Barrel Racers Pack Out Exhibition For Provincial Finals

For the next three days hundreds of barrel racers from across the Prairies will take over the Moose Jaw Exhibition’s Golden Mile Arena - 250 Thatcher Drive East - as the Saskatchewan Barrel Racing Association holds their 2024 finals.

There will be 270 riders in the open competition, 170 youth riders and 22 pee wee riders will be competing in the event.

“The riders are coming from all over,” said event spokeswoman Nicole Hicks told MJ Independent.

A CONTESTANT ROUNDS A BARREL, AND A PREVIOUS YEAR’S SASKATCHEWAN BARREL RACING ASSOCIATION FINAL HELD IN MOOSE JAW - MJ INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO

“We’ve got riders from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.”

The event is set to feature high quality riders including former Calgary Stampede qualifier and 2021 champion Bertina Olafson from Blaine Lake.

Hicks said the number of entries this year is similar to other years as the sport has recovered from the COVID - 19 pandemic restrictions.

“The turnout is really good again. It’s always fun seeing everyone that comes from every direction just to come here and compete,” she said, adding for anyone who wants to come out the event is “full on barrel racing.”

The event is FREE to attend and spectators are welcome.

The event starts at 8 am on both Tuesday and Wednesday and is expected to wrap up at approximately 8 pm - after all of the runs are completed.

On Thursday there is the short go - where the top riders qualify based upon the fast times of the two runs - starts at 8 am and wraps up about noon.

There will be a number of vendors at the event offering everything from horse feed and nutrition, tack and clothing.

“It’s packed here with anything you can buy from horse supplements to clothing to things for your horses - brushes, boots and any type of accessory,” Hicks said.

The general public is welcome to check out the vendors and make purchases if they so chose.

The concession will be open featuring their highly popular homemade burgers, freshly cut fries and wraps.

The concession opens at 7 am daily.

The hundreds of people attending the event are expected to have a major economic impact especially for area restaurants.