By Kathy Branco
Special To Ropers Sports News
CHOWCHILLA, CALIF. – The 65th Chowchilla Western Stampede Barrel Race came back with a bang March 12-13 after a two-year shut-down due to COVID and the Health Department closing the Chowchilla Fairgrounds. Saturday’s race had 377 open entries with a one-day payout between the Open, Futurity, Derby, Junior and Senior sidepots exceeding $45,000, along with another $10,000 payout to Future Fortunes eligible contestants, for a grand total of $55,429 on Saturday. When you added in the money for the Sunday race, a total payout of $67,895.
The Stampede Race was kicked off with a special opening honoring our two yearly memorial honorees, Dan Branco (Dan Branco Memorial Open) one of the original founders of the Chowchilla Stampede and Dean Flenniken (Dean Flenniken Memorial Futurity and Derby). Dean was the first woman in California to produce futurities. Others honored in the opening were our 2022 Grand Marshal Joan Deal. who has made a tremendous impact on the Chowchilla community, and Wanda Cagliari, Chowchilla Stampede’s eight-time champion barrel racer who passed in December. Wanda was honored with a riderless horse led by her daughter, Cathy Cagliari Wilbanks. Charlene Jespersen was also honored. Charlene is the first Chowchilla Stampede champion barrel racer from the year 1958. We were also blessed to have Sammy Thurman Brackenbury, the 1965 World Champion Barrel Racer, 2019 Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Cowgirl, and many-time Chowchilla Stampede champion barrel racer. Sammy and our Grand Marshal Joan Deal were brought to the opening in a 1973 Cadillac convertible owned and chauffeured by Jack Batey.
The Dan Branco Memorial Open 4D Barrel Race with 377 entries competing for the $10,000 added purse was won by Brittany Manner of Red Bluff, Calif. aboard Genuine Joe Song, running a speedy 17.155 winning $1,609. The 2D champion was Kennedy Bruce on CM Spotlight, winning $1,448, 3D champion was Shannon Shade on Strippin Six Gears, winning $1,233, 4D champion was 9-year-old Paisley Dornan on Band Of Fame, winning $1,073.
The Dean Flenniken Memorial Futurity with 62 entries competing for $3,600 added purse and 100% payback was won by Charleen Ornellas aboard Cat Man 073, running a 17.593, winning $1,588. The 2D Futurity was won by Kate McKemy aboard MK Memory Lane with a 18.622, winning $1,058.
The Dean Flenniken Memorial Derby had 59 entries. $1,000 was added and was won by Vicky Cook on Blazin More Cash winning $615. The 2D Derby champion was Jaycee David on FlyinInChampagne with a 18.492, winning $410.
The Chowchilla Stampede is honored to be one of two races in California to be chosen to receive an extra $10,000 added to the main Saturday Stampede Race for Future Fortunes eligible horses. The FF 1D champion was Hunter Morgan on Shea Blazin Bay, winning $540, 2D champion Courtney Cline and Firewater and Gold, winning $486, 3D Amy Nichols on Sophie Bridge, winning $414, 4D Abi Price riding Frenchmansfirstcameo, winning $360.
Sunday following the main race the Stampede produced a $1,500 added Open race. The race featured 192 entries and was won by Hayle Gibson of Redcrest, Calif. on RDC DancingToTheLead, running the fastest time of the weekend with a smoking 17.096.
The two-day average was won by Vicky Cook of Willows, Calif., aboard her great mare Blazin More Cash winning the Chowchilla Stampede Memorial Wanda Cagliari average buckle and the Teri Duetsch Memorial travel safety bag. Vicky ran a 17.458 and 17.550 to win the two-day Stampede average.
Our sponsors are a huge part of the Stampede and we cannot thank them enough. Generous Ray Barragan Jr. with Golden Memorial $5,000 sponsor, Future Fortunes $10,000 sponsor, Charlene Jespersen and Almas Flea Market, Todd and Stacy Hampton, Hall Management Corp., the Zanoli kids, Christie Wood Gumb, Jade and Jeff Flenniken, Ken and Linda Woods, Group Warehouses and Deven Skouti, Janel Flook and KS Cash N Fame, Charlene Ornellas and Just By Design, Deven Warren and DW Performance Horses, Kendra Williams and Sterling On Steel, Platinum Performance, Lance and Lyndee Stairs with Stairs Ranch Barrel Horses, Abi Price, Lindsey Walker and Lame Away, Midland Tractor, Branco Ranch Furniture and the Chowchilla Stampede Committee.
The Stampede would also like to thank its second-to-none crew who ran a flawless race. Stacey Freitas, Patti Silva, Steve Smart, Sheila Ragsdale, Jodi Branco, Jeff Freitas with JF video and Deb Mann photography and our barrel setters, the Chowchilla High School football team.
