As the dust settled on another thrilling Calgary Stampede, Anita Ellis emerged as the 2025 Barrel Racing Champion after a dominant week of competition. Competing in the first pool, Ellis was unstoppable, claiming the win in every round and earning a total of $21,000. She was the only barrel racer to clock sub-17.00 second runs each time she entered the arena, showcasing remarkable consistency and speed. Then in the final round of Calgary, Ellis made a wicked fast 16.956 second run to walk away the winner and $50,000 richer.
Ellis credits her success to her two standout horses, Axe and Rico, saying she couldn’t have done it without them. Having confidence in your horsepower is everything and at this year’s Stampede, that confidence clearly paid off.