Post native wins NCHA Super Stakes
Brett Hoffman
Two years ago, Clay Johnson struggled financially as a pro cutting horse trainer and considered returning to his family home in Post to take up ranch work.
But he was fortunate to have clients, James and Gay Karhan of Blanco, who never lost confidence in his ability to train their cutting horses.
Their unwavering faith paid off and Johnson is glad he persevered. In April, he rode a Karhan-owned mare named KR Isadora Dual to the $100,000 National Cutting Horse Association Super Stakes open division title, which was the second jewel of the sport's Triple Crown Series.
This week, he and KR Isadora Dual have advanced the semifinal round of the NCHA Summer Spectacular in Fort Worth, which is the third jewel of the Triple Crown.
Johnson, 33, a native of Post who lives near the North Texas town of Whitt, said he became discouraged about competing when times were financially lean and when he was having difficultly establishing a permanent home base to train cutting horses.
"There were two or three times that I told the Karhans that I was flat busted and they would float me some money," Johnson said. "We worked it out and I kept going."
Johnson said his career began to improve after he acquired a training facility near Whitt in March 2011.
In December 2011, Johnson and KR Isadora Dual advanced to the semifinal round of the NCHA Futurity, which is the Triple Crown's first jewel.
Their success was a mere prelude of things to come. During the April Super Stakes, Johnson and KR Isadora Dual clinched the title after turning a final-round score of 226.
It was Johnson's first victory at a major Fort Worth-aged event, and he was filled with emotion.
"I was super excited to win, glad I didn't pitch in the towel," he said.
Today, Johnson and his wife, Bobbie, and their children, Kutter and Justin, reside on a cutting horse ranch that's equipped with an indoor training facility and 30 stalls.
Johnson, who has competed in cutting horse shows for the past 13 years, is optimistic about riding KR Isadora Dual.
"She can win more shows if we can keep her sound," Johnson said. "She's a very flashy looking mare who can hold a tough cow."
Whitfield sets record
After earning tie-down roping checks in two states last weekend, Fred Whitfield became the PRCA's all-time leading single event money winner.
The eight-time world champion earned $9,569 at Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association shows in Salinas, Calif., and Nampa, Idaho, which pushed Whitfield's career tie-down roping earnings to $3,015,284.
Whitfield, who lives in the South Texas town of Hockley, has earned $1,242 more in tie-down roping than the retired five-time world champion Billy Etbauer pocketed in saddle bronc riding, according to PRCA statistics.
Along with 16-time world champion Trevor Brazile, Whitfield and Etbauer are the only PRCA cowboys with career earnings of more than $3 million. Brazile is the only PRCA competitor who has more than $4 million.
But Brazile's $4 million-plus earnings are in four roping events. Whitfield and Etbauer are the only men to also have surpassed $3 million in a single event.
Whitfield, 44, who turned pro in 1990, is the only African-American athlete who has won the world all-around title, a feat he accomplished in 1999. He also has seven tie-down roping gold buckles.
Women's update
Lindsay Sears, a former Texas Tech star who has homes in Nanton, Alberta, and the West Texas town of Ropesville, is ranked No. 3 in the Women's Professional Rodeo Association world barrel racing standings with $108,928 after finishing fourth at the Nampa rodeo ($6,775). Benette Barrington-Little, a former Lubbock resident who lives in Ardmore, Okla. is ranked fifth with $59,300. Brittany Pozzi of Victoria is ranked No. 1 with $152,560.
BRETT HOFFMAN, A TEXAS COWBOY HALL OF FAME MEMBER, HAS WRITTEN A RODEO COLUMN FOR THE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM DURING THE PAST 25 YEARS. EMAIL HIM AT BRETT@MYRODEOINSIDER.COM.