Dodge City Roundup Rodeo: Preview, Format, and What to Watch For

The Dodge City Roundup Rodeo kicks off on Aug. 2 2 and will feature the best rodeo athletes in the world.

The rodeo began in 1977 and since it it has been honored as a PRCA Rodeo Committee of the Year. In its first installment in the summer of 1977 the rodeo featured 175 contestants competing for $8,200. It is now five days of rodeo with more than $300,000 on the line.

Here is a look at what you can expect over the next five nights of rodeo action from Dodge City.

Format

In roughstock events, athletes will compete in one Long Round to open the rodeo and then the Top 12 will advance to the Final Performance on August 6. After the Finals, the athlete with the highest score on two head will be crowned champion.

In all timed events other than barrel racing, competitors will have two rounds to post their fastest times. The Top 12 on average will move on to the Finals where they will have one more run. The fastest on three head will be crowned champion.

Barrel Racing is laid out the same as roughstock events. Cowgirls have one run in the opening round, and the Top 12 move on to the finals where the fastest on two heads takes home the title.

What to Watch

Performance 1 (August 2)

Stetson Wright is the headliner on Wednesday night. Wright, who is coming off a win at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo where he was 91.5 points in the Finals of Bull Riding. Wright matches up against Mud Bog, who has yet to be ridden in three attempts this year and is averaging a stock score of 41.83 points.

World No. 2, Ky Hamilton will also be competing on Wednesday in the Bull Riding alongside Trey Holston, Brady Portenier, Lukasey Morris, and Cannon Cravens.

Performance 2 (August 3)

Performance 2 in Dodge City features a handful of world-class Bareback riders. The field is highlighted by 2022 World Champion Jess Pope who is matched up against Storm Cloud, a horse that Orin Larsen was marked 86.5 points on at the San Angelo Rodeo.

Competing alongside Pope is Chad Rutherford who has a matchup against 2022 NFR bucking horse Medicine Show. Others competing are Tim O’Connell, Cole Franks, Bill Tutor, and Ty Pope.

Performance 3 (August 4)

In Performance 3 the Wright family takes center stage with four competing in the Saddle Bronc Riding. Stuart, Spencer, Statler, and Ryder are all competing. They are going up against Isaac Diaz, Dean Wadsworth, and others.

Performance 4 (August 5)

The biggest name competing during Performance 4 is Rocker Steiner, who has a matchup against Happy Trails. Steiner will be riding alongside Kade Berry, Tanner Aus, and Taylor Broussard.

In Saddle Bronc Riding Ben Andersen looks to follow up his 94-point ride last week with another big one in Dodge City. He will be competing against Logan Hay and Q Taylor among others.

How to Watch & Broadcast Schedule

You can watch every performance LIVE on The Cowboy Channel and The Cowboy Channel+ App. For a full broadcast schedule click HERE.