LAS VEGAS ---It’s new, it’s different and it’s going give a lot of cowboys and cowgirls the opportunity to fill their pockets up with cash. It is Thunder EquiGames, a nine-day celebration of the American cowboy and cowgirl that showcases the best of recreational competition.
The South Point Equestrian and Events Center will plays host to Thunder EquiGames, Dec. 6-14. The multi-faceted celebration that includes a horse sale, team roping, barrel race, mounted shooting and the richest free-style bull fight in history. The Grand Finale, on Saturday, Dec. 13 will feature the best from all of the competition and will have Bob Tallman, known as the voice of rodeo, announcing the action. Tallman will also commentate the Speed Williams Invitational Match Team Roping on Sunday, Dec. 14.
“I’m so excited to be part of this,” Tallman said. “They are going to give away nearly $3 million in less than two hours on Saturday. It doesn’t get much better than that. The match roping is a new and innovative format that sees roping for consistency, not just speed.”
The EquiGames kick off with the Double Dollar Horse Sale on Saturday, Dec. 6. Horses from Greg Kesler’s Double Dollar Ranch out of Utah along with guest consigners will be sold. Horses will be featured in versatility, barrel racing and roping at a variety of skill levels.
Sale horses will compete in a timed barrel race and judged versatility contest at 8 a.m. on Saturday. The best horses will advance to a final round Sunday morning. The barrel and versatility horses will be offered at auction beginning at 1 p.m. Roping horses will preview on Monday at 8 a.m. and sell on Tuesday at 10 a.m.
The World Series of Team Roping (WSTR) will be the next segment of Thunder Equigames. Competition in three divisions will be held Dec. 10-12. The winning team in each division will win in excess of $150,000. The WSTR is in its third year and is the best paying roping in the country. In 2006, the event paid over $1 million and they have more than doubled that prize money for 2008.
The Grand Finale of Thunder EquiGames begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13th and promises to be entertaining and exciting. The best teams from the WSTR, and the fastest times from round one of the Charmayne James Invitational Barrel Race will be featured, along with a freestyle bullfight and mounted shooting competition. The bullfight is being hosted by the legendary Rob Smets. Four bullfighters will show their skills in manipulating a Mexican fighting bull and the man with the highest score will receive the biggest single paycheck in the history of American freestyle bullfighting.
The final event of Thunder EquiGames will be the Speed Williams Invitational Match Roping beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14. A new concept in team roping, the match will feature 64 teams in a double elimination tournament style format. Teams will be rope against each other on three steers each. The winner of the match will advance to the next bracket until there are two teams left that will match on four head for at least $50,000.
“We think this will be a great way to cap off the EquiGames,” Williams said. “We’re going to attract the best ropers. After 10 days at the NFR, it will be fun for those ropers to come to the South Point and compete and we are going to have more. There’s a lot of talk about the match roping and we think that Vegas will be a perfect place to showcase the best.”
There will also be a trade show and nightly entertainment as well as live viewing of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) at the South Point. Admission is free for everything except the Grand Finale. Those tickets are $15 and are available at the South Point box office.
“This event has grown out of an idea to have a world-class team roping during the NFR,” said Denny Gentry, founder and promoter. “We’re excited about all of the activities. The competition at the Grand Finale should have everyone on the edge of their seats. Fans will see a snapshot of activities that embody the Western lifestyle and with Bob Tallman announcing and the money up for grabs, it’s going to be exciting. The facilities at the South Point are exceptional and we couldn’t do any of it without Michael Gaughan. We have tremendous support from our sponsors and our contestants. It’s going to be some great watching.”
