't exactly clock there anyway. And its too far from me to reasonably expect me to run her there until she figures it out in that pen. If they had it again in San Antonio, I would enter it again. But even then, with having what I think is a REALLY nice horse, I don't know if I have enough horse under me to make all those runs under pressure successfully. |
|
| |
|
Miss Southern Sunshine
Posts: 7427
Location: South Central Florida | I think the newness has worn off, I also think the entry fee is pretty pricey for some. I love The American but any venue can expect a drop in entries after a bit.
Maybe the ERA has taken some also. I'm not sure I understand the ERA though, but someone told me you could run in a qualifier for those too. I did watch the barrel racing the other day on tv, and not sure how some of them are considered as ERA bsed on what I understood the criteria to be.
I like the American better and think more people have a shot at that than the ERA but who knows.
I think they will pick up more again in a year or two. I wish there were a couple more in the Southeast, or at least 1 more.
|
|
| |
|
You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | Swannranch - 2016-09-08 7:40 PM
I think the newness has worn off, I also think the entry fee is pretty pricey for some. I love The American but any venue can expect a drop in entries after a bit.
Maybe the ERA has taken some also. I'm not sure I understand the ERA though, but someone told me you could run in a qualifier for those too. I did watch the barrel racing the other day on tv, and not sure how some of them are considered as ERA bsed on what I understood the criteria to be.
I like the American better and think more people have a shot at that than the ERA but who knows.
I think they will pick up more again in a year or two. I wish there were a couple more in the Southeast, or at least 1 more.
If I had the horse, I would try again in a heart beat. |
|
| |
|
 Ms. Elvis
Posts: 9606
Location: Running barrels or watching nascar | $500 entry fee doesn't really help the 'underdogs' but that just my opinion. I'm a tight wad due to other obligations. |
|
| |
|
Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I think you have to be smart about it.
We had a local trainer make the top 10 last year. That tells me if I have a horse who can consistently hit the 1D in our larger races that we can hang on the same level with good runs. We've had some qualifiers close by - I'd be tempted to try.
What I think also prevents a lot of "average joes" is the money to get from the semis to the finals - think of the vacation time off work if you're not local to the Dallas Texas area, or the cost and wear on everyone traveling back and forth if you're within say 10 hours.
My fiancé's pondered trying on the team roping side - no doubt with the right partner he can hang with the best of them. But we have day jobs and a mortgage that needs paid and the commitment if you DO make it through a qualifier to the semis on forward puts a strain on all of that if you don't work for a very understanding company who also understands and thinks it's a pretty neat opportunity (which he does now, so maybe....). |
|
| |
|
 Saint Stacey
| barrelracer1983 - 2016-09-08 10:51 PM
$500 entry fee doesn't really help the 'underdogs' but that just my opinion. I'm a tight wad due to other obligations.
Try more like $703 after a BBR membership, entry fees, office charges, online convinience charges, etc. |
|
| |
|
New Info Detective
Posts: 1551
| Right now, it's right at the end of the rodeo season. Also, what someone else said, they may be waiting to enter an arena that suits their horse better.
Edited by Turner1 2016-09-09 2:00 PM
|
|
| |
American rodeo Qualifiers