Rodeo Daily

Race for NFR Heats Up Following Exciting Barrel Racing Event at New Mexico Rodeo

As the race to the NFR gets closer to the finish line, these cowgirls are hitting every rodeo they can. Here's a look at the results from New Mexico State Fair.
Madi Roelofsen|
Race for NFR Heats Up Following Exciting Barrel Racing Event at New Mexico Rodeo
Race for NFR Heats Up Following Exciting Barrel Racing Event at New Mexico Rodeo

The National Finals Rodeo qualifying deadline is inching closer and closer. There are only a few short weeks left and we will see which top-15 cowgirls punched their ticket to Las Vegas in the barrel racing.

These girls are running at as many rodeos as they can in order to keep cashing checks towards their total money earned. 

The world standings are calculated by money earned this 2023 season.

This past weekend the New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo in Albuquerque paid out after their final performance on Sept 17. There were a total of 15 barrel racers that got in the money. 

Stephenville, TX cowgirl Liz Pinkston took home the championship on her horse Cash Flow Depot (Sired by The Money Depot out of JMB Stormy Bug). 

Ashley Castleberry and her horse Skyy Blue (sired by Stoli out of Sweeten My Dreams) took home second. Castleberry was sitting 20th in world standings just at the edge of the bubble but added a total of $10,000 of earnings this weekend including her $4,877 check in New Mexico. It'll be interesting to see where that lands her overall. 

Here are the results and payouts for the barrel racing in New Mexico:

  1. Liz Pinkston, 14.99 seconds, $6,097
  2. Ashley Castleberry, 15.22, $4,877
  3. Jimmie Smith and Bailee Switzer, 15.35, $3,506 each (tie)
  4. Sissy Winn, 15.36, $2,439
  5. Wenda Johnson and Kiersten Pettus, 15.39, $1,677 each (tie)
  6. Emily Beisel, 15.42, $1,372
  7. Hailey Kinsel, 15.46, $1,219
  8. Stevi Hillman, 15.47, $1,067
  9. Tibba Smith and Quincy Sullivan, 15.51, $838 each (tie)
  10. Sara Winkelman, 15.53, $610
  11. LaTricia Duke and Christina Gould, 15.54, $381 each (tie)
Published
Madi Roelofsen
MADI ROELOFSEN

Madi Roelofsen is a writer for Sports Illustrated's feature, Rodeo Daily. Madi not only writes about the western lifestyle and rodeo world but lives it daily. She attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, and competed in the barrel racing as part of their rodeo team. Roelofsen graduated in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in animal science. Madi enjoyed not only competing in rodeo events but also spectating the greatest sport on dirt. In 2017, while on vacation attending the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, she met her husband Tim Roelofsen. They got married a few years later in 2020. Tim had already established TVR Working Horses but together they grew their program and enjoy raising foals, training colts, barrel racing, team roping and standing their stallions (TVR Eye Needa Corona and CR Baron Bee Joy "Big Sexy") in both Texas and Iowa. They stay busy with the horses, farming alfalfa and raising their baby girl, Texi. Madi has always been passionate about horses, from learning about different bloodlines, breeding the foals themselves to training and competing. She expresses that passion within the articles she writes to open up the world of horses and rodeo to everyone.  Twitter-@Madi_Roelofsen  Facebook- @TVR Working Horses

Home/Pro Rodeo