Gold Buckle Matches Set Up Field For The RFD-TV’s The American

Gold Buckle Matches

As we draw closer to yet another edition of the richest one-day rodeo in western sports history, the RFD-TV’s The American, we are finding out who has secured their spot to compete.  This last week San Antonio, Texas was the place to be if you are a fan of professional rodeo as the “Gold Buckle Matches” took place.  It was great to see some of the greatest professional rodeo athletes competing again after coming out of retirement for a chance of a lifetime to be included in the big show.

The San Antonio Rose Palace was full of excitement as displays of tremendous athletic talent filled the dirt covered arena.  Along with retirements ending, once in a lifetime head-to-head matches taking place and the pure excitement of what was happening there was one moment that stood tall above all others.  Once the team roping round robin format started there was not a dry eye inside of the arena by either the fans or the contestants themselves as a truly inspiring moment took place.

Jake Barnes Gold Buckle

Jake Barnes Returns To Action

Photo Credit:  Spur Of The Moment Photography

Just a few months ago as Jake Barnes fine tuned his craft while getting ready to make another appearance at the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo a very serious accident took place.  While taking some training runs at his ranch Barnes’s horse fell which threw him off and underneath the equine athlete.  Even though all efforts were made to avoid being trampled and stepped on that unfortunately happened and his hopes of going to Las Vegas quickly turned into prayers from around the world.

Due to being diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury Barnes was placed under direct supervision and was immediately airlifted to the trauma center and placed in intensive care.  After a long road to recovery to function at a normal level he surpassed all expectations and began therapy to perfect his skills as a team roper once again.  His triumphant return to the professional rodeo realm was capped off after he and his partner Rich Skelton won the “Gold Buckle Match” event to move directly to the RFD-TV’s The American to compete for a one million dollar cash prize!

Fred Gold Buckle

Fred Whitfield Ropes At The Gold Buckle Match

Photo Credit:  Spur Of The Moment Photography

In one of the most talked about matches that were scheduled to take place it was the two contestants in the tie-down roping event that all eyes were on.  Two of the greatest cowboys would go head to head for the honor of advancing directly to AT&T Stadium.  Tie-down roping legends Cody Ohl and Fred Whitfield went toe to toe and in the end it was time to “raise the roof” as Fred Whitfield reigned supreme and advanced to the RFD-TV’s The American in two weeks!

Things were not all smooth as Cody Ohl, who is usually a class act. turned to social media to talk about his frustrations.  Those frustrations were not toward Whitfield at all but towards the calves that were chosen for them to compete with.  Ohl talked about his frustration by posting a statement on his facebook page which has since been takne down.  In his post he said that the stock that was chosen for the match was the worst that he has ever seen and competed on in his entire life.  This is an interesting point and will be something we will be watching very closely to see of anything else comes from him voicing his frustrations on social media.

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Complete List Of Gold Buckle Matches Winners Who Will Advance To The RFD-TV’s The American

Steer Wrestling – Lee Graves

Team Roping – Jake Barnes / Rich Skelton

Barrel Racing – Lindsay Sears

Tie – Down Roping – Fred Whitfield

Congratulations To All The Gold Buckle Matches Winners!!

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