Going All Out at the All In

Las Vegas turns into a cowboy town in December in every direction. On the North side of town, you have the Plaza Hotel and Casino, where Core Arena plays host to multiple events, including Chris Neal Productions and the National Senior Pro Rodeo Association. The South end is where the team ropers meet at the South Point for the World Series of Team Roping. Looking East to Sam's Town and Horseman's Park, the Patriot Events take over, and finally, on the west side is the Orleans Hotel and Casino with the All In Barrel Race and Breakaway roping.

The All In started Dec. 7 with Race 1. Each weekend, the producers allowed 625 entries into the barrel race, so a total of 1,250 over the course of the two weekends. Given that each entry is guaranteed two runs, and racers have the option to enter a buy-back round if they aren't happy with their results in the first two go-rounds, a total of 1,450 runs would be made each weekend. On top of that, racers could choose to gamble on some side pots such as a Youth, Senior, Adult, Futurity, and Derby division. Participants paid between $1,495 and $1,595 for entry into the main race, depending on when they entered. Then, if they chose to enter any of the aged side pots, those were additional.

All available positions were filled for both races, and the competition ensued. Each barrel race allowed for 625 runs, each of two full go-rounds in the main race, along with an additional 200 in the buy-back rounds. This allowed for a total of 1,450 actual runs down the alleyway each weekend. After the two full rounds, all the times are combined, and the top 15 in each of the five divisions are qualified to compete in the "Showdown" Round. This is the round where the big payouts are awarded.

Barrel racers cashed in on a total payout of $1,015,928. The barrel race is formatted on a guaranteed payout, which means that even if the slots don't fill, the producer will still pay out a set amount of money. So far, the barrel racers have left no question about filling the spots and have filled a waiting list each year for the past several years.

"I love that they had open arena the morning of the Showdown. I was able to get Sasha back in the pen and school on her a little bit, and I'm convinced that helped us get a clean run in the Showdown. I won $21,560, and it was a dream come true. It was so much more than winning the money, though. It was more about proving to myself that I am capable of big wins, and it gave me the confidence to know that what I am doing is, in fact, working and our team is headed in the right direction. I am already planning on bringing a trailer full to the 2024 All In, and I just might stay for both races this time," Kylie Wells, the first division winner of Race 1, said.

The All In also produces a breakaway roping along the same format as the barrel race. The ropers compete in a main roping that is paid out in three divisions based on time. Bringing in the big guns, the All In gathered 199 ropers who roped their way to winning $168,752. After the first two go-rounds, 36 ropers move on to the Showdown round. In the first round, the ropers brought the heat. Camille Losey was a quick 1.96 to win first. Rickie Engesser, NFR qualifier, won the second round with a 2.39-second run. The showdown round was a mini NFR. The 2021 World Champion Sawyer Gilbert captured top honors when she lassoed her final calf in 2.44 to win $11,700. The final five included three-time NFR qualifier Cheyanne McCartney, gathering two positions in the top five, 17-time world champion JJ Hampton, and Oregon cowgirl Brooke Blevins.