dianeguinn - 2014-08-27 1:53 PM I have recently been in a discussion with a guy on Facebook, and I brought up how much faster the NFR times are now as compared to when Scamper and Bozo were running (they ran 14's to win, and now a high 13 sometimes doesn't place). He said he used to work for the PRCA and that the pattern has been shortened in recent years. Is that true??? Is there anyone out there in BHW land that knows for sure??? Someone that I can quote? Because I'd sure like to prick this arrogant guy's bubble....I don't think he's ever really worked there; I just think he's a legend in his own mind....lol

bennie1 - 2014-08-27 2:17 PM I really thought I had read it was shortened at one point to add more seating?

ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-08-27 3:21 PM


Not gonna say it hasn't, because I don't know.  But if it has, then how do they actually have arena records that overtake those of Bozo and Scamper?  If they are not set on the same pattern, then the record was not changed.  I guess they could have a record from the previous stakes and one for the new? 

barlracr429 - 2014-08-27 2:50 PM Do you genuinely beleive that the pattern is always equal in the same arena, year to year? Do you think it's always staked at the same exact spots, the timer is in the same spot and even the footing in the arena is always the same? Diane - I love the last sentence in your post! "legend in his own mind" - I almost hit the 'like' button just reading that.

Calibarrelrcr - 2014-08-27 2:52 PM Yes, the pattern has been different, even in Vegas. From the WPRA media guide:



Thomas & Mack Arena, 

Las Vegas

2013 Taylor Jacob, 13.37 (arena record) 

2012 Carlee Pierce, 13.51 

2011 Carlee Pierce, 13.46 (arena record) 

2010 Sherry Cervi, 13.49

2009 Shervi Cervi, 13.60

2008 Lindsay Sears, 13.53

2006 Brandie Halls, 13.52

2005 Sheri Sinor-Estrada, 13.77

2004 Kelly Maben, 13.67

2003 Jackie Dube, 13.67

2002 Tammy Key, 13.63

2001* Charmayne James, 13.76 

2000* Tona Wright, 13.74

1999* Sherry Cervi, 13.93

1998* Janet Stover, 13.75

1997 Charmayne James, 14.10

1996 Kay Blandford, 13.97

1995 Kristie Peterson, 13.91

1994 Sherry Cervi, 13.80

1993 Lita Scott-Price, 14.02

1992 Deb Mohon, 14.02

1991 Marlene McRae, 13.94

1990 Vana Beissinger, 14.27

1989 Vickie Vickers, 14.25

1988 Marlene McRae, 14.05

1987 Charmayne James, 14.11

1986* Janet Powell Myers, 13.58

1985 Kathy Spears, 14.26

Myriad Arena, 

Oklahoma City, Okla.

1984 Charmayne James, 16.29

1983 Marlene McRae, 16.10

1982 Sherry Altizer Ingham, 15.95

1981 Lee Ann Guilkey, 16.03

1980 Donna Krening/Sharon Camarillo, 16.25

1979 Lynn McKenzie, 16.32

Norick Arena, 

Oklahoma City, Okla.

1978 Lynn McKenzie, 16.47

1977 Karen Galemba, 16.32

1976 Connie Combs Kirby, 16.30

1975 Colette Avery Baier, 16.18

1974 Lila Mae Stewart, 16.90

1973 Becky Carson/Marilyn Camarillo, 16.37

1972 Jeana Day, 16.54

1971 Martha Tompkins, 16.33

1970 Dottye Goodspeed, 16.60

1969 Roxie McFarland, 16.64

1968 Mildred Farris, 16.60

*different pattern



Full guide can be seen at this link: http://wpra.com/pdfs/MediaGuideBarrelRacing14%20Final.pdf



 Also, with the mote being taken away, and that area being used to add in seats, the arena has most likely gotten a bit smaller. If you go back and watch film from previous years the ground was also terrible. Not that it's great now, but you can really tell the difference from a few of those years. When those girls were on the bottom of the ground it was just total trash and they really had no chance at placing. Bozo and Hawk would even struggle to get around in it! Now they place from a lot of different draw positions and can still run those fast times being 15th out. So it would seem the ground conditions and increased awareness has had an effect in the faster times.

ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-08-27 12:57 PM I am sure they keep records of where they staked the ground, and at least make an attempt of getting it the same.. unless the floor size changed as suggested above then they would have to start over with new measurement.  But again, I would think they would keep record and they would be close enough not to matter.  And since when did footing count for pattern size and records being set, that's just the luck of the draw (or lack there of). 

Calibarrelrcr - 2014-08-27 3:31 PM


 Better footing would allow for faster times to be run, would it not? Yes, you do have luck of the draw with the ground and being on the top versus the bottom. But in more recent years a 13 can be run anywhere from number 1-15. In the 90's this was not the case. Have horses just gotten that much better? I don't know, but it is interesting to think about. I do believe that a lot of horses that run today, could not have pulled out the same times with the a lot of the conditions that Scamper, Bozo, and Hawk had to run on JMO.

goldcard - 2014-08-27 10:10 PM It's not that hard to stake a pattern in the exact required pattern. We do it a lot in many different arenas. Records of patterns are kept and used from year to year. Portable arenas are a challenge but the actual pattern can be exactly the same if the arena size us the same from year to year. Ground conditions have more influence on times than one would think... Even an inch in depth or different moisture can make a huge difference in what times can be achieved.