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No Triple Crown, mule ride, matched bronc ride at Ekalaka and Louie has surgery

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It’s sure been a beautiful stretch of rainy weather. The grass is growing like crazy and we’re done calving. Last cow waited for two weeks after the others so that she could stand out in the crowd, I guess. Now to figure out when everyone can be here to get the branding done!

Well, we don’t have a Triple Crown winner, as you already know. He put up quite a fight for it, especially in view of him getting stepped on at the starting gates and injuring his heel. Steve Coburn, co-owner, had a bit of a melt down and berated the point system of TB racing for the loss. He has since apologized and humbled himself before all, which makes him a bigger man than most. I agreed with what he said, just thought maybe that wasn’t the right time for it. The Kentucky Derby can only be entered if a three year old has enough points from other races of that year. So, Chrome had already raced his heart out before getting to the Derby. Then he raced again in two weeks at the Preakness, followed by a three week rest before the Belmont. That’s a pretty tight schedule for a three year old, yet he came to the Belmont and tied for 4th with a horse that hadn’t run in either of the others. The winner and 2nd and 3rd place horses hadn’t either. So, yes they were fresh as daisies while Chrome and the other colts who had run in the first two legs of the Triple sure had the fresh run off of them. My hat is still tipped to Chrome and for all he accomplished for two good ol’ boys like most of us. He did more for Thoroughbred racing in the past two months than the eastern bred horses and owners had in years. I really doubt I’ll ever see another Triple Crown winner because of the point system and the powers that be the TB racing.

The 22nd Annual South Dakota Mule Ride will be June 19-22 in the beautiful Bear Lodge mountains northeast of Sundance, Wyo. For details call Jack Thomas at 307-283-3614 or email gunner3614@aol.com.



The Ekalaka (Montana) Matched Bronc Ride will be Sunday, June 22 and will feature broncs from the legendary Tooke bloodlines. The calcutta will be at 2 pm with the bronc riding at 3. There will also be Rookie and Ranch Bronc divisions. A steer roping is also being held that is sanctioned by the Big Sky Steer Roping Association. For entries or info, call janet at 406-775-6386.

The Crook County (Wyoming) Horseman’s Association is having a Ranch Rodeo series. The Hulett RR will be on June 28 at 1 pm. The Moorcroft Jubilee RR will be July 13 at 3 pm. It costs $250/team/rodeo, limited to 16 teams. Go to http://www.crookcountyrodeos.com for info, or call Jake at 307-756-2677 or Lee at 307-281-2991.



There will be a Walt Woodard team roping clinic at Hartford, S.D., on July 4-6. There were openings for three more headers at the time of this writing. You can call 605-929-2792 for more info.

The Wyoming Reined Cowhorse Association is holding the Wild Wyoming Derby on July 5-6 at the Weston Co. Fairgrounds in Newcastle, Wyo. On the 6th there will be the #2 horseshow (two seperate shows in one place at this) and a ranch horse competition. The Derby, horse show and bridle horse spectacular will have $2,000 added. For more info or to enter, go to http://www.wrcha.net or call cheri Carter at 307-689-2858.

Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., headed north to the big Canadian rodeos but had to leave her pard Louie behind. Louie is at home recuperating from surgery on his stifle and will be out for the summer. He had put her in the top of the standings with major wins through the winter rodeos. He had earned her $29,000 at RodeoHouston the end of March before he had to go for surgery. Lisa says that it had been giving him some trouble for a while and she expects he’ll have a full recovery and be back in the arena soon. Lockhart is riding her standby Chism, who at 16 is still running great and just won $5,440 at Spanish Fork, Utah, before heading north to Canada. She’s also hauling another young horse as backup for Chism.

Well, that’s my circle for this week. Be sure and send me your upcoming events several weeks in advance so I can talk them up here for you. Always glad to help promote them!