Barrel racing finally makes a return to the Days of '47 Rodeo tonight after an absence of several years because event sponsorship went dry.
The second-most popular rodeo event, according to one fan poll, barrel racing is the only women's event contested. It returns to the Days of '47 because Circle K stores and Days of '47 Rodeo Chairman Flip Harmon have gone 50-50 in its sponsorship.Barrel racing replaces bullfighting for the rodeo's final four performances starting tonight at the Salt Palace.
Miles Hare of Euliss, Texas, won the bullfighting competition for the third time in four nights, scoring 74 Thursday, to take the event title.
In Thursday's other events, no cowboy was able to equal or better scores or times from previous performances.
Vernal's Kary McNeil had the night's best time in steer wrestling with 4.6 seconds, .4 behind overall leader Tim Parker of Wendell, Idaho, who did it in 4.2 seconds Wednesday.
Mark H. Smith of Fort Worth, Texas, had a good bull ride of 79 Thursday to lead for the night, but the 86 posted Wednesday by Gary D. Toole of Mangum, Okla., wasn't threatened.
St. George cowboy Brock Andrus tied with Texan Jerry Jetton at 9.8 in calf roping, well off the overall pace, and Dee Pickett of Idaho teamed with Californian Allen Back for a 7.3 in team roping, .7 behind the overall leaders.
Saddlebronc Thursday went to Mitch Gregg of Oregon with 76.
Performances continue nightly through Saturday, take Sunday off and then conclude Monday with go-rounds at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.