Planning ahead: Ten things you should know about the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo
1. The Wrangler NFR runs Dec. 2-11 at the Thomas & Mack Center, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV, 89154. The rodeo starts at 6:45 p.m. (Pacific Time) each night, EXCEPT, on Dec. 4-5 and Dec. 11, when it starts at 5:45 p.m.
2. The Wrangler NFR will be broadcast on ESPN2, ESPN Classic, webcast on ESPN3 and radio streamed on ProRodeoLive.com.
3. While the Wrangler NFR is technically sold out every year, some tickets are still available to buy through the Mad Dash 30 ticket program, the NFRexperience.com wait list and the Wrangler NFR Ticket Exchange at the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
4. Utilizing the free shuttle buses to and from hotels, and from the Las Vegas Convention Center, to the Thomas & Mack Center is recommended.
5. Arrive at the Thomas & Mack Center early and visit the popular ProRodeo Zone and join the ProRodeo FanZone – the official fan club of the PRCA. The ProRodeo FanZone tent also will be the place to be after the rodeo, Dec. 2-10, to get autographs from the nightly round winners.
6. Free live satellite transmissions of the Wrangler NFR will be available at 49 hotels in the Las Vegas area.
7. The contestants are the stars of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and knowing the event leaders is a good way to show your rodeo knowledge. Trevor Brazile is on track to win a record-setting eighth All-Around World Champion Cowboy title and also leads the tie-down roping standings. The other event leaders are Ryan Gray (bareback riding), Curtis Cassidy (steer wrestling), Clay Tryan and Travis Graves (team roping), Bradley Harter (saddle bronc riding) and bull riding (Wesley Silcox).
8. The PRCA’s Wrangler NFR will award a record-setting $5,875,000 in prize money this year.
9. Playing Pro Fantasy Rodeo is a fun way to be a part of the excitement. Pick cowboys for your team and see who wins. Entries close at 6:45 p.m. (PST) on Dec. 2.
10. PRCA contestant autograph sessions will be held Dec. 6-10 at Las Vegas hotels.
For more information, and for a daily schedule of events, please visit the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo page at prorodeo.com.
RodeoClassifieds.com will be following our Canadian contingent again during this years 2010 WNFR - stay tuned.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
First Down Dash Dies at Age 26
Press release courtesy of AQHA
American Quarter Horse racing’s most prolific stallion, First Down Dash, died on Thanksgiving Day at Vessels Stallion Farm in Bonsall, California. He was 26.
“He laid down and went to sleep peacefully. He was missing Scoop and his sunflower seeds,” said Bonnie Vessels, referring to her late husband, Frank “Scoop” Vessels.
Dr. Ed Allred, the sport’s all-time leading breeder, released the following statement: “First Down Dash is unquestionably the greatest stallion of all time. No horse has had the influence of the great First Down Dash. He was an amazing horse. He was a sire of sires. What an incredible and great career...he was in one word ‘amazing.’”
Bred by A.F. Stanley Jr. and B.F. Phillips Jr. out of the Gallant Jet mare First Prize Rose, First Down Dash continued the legacy at stud that started with his own sire, Dash For Cash. First Down Dash went on to surpass many of the all-time records set by Dash For Cash.
From 20 crops to race, First Down Dash has sired 1,163 winners, which includes 224 stakes winners. His progeny earnings stand at more than $73.7 million, easily the highest total of all-time. Among his offspring are 35 champions, including Down With Debt, Dashing Folly, Ocean Runaway, Corona Cash, Corona Kool, Wave Carver, FDD Dynasty, A Ransom, A Classic Dash, Dash Thru Traffic and Royal Quick Dash.
First Down Dash is the sire of a record six All American Futurity (G1) winners--Royal Quick Dash, Dash Thru Traffic, A Classic Dash, Corona Cash, Falling In Loveagain and No Secrets Here--and a record six Champion of Champions (G1) winners--Wave Carver, Ocean Runaway, Cash For Kas, The Down Side, A Ransom and Dashing Folly. In addition to being a top sire of sires, First Down Dash is also a perennial leading broodmare sire.
On the racetrack, First Down Dash won 13 of 15 career starts and earned $857,256. As a 2-year-old, he won the Grade 1 Kindergarten and Dash For Cash futurities. Then as a 3-year-old in 1987, he had a near-perfect campaign with six stakes victories, including the Grade 1 Los Alamitos and Dash For Cash derbies and the Champion of Champions. He was named that year’s AQHA world champion in addition to champion 3-year-old and champion 3-year-old colt.
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Here is a nice video of the legendary First Down Dash
American Quarter Horse racing’s most prolific stallion, First Down Dash, died on Thanksgiving Day at Vessels Stallion Farm in Bonsall, California. He was 26.
“He laid down and went to sleep peacefully. He was missing Scoop and his sunflower seeds,” said Bonnie Vessels, referring to her late husband, Frank “Scoop” Vessels.
Dr. Ed Allred, the sport’s all-time leading breeder, released the following statement: “First Down Dash is unquestionably the greatest stallion of all time. No horse has had the influence of the great First Down Dash. He was an amazing horse. He was a sire of sires. What an incredible and great career...he was in one word ‘amazing.’”
Bred by A.F. Stanley Jr. and B.F. Phillips Jr. out of the Gallant Jet mare First Prize Rose, First Down Dash continued the legacy at stud that started with his own sire, Dash For Cash. First Down Dash went on to surpass many of the all-time records set by Dash For Cash.
From 20 crops to race, First Down Dash has sired 1,163 winners, which includes 224 stakes winners. His progeny earnings stand at more than $73.7 million, easily the highest total of all-time. Among his offspring are 35 champions, including Down With Debt, Dashing Folly, Ocean Runaway, Corona Cash, Corona Kool, Wave Carver, FDD Dynasty, A Ransom, A Classic Dash, Dash Thru Traffic and Royal Quick Dash.
First Down Dash is the sire of a record six All American Futurity (G1) winners--Royal Quick Dash, Dash Thru Traffic, A Classic Dash, Corona Cash, Falling In Loveagain and No Secrets Here--and a record six Champion of Champions (G1) winners--Wave Carver, Ocean Runaway, Cash For Kas, The Down Side, A Ransom and Dashing Folly. In addition to being a top sire of sires, First Down Dash is also a perennial leading broodmare sire.
On the racetrack, First Down Dash won 13 of 15 career starts and earned $857,256. As a 2-year-old, he won the Grade 1 Kindergarten and Dash For Cash futurities. Then as a 3-year-old in 1987, he had a near-perfect campaign with six stakes victories, including the Grade 1 Los Alamitos and Dash For Cash derbies and the Champion of Champions. He was named that year’s AQHA world champion in addition to champion 3-year-old and champion 3-year-old colt.
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Here is a nice video of the legendary First Down Dash
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