Barrel racing series hits midway mark

Posted on: Staff Writer

From edition: July 27 2018 Strathmore Times

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

Sandy Gerencer rode her horse Izzy around the barrels July 20 at the Strathmore Agriculture Rodeo Grounds during the Double S Racing series. Photo Courtesy of Denise Sluggett

Sandy Gerencer rode her horse Izzy around the barrels July 20 at the Strathmore Agriculture Rodeo Grounds during the Double S Racing series.
Photo Courtesy of Denise Sluggett
There is still plenty of time to sign up with the Double S Barrel Racing Series to win their newest belt buckle.
Now in its third year of existence, the local ladies barrel racing series historically gives out four buckles at the end of the season for the winner of each division: 1D, 2D, 3D and 4D.
The divisions are broken up based on average race times, with 1D being the fastest and 4D being the slower of the four.
This year, the Double S series has introduced a new Rookie of the Year buckle that will be handed out following the two-day final meet at the end of September.
“New racers will be based on a point system and they can win as much as 25 points for each jackpot,” said producer Denise Sluggett.
Races run each Thursday in Indus and races also take place one Saturday a month at the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society rodeo grounds.
The latest race to take place in Strathmore happened July 21, where Shannon LeGuerrier rode her horse Famous in 18.261 seconds to capture the 1D crown. Yvonne Krause rode Maker in 19.014 seconds to take the 2D title, Carrianne Breton and her horse Seeka to first place in 3D with a time of 19.686 and Tracey Cobb crossed the line in 20.388 seconds on Pawko to take the 4D title that day.
The next available race in Strathmore is scheduled for Aug. 11.
Registration for each race opens the Monday before the race and closes the night before. There is a peewee division for riders between the ages of four and six, while the open division sees riders compete at nine years of age and older.
Riders also don’t need to be signed up all season to compete. They can register as often or as little as they want.
But after the Double S series hit the halfway point last weekend, the time is now to sign up to earn valuable points towards a year-end buckle – especially the new Rookie of the Year buckle – at the end of September.
“We had 160 riders out last Saturday which was a huge showing and (it was) great to see that so many people are interested in racing horses,” said Sluggett.
This season will feature more than 20 rides in Indus, while Strathmore is home to eight races. The Indus series will feature separate prizes at the end of the year from the Strathmore series.
See thier Facebook page for more details about race day and registration.