Hello Barrel Racers,

You guys are amazing, what a wonderful weekend!  With close to 500 entries per day, beautiful, perfect weather, and impeccable ground, we feel very blessed to have been given much. 

Thank you to the ground crew for what I consider to be the best, most fair ground the Blackhawk Arena has ever had.  Scott, Wayland, Dru, and Rylan put four generations worth of professional tractor driving to get the great end result.

Pat McCaw, despite getting bucked off and a getting in a slight traffic accident still never gave up her post as stall check in queen; we appreciate all she does for Horse Events, Inc.

Shauntelle & Kimball Curtis have been with the XBA and Horse Events Inc for many years there skills and dedication is to be commended. Shauntelle saves hours on the race with her quick efficient skills on the computer.

Tracy Young is also speedy on the computer as well as on her great horse.  Congratulations to her for running two 15.4's.  And thanks for your help in keeping the office in order.

Ashley and Wes Dudley are our newest staff and we are very fortunate to have them both.  There willingness and great attitude make it a pleasure to associate with them.

Thank You to the Tomato Vine for the concessions and the wonderful dinner.

Xpress trailer group as well as Matt Spring Sales sponsored the Morgan Built trailer that was excitedly won by Shelly Johnson of Cedar City.  Shelly just recently wrecked and totaled her trailer, what a perfect day for her thanks to Xpress  Trailer Group.  They also gave a cash donation, helping to sponsor the free dinner.  Thank you Xpress, Chuck, Don, Gary.  Also Matt and Marilyn Wood from Matt Springs Sales.

Our spirit award winner this year is Carol Ann Veater she supports Horse Events Inc. with arranging for barrel setters, gate people, and burns and donates CDs and pays entry fees for 3 contestants with multiple horses.  Annie and her husband Fred are parents of two great barrel racer daughters Delayania and Valessha  Veater.  Thanks Veaters for all you do in making HEI successful.

Our awards were the best yet with great products such as Lucchese Boots, Custom Saddle Stands from Trendsetters, Classic Equine products, Outback Coats, and many other fantastic sponsors all furnished and donated through Burns Saddlery of Salina. 

Winning our 18-40 saddle could not have made me happier than to present it to Susan Mastornardi.  A couple of years ago Susan had a horrible accident at the Blackhawk.  Her horse darted out a gate during time onlys and wrapped her around the big center gate pole.   With several broken bones and fractured skull with brain damage, Susan had to learn to do everything over including riding. She overcame great odds to even live let alone be back competing.  She now wears a helmet and still has some paralyze and nerve damage, but you would never know it.  She is an inspiration to all of us, always wearing a smile, and doing what she loves and loving what she does.

At our dinner Sat. our lucky card draw, Kristine Cropper won her second saddle from our lucky card drawings, also winning again was Andee Adams she won the $500 headstall, b.collar set.  And also set the fastest time of the weekend with a 15.2.  And won 2 pair of Lucchese boots.  She is always in the zone at the Blackhawk with fast runs, money, awards, and luck.  I think she likes it here.

Because of the fantastic turn out and our commitment to constant and never ending improvement we have decided to run as a 5D next year and the exciting part is we are adding the money to the class so it won't reduce any of the 4D money.  With 200 or more runners we will pay $400 for 1st place $300 for 2nd place $200 for 3rd place $100 for 4th place and $50 for 5th place both go's.  Also we will have 5D average awards as well also giving the 5D chances to win the horse trailer.  We will give 10 cards out in each D instead of 13.  The 18-40 class will still run the same with the traditional 4D format.  We also are working on some other great ideas we will break with soon.

A super big thank you and congratulations to all of you the barrel racers that make the commitment put up the entry fees, travel for great distance and always understand if we mess up.  You're the reason the association is successful.  We try very hard to give back.  By not charging excessive fees including, memberships, processing or office fees, and single event late fees.  Thanks to all of you that told a friend and brought them along it has improved the numbers, payoffs, and award packages, keep up the good work. 

Check out our next event 3D rodeo to be held Oct 6th-8th.  Hope to see you there.

 Safe Travels, Great Runs,

 See you soon,

 Danna Burns-Shaw

Hi Destiny,

I just wanted to write and tell you thank you for putting on such a great race.  You and your mom do a wonderful job.  It is so nice to go somewhere and have the race run smoothly, the prizes are awesome, the ground was great and the payout was great too.  It definitely makes traveling worth every mile.  I didn’t really get a chance to thank you guys while we were down there, so I wanted to make sure that I did that and let you guys know that we really appreciate your efforts in putting on great races.   Even though the buy back thing didn’t work well, I give you guys credit for trying something new and listening to the contestants when it didn’t really work out.  That is nice to know that everybody has a say.  Congrats on your run on Saturday.  I didn’t get a chance to see it, but it must have been really nice. Anyways, enough blabbering, I just really emailed to tell you and your mom thank you.  Oh and the contestant dinner was really nice and very appreciated.

Thanks again,

Kelli Hipwell

Destiny & Dana:

Thanks so much for a wonderful weekend!!! Hats off to everyone for doing such a great job.  The ground stayed great all weekend and what about that beautiful weather.  I hope you know how much we appreciate all that you do.  You truly make a difference not only for the sport of barrel racing, you make a difference in our lives.

Thanks again for everything,

Julie Wahlen