Special section: NFR helps Las Vegas fill up its saddle bags

Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002 | 9:25 a.m.

The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, celebrating its 18th year in Las Vegas, is more than just 10 days of roping and riding in the Thomas & Mack Center.

The 44th annual NFR is expected to draw approximately 40,000 visitors to Las Vegas for the rodeo and its ancillary events and generate a non-gaming economic impact of more than $34 million to the area.

"This year, we are really emphasizing the whole NFR experience," Las Vegas Events president Pat Christenson said. "You can enjoy 10 days worth of the fun and exciting activities that surround the NFR -- from the competitions (themselves) to the Downtown Hoedown at the Fremont Street Experience and our Cowboy Christmas.

"There is no place in the world (that) does rodeo like Las Vegas."

In addition to the NFR, Downtown Hoedown and Cowboy Christmas gift show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, locals and visitors alike can take in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant, livestock sales, fashion shows and a host of country-themed concerts in many of the town's showrooms.

"Even though the (NFR) is sold out each year, there are still some creative ways for us to offer tickets through our 'Find a Seat' program and with our ticket exchange program, or enjoy the live telecast transmission of the Wrangler NFR offered at 33 hotel properties throughout the county," Christenson said.

A compete schedule of events can be found in this section, at www.prorodeo.com and www.nfrexperience.com.

The 22-year-old Bail is leading the world standings in bull riding with $89,648 and is third in saddle bronc riding with $112,242. He comes to Las Vegas ranked second in the All-Around Cowboy standings, only $503 behind Trevor Brazile of Anson, Texas. Brazile qualified for the NFR in calf roping.

Bail led the All-Around standings for most of the year but was surpassed by Brazile two weeks ago. In the process, Brazile, 26, became the youngest timed-event cowboy to reach the $1 million mark in career earnings.

Williams and Skelton are tied with Hall of Fame ropers Jake Barnes and Clay O'Brien Cooper with five straight titles. Barnes and Cooper hold the record for most team roping title with seven.

James, who dominated the barrel racing event at the National Finals Rodeo for a solid decade, winning 10 consecutive world titles from 1984 to 1993, rolls into Las Vegas with a commanding lead in the world standings and looking to capture her 11th gold buckle.

James holds a $40,814 lead over second-place Kelly Kaminski going into her 19th consecutive NFR. Although she has not won a world championship since 1993, James finished third last year and was second in 2000.

James won her first world championship in 1984 at the age of 14, starting a string of 10 consecutive titles she won with her horse, Scamper. James now races a horse named Cruiser.

Record, 46, finished the year with $56,575 in earnings, including $12,013 at the NFSR. Trevor Brazile finished second at $47,871. Eleven-time defending world champion Guy Allen of Santa Anna, Texas, was third with $47,789.

Record's victory ended Allen's ProRodeo record streak of 11 consecutive world titles.

NFSR rookie Chet Herren, 24, of Pawhuska, Okla., surprised the field by winning the NFSR average title with a 10-head total time of 223.20 seconds. Herren was the only competitor to rope and tie all 10 of his steers.

Herren won $10,297 for his average victory, boosting his season earnings to $30,430 and to ninth in the world standings.