By Jaime Hinton
Special To Ropers Sports News
There’s a saying I’ve read that states; tough times don’t last but tough people do. That is one of the many ways I can think of to describe Ron and Betty Grohl.
On October 29th of last year Betty was involved is a severe horse accident while working cattle with her husband Ron near Jamestown, California. She suffered incredible brain trauma and massive internal bruising. For months Betty has battled through things that most people cannot imagine and Ron has had to endure more than one might think humanly possible.
The two of them are incredible, inspiring, refreshing and the reason we chose February 17th (right after Valentines Day) as the ‘Sweethearts Race’ to honor such a special couple and an integral part of the barrel racing world of Diamond Bar Arena and West Coast Barrel Racing.
Betty was our year-end Champion of West Coast Barrel Racing the first year as an association and in the Top 10 last year as well. She and Ron have become a staple at our races, always willing to help, offer advice and lean into the work collar as hard as anyone else.
More than 180 barrel racers showed up Sunday morning to show their appreciation of the couple and support to a woman known for her brilliant smile and positive outlook on life and the sport of barrel racing. Contestants were great sports, dressed in pink and red as Ron and Betty were able to spend the day at Diamond Bar socializing and seeing people that were anxious and grateful to get to see and visit the two of them.
A generous donation from the race will be made in the Grohl’s name to an organization called “Caring Bridge” that provided emotional support and a website that thousands of people checked daily for Ron’s journal entries and progress reports. The website is located at www.caringbridge.org and you can search Betty’s name to find her story, the journal or if you’re able, to donate to a great cause.
Our race was a huge success. I measured that in the turnout of barrel racers, the fantastic weather and my chance to hug a little blonde lady that has inspired me and encouraged me from the moment I met her. Ron Grohl should receive the husband of the year award too. The emotional havoc that has rained down on that man would have broken 9 out of 10 men. His ability to stay positive and not only provide strength for himself but for all the people who blew his phone up and needed to know there was light at the end of the tunnel, surely deserves a medal.
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage” – Lao Tzu. Ron and Betty Grohl are deeply loved by the horse community as a whole. It was an honor to spend a day in the sunshine with a couple that means the world to many and a great time to reflect on anyone and all things that are important to us.
Results are as follows:
1D: 1st. Charlene Jesperson, NF Frenchmans Brucey, 17.569, $474. 2nd. Diane Williamson, Command, 17.678, $392. 3rd. Danielle McCants, Snappy Mate, 17.745, $350. 4th. Kylie Dewitt, Drifter, 17.781, $289. 5th. Cheyenne Horner, Mouse, 17.8, $227. 6th. Angie Hardin, Smarty’s Real Rock, 17.826, $144. 7th. Roxie Jimenez, Cant Tell Its Secret, 17.862, $103. 8th. Jade White, Peptos Blue Doc, 17.867, $84.
2D: 1st. Stacey Hampton, She’s A Brisco, 18.072, $427. 2nd. Stacey Freitas, Lenas Sweet Jalapena, 18.075, $352. 3rd. Libby Gale, Judge The Stars, 18.115, $315. 4th. Rayma Castro, Queens Rain, 18.119, $260. 5th. Amanda Deborba, Billie, 18.187, $204. 6th. Summer Kutchera, Oh Talented Star, 18.189, $130. 7th. Tiffany Hannan, Sanjo’s Milligan, 18.206, $93. 8th. Noel Cosca, Red Hot Howie, 18.218, $73.
3D: 1st. Machaela Sinclair, Jesse Merdoc, 18.57, $363. 2nd. Brittney Barnett, Ellie, 18.579, $300. 3rd. Katharine Sinclair, Especial Rocks, 18.627, $269. 4th. Arielle Jones, Man It’s A Haypatch, 18.666, $221. 5th. Shelley Holman, Cowgirl, 18.669, $174. 6th. Kelly Kutchera, You Could Be A Star, 18.684, $111. 7th. Erin Ricotti, Aiming To Please, 18.688, $79. 8th. Christiane Anton, HR Docs Fancy Firewater, 18.692, $63.
4D: 1st. Shelby Stansbury, Smartys Lil Cutter, 19.619, $316. 2nd. Eryn Greenfield, Hopelessly Famous, 19.66, $261. 3rd. Joyce Combs, Sammi, 19.794, $234. 4th. Bryan Scheer, Kitty, 19.802, $192. 5th. Cassie Dallara, Smokin Haida Pep, 19.806, $151. 6th. Danelle Fenley, Juliet, 19.815, 496. 7th. Audry Beaver, Sugar, 19.881, $69. 8th. Kristen Rogers, Dash, 19.885, $55.
Betty Grohl (l) with jacket winner Jamey Wells. (Photo by Gene McFerran)
