Ranks Second Overall in Single Event Payouts

With more than $27 million paid out in prize money in 2009, the United States Team Roping Championships is poised to bring millions to the table in 2010. Each year USTRC sanctions and affiliates more than 400 events nation wide. Included in these events are seven Regional Finals paying a cumulative $2 million and its National Finals of Team Roping (NFTR) set to offer more than $4 million October 23-31 in Oklahoma City.

There has been an evolution in rodeo over the past decade or so, with sport disciplines splintering into specific event categories and drawing a totally dedicated fan base. USTRC was among the first to take its sport into a powerhouse of prize money with rules and regulations that sharpened the sport and its professionalism.

“When USTRC was formed in 1989, its purpose was to get ropers classified in a ratings system in order to even the playing field and develop a set of rules that would apply across the board,” said USTRC President Kirk Bray. “Developing a spectator base was not a priority at the time, but over the past 20 years, fans have come to see team roping as an exciting sport to watch with ropers literally roping for tens ofthousands of dollars in a matter of just a few seconds work.”

While Professional Bull Riders tops the charts in single rodeo-related event payout at a projected $100 million in 2010, USTRC is the leader when it comes to an event totally rooted in ranching history and the American Cowboy.

“Team Roping is America’s cowboy sport, unquestionably,” said Bray. “More than 140,000 Americans and ropers from other nations have been involved with this sport and USTRC maintains a data base of more than 35,000 ropers who compete regularly. Even more significant is that this sport is completely open to men, women and kids and gives all of them an opportunity to compete for significant earnings.”

Team roping also tops the list when it comes to timed-event competitions as well, with an estimated $13 million awarded in prize money in barrel racing.

“There is also a significant investment made by the team roper into the sport,” said Bray. “Unlike rough stock sports, like bull riding, these roper athletes invest into the sport through the purchase of a good roping horse, tack and equipment, and transportation to get the horse to the events. Millions are invested by ropers to support this sport, and getting a return on their investment comes in lots of forms, including being around a culture they enjoy and support, but you can’t beat the money.”

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The United States Team Roping Championships is the official home of America’s Cowboy Sport, representing more than 35,000 competitive team ropers across the country. USTRC brings the sport of team roping to the national stage by providing competition with integrity as the trusted source of team roping competition rules and classifications. USTRC sanctioned and affiliated events paid out more than $27 million in 2009 to team ropers from all walks of life.

For more information and a full schedule of events, go to www.ustrc.com or call 254.968.0002.