By Brett Hoffman
Kody Lostroh clinched the Professional Bull Riders world title last weekend in Las Vegas and finished the year with $1.6 million in earnings.
He pocketed more than $600,000 during the regular season and throughout the Oct. 30-Nov. 1 and Nov. 5-8 PBR World Finals. He also received the coveted $1 million bonus that’s given to the world champion.
But snaring the big money and his first gold buckle came as the result of working through trials and tribulations. Throughout most of the regular season, the Longmont, Colo., cowboy nursed a nagging injury on his left elbow, which is his riding arm.
And when Lostroh entered the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas, it was questionable how he would fare. He had sputtered at the end of the regular season, while also dealing with an ailing shoulder.
But during the Las Vegas championships, Lostroh stayed on seven out of the eight bulls and clinched the 2009 Built Ford Tough Series title
The No. 1 finish was one big moral victory for Lostroh. In April, he tore the tendon at a tour stop at Omaha, Neb. After an MRI exam, he discovered an older injury on the inside portion of the elbow, which means that he’ll have to undergo surgery to remove some bone fragments.
Lostroh continued to compete while wearing an arm brace, and persevered even when his health issues seemed to be hindering him. Lostroh said his winning was the result of exercising Christian faith.
“The doubters have been doubting me all year,” Lostroh said. “They’ve been telling me how weak I am and how those other guys are going to beat me. But I tell them how strong God is and how he’s going to get me through it and show them something cool.”
A new format — In recent years, the Texas Stampede has been the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s lucrative season-ending event.
But this year, it’s been converted into an all-star rodeo of bucking stock riders and barrel racers.
The 2009 edition is Nov. 13-14 at the American Airlines Center, and most of the competitors are also scheduled to ride in next month’s PRCA Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
The Stampede’s rodeo performances will feature eight contestants in each event, and they will vie for a share of the $80,000 purse.
The roster of contestants includes defending world bareback riding champion Justin McDaniel, defending world saddle bronc riding champion Cody Wright, and 2006 world barrel racing champion Mary Burger.
Former Sam Houston State student Douglas Duncan, who has qualified for the 2009 NFR in bull riding, is on the card.
Barrel racer Shelly Morgan of Eustace, who has qualified for the 2009 NFR, also is scheduled to compete.
Like past editions of the Stampede, the rodeo riding will be held in conjunction with a country music concert. For ticket information, visit texasstampede.org or call (214) 520-8874 or (877) 210-5425.
Brazile’s opportunity — Trevor Brazile of Decatur will attempt to increase his lead in the PRCA world all-around standings the Nov. 13-14 National Finals Steer Roping in Guthrie, Okla.
Brazile enters the competition ranked fifth in the steer roping world title race with PRCA regular-season earnings of $39,456, more than $25,000 behind defending world champion Scott Snedecor of Uvalde.
Brazile has a mathematical chance of clinching a world steer roping title. He also can draw upon the National Finals Steer Roping to build his lead in the world all-around race
In the world all-around standings, Brazile has earned $262,078, more than $118,000 ahead of second-ranked Clint Robinson. Brazile is attempting to tie the record of seven world all-around titles that was set by Ty Murray in 1998.
Brett Hoffman is a 20-year rodeo columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame member. Email him at brett@myrodeoinsider.com.
