COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-Innovation in the rodeo business is nothing new for the Mesquite Championship Rodeo (MCR). The Rodeo was among the first to develop a weekly format, reaching out to tourists, conventioneers, and true rodeo fans alike. It was one of the first to be televised - for many, their first taste of rodeo came while watching MCR on ESPN, The Nashville Network, and now Fox Sports Net Southwest where 8.3 million households have seen the rodeo to date. The rodeo has played out before U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush as well as Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
Now in its 51st season, Mesquite is once again trying something new.
Beginning on Friday, June 13th, Mesquite Championship Rodeo will no longer be a PRCA approved rodeo. Instead, a new format featuring professional bull riding and barrel racing along with an open format for saddle bronc riders and team ropers will entertain the crowds at Resistol Arena.
“It was a tough decision [to drop the PRCA sanctioning,” says Jim Gay, son of one of the MCR founders Neal Gay and the stock contractor at Mesquite through his family’s Rafter G Rodeo Company since the rodeo’s inception. “But we weren’t getting the bull riders. All the events are important but without the bull riders, it is tough to sell a rodeo. So we decided to try something new.”
Trying something new is a tradition at Mesquite as is top rodeo action. The new format features Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Discovery Tour bull riding along with Women’s Pro Rodeo Association barrel racing.
“Professionalism is an important aspect to our rodeo,” Gay insists. “We wanted to maintain that level of professionalism by bringing in the PBR and by continuing to sanction with the WPRA. The PBR is a first class organization and of course, we have always had a good relationship with the WPRA.”
MCR is a favorite stop of WPRA barrel racers, especially around the Texas Circuit. Long been used as a proving ground for young horses, the conditions at MCR are wonderful for barrel racers. The rodeo has twice won the Best Footing Award for the Texas Circuit, in 2000 and 2005. MCR was also awarded the WPRA’s Media Award in 2004, thanks to their efforts to promote rodeo through television and other media outlets.
“We expect to provide the same atmosphere as always, in addition to the same added money,” Gay promises. “We are looking forward to the continuation of the quality barrel race that we have had in the past by working with the WPRA.”
WPRA barrel racers will be earning WPRA World and Texas Circuit points to help them qualify to the WPRA World Finals Rodeo to be held at Expo Square in Tulsa, Okla., November 18-22, 2008.
WPRA members will enter the MCR through Rodeo Sports Network, 800-54-RODEO. Books will open the Friday of the week prior to each rodeo and close on Monday. Check www.wpra.com for complete entry information.
“It is a new experience for all of us,” Gay says. “We hope something good becomes of this.”
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