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JUNIOR BARREL RACING FAMOUS ED BECOMES EVEN MORE FAMOUS WITH SECOND WORLD TITLE. BY TONYA RATLIFF-GARRISON, FIELD EDITOR When Lance Graves and last year’s world champion junior barrel racer Famous Ed came into the finals 13th in the draw, Kelly Ann Yates and Macy Quintanilla’s Flyin Hi Firewater were leading with a combined time of 33.119. Lance and Famous Ed went a little wide on the first barrel but recovered quickly and made it around the next two barrels and through the gate with a time of 16.272, giving them a combined time of 32.904. The time held through the next two horses and Famous Ed had his second world championship in junior barrel racing. The Journal caught up with Lance shortly after he placed fourth on What Fame in the senior barrels to ask him about his repeat win on Famous Ed. Q. Congratulations, Lance. Tell me about that run tonight. Lance: Famous Ed’s run tonight was a pretty nice run, but he got just a little bit behind his first barrel, but his second and third barrel were really, really good. It was an almost flawless run. It was a little bit better than his timed trial run. Q. Kelly Ann Yates and Flyin Hi Firewater were in the lead when you and Famous Ed came into the pen. What was your game plan to beat their time? Lance: That is a wonderful horse and has won a lot. He’s been a good horse and Kelly’s an outstanding trainer and been to the (Wrangler National Finals Rodeo) many times. She does a good job, and he had a great run. But as for my game plan, last year he won the first round and he was leading going back, and I was a little more concerned about just trying to be clean and be sharp. This year he was third going back and I thought, “Hmmmm, you might should try to win.” I just asked him for it, and he’s a good little horse and he’ll give it when you ask him for it. Q. What do you like about Famous Ed so much? Lance: He has so much personality. He is almost like talking to a person. He’ll tell you when it’s time for him to eat. He’ll tell you when it’s time for him to have a drink. He’ll tell you when it’s time for him to warm up. He’s very expressive. He’s expressive in his face and all his mannerisms. And he’s a brilliant, fast little horse. He’s not very big. He’s just about 14.2 hands so he’s one of the smaller horses that we ride. But he has a bigger heart than he has a body. Q. What’s it like coming back and winning again on Famous Ed? Lance: You know what, I was a little bit nervous because somebody said, “I don’t think anybody’s had back-to-back world title. You don’t want to think about those other things, you just want to get your plan set and go make your run and wait to see what number rolls up. Q. Will Famous Ed come back here for the senior barrels next year? Lance: Absolutely! It’s our favorite show of the year. We love coming to this show. AQHA puts on a great show. These guys at the gate are great. I wouldn’t miss it. Q. Will his owner, Madison Montchal, show him at the Ford Youth World next year? Lance: She might. She is actually going to be showing him in two weeks at the WPRA (Women’s Professional Rodeo Association) World Championships. She’s only 11 but she’s going to show him there. She was last year’s WPRA youth world champion so she’s going to go back and defend her title. Q. Who would you like to thank? Lance: I would like to thank the Montchals for buying such a great horse and promising to let me ride him again to defend his title. Madison is one of my students, and she’s a great student. I would like to thank Mary Beth Ogle, who used to own this horse, and my wife and Shelly Stuart and my brother-in-law Pete. I always have a really good cheering crowd here and it makes all the difference. BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW: Lance said Famous Ed is kind of a big bluff. He’ll act all grumpy with his ears back but when Lance growls back at him he throws his ears back forward and apologizes. Famous Ed is also famous for opening his stall gate and untying his halter as well. “He’s really a busy little horse,” Lance said. WINNER STATS Horse: Famous Ed World Champion Prizes: Custom-designed gold-tone trophy, Montana Silversmiths buckle, neck wreath, gold medallion, Cripple Creek-logo jacket, world champion patch, Justin boots, Tex Tan product
RESULTS
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