JUNIOR BARREL RACING

KASSIE MOWRY AND FM RADIO ROCK THE WORLD WITH TITLE WIN.

BY TONYA RATLIFF-GARRISON, JOURNAL FIELD EDITOR

Kassie Mowry of Dublin, Texas, and FM Radio won the junior barrel racing world championship
title with a composite time of :32.829.

Kassie Mowry and FM Radio came into the junior barrel racing finals 14th in the draw. The pair had a good run in the preliminaries the day before with a time of :16.298, the second fastest time. Although “Denim” didn’t put in as stellar of a run for the finals, Kassie was still pleased with his time of :16.531, giving them a composite of :32.829 and the world championship title. The Journal caught up with Kassie in the Super Barn to ask about her and Denim’s winning run.

Q: Tell me about your ride tonight?

KASSIE: It wasn’t as smooth as I would have liked. He kind of had a couple of bobbles here and there, but he’s a really fast horse so he can make up for some of the mistakes, and he definitely did.

Q: What was your prelims run like?

KASSIE: His first run was flawless. He just cruised through there and just had the nicest barrels. I was really pleased with his first run. He got pretty nervous and wound up back here tonight and I think that made for a little rougher ride.

Q: How has his year been?

KASSIE: He started out the year very well but on March 13, Friday the 13th, he had colic surgery. So I’ve been off of him for a while. I just got back on him about two months ago. I’m just so thankful to have him and him running like this again. It was a really rough surgery.

Q: What do you like about Denim?

KASSIE: He’s a really sweet horse. He’s really kind. He can be nervous and a basket case, but he’s a really sweet horse, and he’s gray and pretty.

Q: Is this your first world championship?

KASSIE: Actually, no. I won it in ’05 and reserve both that year. I worked for the Jud Little Ranch and they were both his mares.

Q: You brought two horses to the show?

KASSIE: I did. Two juniors. My other horse (Ms JB 055) just barely missed making it back. And she’s a year younger, so maybe next year.

Q: What’s next for Denim?

KASSIE: I’m entered at the WPRA (Womens Professional Rodeo Association) finals at Tulsa next weekend. So he’ll be going there.

Q: Is there anyone you would like to thank?

KASSIE: I would like to thank my vets for getting him through this and the owners Randy and Suzy Schuchard for giving me the opportunity to have this horse. I’m just beside myself to be able to have him.

BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW: Denim is a full brother to American Quarter Horse racehorse Gun Battle, who was second in the 2006 All American Futurity, American Quarter Horse racing's richest race for 2-year-olds.