In its second installment, the Riata Buckle Stallion Incentive will payout at least $2.5 million to ropers, breeders and stallion owners at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, and Roping.com will be the only place to watch all the action.
The event is primarily for those riding horses by Riata Buckle’s exclusive lineup of stallions, showcasing the breeding and evolution of the rope horse industry.
“The Riata Buckle was Roping.com’s most-watched event in 2022, and we anticipate even bigger viewership in 2023,” Content Director Chelsea Shaffer said. “We’ll be pulling out all the stops, too, with Dru Stewart talking to winners, stallion owners and producers throughout the event live from the Priefert Sports Desk and 10 different cameras for each roping—including a camera from the rafters—so ropers can study what goes into making runs on standout horses like this from every angle.”
The Riata Buckle kicks off Thursday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. CT with the three-calf, two short round Riata Buckle Breakaway. That will be followed at 3 p.m. with the with the Riata Buckle’s only Futurity, the $150,000-guaranteed Open 5-&-Under Futurity with a $25,000 4-Year-Old Incentive. The numbered ropings start Nov. 3, at 8 a.m., running through Sunday, Nov. 5. The handicap formats offer everything from a #14.5 All-Age Championship paying over $300,000, to the #12.5, #10.5 and #9.5 Championships, each paying over $650,000 including futurity incentives. Riata Buckle is offering $400,000 in futurity incentives to ropers riding young horses in each division.
Riata Buckle stallion owners will receive a complementary pass to watch the event all weekend long. The Team Roping Journal and Roping.com will feature special highlights and results throughout the event, while the Priefert Sports Desk will go live on Facebook with the winners of each division.