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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Winning the 2023 Permit Finals provides a bonus for contestants.

Each event winner of the Permit Finals, Oct. 7-9 in Waco, Texas, will secure entry into RODEOHOUSTON® in 2024.

“The PRCA has made a concentrated effort to better support permit holders by establishing the Permit Finals. We are excited to join in that effort and promote these up-and-coming contestants by inviting the 2023 Permit Finals Champions of Waco to Houston in 2024,” said Dr. Chris Boleman, President and CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

PRCA CEO Tom Glause says this presents an incredible opportunity for the Permit Finals winners to compete against the best of the best.

“The Permit Finals gives our young, up-and-coming contestants a chance to showcase their skills as they prepare to take the next step in their ProRodeo careers,” Glause said. “The Permit Finals winners will now have the opportunity to compete against ProRodeos biggest stars at RODEOHOUSTON®, which is exciting.”

The Top 10 contestants in the permit standings will qualify to compete in the Permit Finals in Waco, with three go-rounds of competition determining the champions.

Courtesy of PRCA

Former standout Cervi Championship Rodeo’s bareback horse F42 Hostage, a multi-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, passed away Saturday at the Cervi’s ranch in Stoneham, Colo.

“She wasn’t necessarily the best horse, but she was the most consistent,” Binion Cervi said. “She was one that cowboys could win money on every time. Cowboys knew when they drew her they may win first and if not they will place. She was so easy to ride.”

F42 Hostage was born in 1997 on Cervi’s ranch in Stoneham and retired from rodeo in 2016. She was a multiple-time competitor at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Bobby Mote won Round 4 of the 2007 NFR with 85.5-point ride on the way to winning the world championship that year.

“I had that horse in San Antonio this year,” Mote said moments after his ride. “I didn’t get along with him as good then. I just didn’t bring it and didn’t make as good a ride as I could have. I had a little better game plan today. I just tried to stay as aggressive as I could and fortunately they rewarded me for it.”

At the 2004 NFR in Round 1, Larry Sandvick split second with an 86-point ride on Hostage. In 2005 at the NFR, Wes Stevenson won Round 1 with an 87.5-point ride on Hostage.

F42 Hostage has had 17 foals. Many of which have made NFR appearances, including P16 Hell’s Fire Hostage and W30 Guardian Angel.

“Hostage is one of those horses that if you had a trailer load of them, you would never have to stress being in the rodeo business,” Cervi said.

LAS VEGAS – The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Las Vegas Events announced today that the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will see an increase in the payout at the world’s richest rodeo in December for the third consecutive year.

The Wrangler NFR, which is scheduled this year at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas from Dec. 7-16, will have a record-setting competition payout of more than $11.5 million. This amount includes guaranteed prize money of $1.2 million for all NFR qualifiers and $10,301,505 in competition prize money.

Between 2015 and 2020, the NFR paid out a total of $10 million each year – $8.8 million in competition prize money and $1.2 million in guaranteed prize money to qualifiers. The total purse increased to $10,257,048 in 2021 and $10,900,098 in 2022.

Based on the updated purse in 2023, each go-round will pay a total of $99,053 per event, with the round winner taking home $30,706. The average total per event increased to $297,159, with the average winner earning $78,747 at the conclusion of the ten-day event.

The stock contractor pay – which is 30% of the contestant payout – increased to $3,450,451.

Known as the richest and most prestigious rodeo in the world, the Wrangler NFR attracts the top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding to compete for a share of the increased purse and the coveted PRCA Gold Buckle. In 2022, the event had a total attendance of 173,350 over the 10 days of competition at the Thomas & Mack Center and has sold out more than 350 consecutive performances in Las Vegas.

For more information on the Wrangler NFR, please visit NFRexperience.com or through social media at @LasVegasNFR and use #WranglerNFR. For the latest ProRodeo news and Wrangler NFR coverage, please visit prorodeo.com or through social media @PRCA_ProRodeo.

Courtesy of NFRexperience

The 65th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) is scheduled to return to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas from December 7-16, 2023. The 10 nights of competition will feature the best 120 cowboys and cowgirls vying for a coveted PRCA World Championship. They will also be competing for their share of the $10.9 million purse, which set a record in 2022. With such high stakes on the line, you can be sure that this will be an event you won’t want to miss!

A new year brings new opportunities.

For Sage Newman, it’s about the path back to the National Finals Rodeo. He dreams of one day bringing home a world title. The Montana native kicked off 2023 on the right foot, claiming an average title at the New Year’s Eve Buck & Ball in Gillette, Wyo.

Newman started his party with an 87-point ride on Korkow Rodeos’ Onion Ring. The 2021 “Pendleton Whisky’s Let ‘er Buck Bucking Stock of the Year” award winner was a matchup Newman has been itching for.

“I’ve never drawn that horse before so I was pretty excited to see her name next to mine. I’ve been waiting a long time to get on that horse,” the 24-year old said. “Yeah, she had a good night and we matched up pretty good.”

Newman brought home the win with a 90.5-point trip on Powder River Rodeo’s Miss Valley in the finals. He finished with 177.5 points on two head, claiming the $2,394 winning check. The cowboy echoed excitement for his stop in Gillette, speaking highly of the unique opportunity.

“It’s a good time in rodeo. Everybody comes here to have a good time, ring in the new year, and have no worries doing it,” Newman said. “We’re just having fun riding some great horses.”

The saddle bronc rider emerged victorious from a strong field that included recent 2022 NFR qualifiers. Newman never takes winning for granted, knowing his event is loaded with talent.

“It’s awesome to compete against those guys. There’s a lot of great saddle bronc riders right now. In the top 30, any guy could jump out and win a rodeo on the right horse,” said the two-time NFR qualifier. “To be able to come out on top, it’s a pretty good feeling. I’m honored to be riding with them.”

After finishing fifth in the 2022 RAM | World Standings, Newman feels more motivated than ever for a gold buckle. He craves a chance at redemption in Las Vegas.

“It definitely made me hungry and coming back from that, it lit a fire in me for sure,” said Newman, who entered the 2022 NFR as the season leader. “I wasn’t super happy with how I ended up down there but I’m grateful to be down there… I’m ready to go back this year and redeem myself, that’s for sure.”

Newman doesn’t have plans on making big changes in 2023. Well, except for one thing.

“We’re not stashin’ and bashin’ anymore so now I guess we’re just straight bashin’,” he said.

Other winners at the New Year’s Eve Buck & Ball were bareback rider Dean Thompson (174.5 points on two head) and bull rider Blaine Beaty (82.5 points on one head).

Courtesy of PRCA