ABBI's American Heritage Events Pay Out $500,0000 in Ardmore, Okla.

By Andee Lamoreaux, ABBI
Posted Wednesday, June 3, 2009

PUEBLO, CO - American Bucking Bull Inc. (ABBI) paid out over a half-million dollars in prize money over the weekend. Over 250 2 and 3-year-old ABBI registered bulls competed over the two days of events in Ardmore, Okla. The biggest prize purse of $100,737 was won by 2-year-old bucking bull 77 Jug Head for his stellar four-second performance.

D&H Cattle Co. / Flinn's Jug Head won the ABBI's annual American Heritage Futurity event with a score of 83.75, beating out a field of 148 other 2-year-old bulls. “We're really happy with his performance,” stated H.D. Page of D&H Cattle Co. “He's a great young bull who went out there and really delivered for us. The American Heritage continues to grow and get bigger and better each year and there were a lot of really good bulls entered this year. We were real proud to win the event.”

In addition to the American Heritage, a Futurity for Junior ABBI members was held. 16-year-old Rex Samford claimed $10,000 for first at the first ABBI junior event of the season. -22 Party All The Time's score of 88.25 beat out 29 other bulls.

“He was really bucking at the house the last few times we bucked him, so I thought maybe he could win. He's a real good bull,” said Samford who is also planning on competing at the other two Junior Futurity events this season. Futurity bulls buck with a 25 lb. “dummy” on their back and are judged on their four-second performance.

The Hardy Murphy Coliseum also played host to the first ever ABBI Derby for 3-year-old bulls. 602 Ricochet won $42,695 (including a $10,000.00 bonus for participating in the 2008 American Heritage Futurity) for his score of 91. The Cross E Bucking Bulls' animal beat out 74 other bulls, who were matched up against PBR (Professional Bull Riders, Inc.) cowboys for the Discovery Tour event.

"I can't even explain how we felt that night, it was pretty crazy!" said Heath Ellis of Cross E the following day. "He's bucked his tail off since day one and we knew once he grew into himself he'd be pretty solid. I hope our win inspires other breeders, because we're proof that you don't have to be a big-time breeder to win at the ABBI." Cross E's herd consists of approximately 50 animals.

Ticket sales for the Derby/ PBR Discovery Tour Event went to help fund the Junior Futurity event.

ABBI is dedicated to unifying, developing and promoting the bucking bull industry through pedigree preservation; enhancement and promotion of bucking bull ownership, breeding, and welfare; and development of programs and events showcasing the world's finest bucking bull stock. The ABBI is registry set up to record and preserve the pedigrees of the world's premier bucking bull livestock. ABBI is structured to promote participation by those with the biggest stake in the bucking bull industry-the owners, breeders and trainers of the world's greatest bucking bulls. The ABBI provides an environment where bucking bull breeder's can introduce and foster the growth of young bucking bulls ensuring the finest animal athletes are available to compete at selected PBR Built Ford Tough, Copenhagen Challenger, Enterprise Rent A Car, and Discovery tour events.