Bull-riding event to attract 68,000

Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999 | 9:44 a.m.

Cody Hart has robbed the Professional Bull Riders Bud Light Cup World Championships of some of its drama by clinching the 1999 World Championship, but that won't stop nearly 70,000 fans from descending on Las Vegas and the Thomas & Mack Center this weekend for the series' season finale.

With a maximum of 1,500 Bud Light Cup points available during this weekend's four-day, five-round show, Hart already has wrapped up the world championship and, with it, a 14-karat gold buckle, a trophy and $185,000 in bonus money.

The 21-year-old Hart holds an insurmountable 1,805.5-point lead over nine-time world champion Ty Murray heading into Thursday's 7 p.m. opening round. Rounds two and three will start at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and rounds four and five will begin Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Hart has earned a series-leading $237,048 in 27 events this season -- more than double the $101,529 earned by the legendary Murray, who is second to Hart on the PBR money list.

The top 45 PBR money winners in the 28-city bull-riding series qualified for the World Championships, including Hart, Murray and former PBR World Champions Troy Dunn, Michael Gaffney and Owen Washburn, and former Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association champion Cody Custer.

Rounds one through four will feature one ride by each of the 45 bull riders. The top 15 riders, based on combined scores from the first four rounds, will advance to the fifth and final round. Each round pays $70,700 in prize money. The top 10 overall riders split $605,000, with the overall winner earning $200,000.

The $1.5 million PBR World Championships moves to the Thomas & Mack this year from the MGM Grand Garden, which served as the host venue for the event since its inception in 1994. This year's event is expected to attract more than 68,000 fans and generate more than $13 million in non-gaming revenue for the city.

Dunn, the defending PBR World Champion, said he is impressed with the way the championships have grown in six years.

"It totally amazes me every year the number of people that fill the stands," Dunn said. "And that's only about half as amazing as how much money we're riding for."