Some athletes shine under pressure, and others just simply seem made for it. Lisa Lockhart proved once again that she’s built for the biggest of stages, claiming her second consecutive Hondo Rodeo Fest title inside Chase Field. 

The South Dakota cowgirl is a 19-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier and the winningest barrel racer in Women’s Professional Rodeo Association history. She delivered another textbook performance aboard her 7-year-old mare, Blazin Ta Betty aka “Sasha.” 

Lockhart and first-time NFR qualifier Tayla Moeykens went head-to-head through the first two rounds. Moeykens started strong with a 13.790 to win Round 1, with Lisa right behind her. Lockhart then came back with the fastest time of the rodeo in Round 2 at 13.613, to take the win with Tayla now closely behind her. Lisa led the average going into round 3. 

There were two ladies left to run the bases, Moeykens ran a solid 13.976 to set the bar. But then Lockhart, as the last barrel racer to go, rose to the occasion once again. Sasha slipped slightly on the first barrel but quickly recovered, turning in a 13.788 to win the round and secure the average title too. 

“The hardest thing is going last, you know you’ve got to keep them standing, and that’s hard for us sometimes,” Lockhart said with a big smile after her win. “But I’m so proud of Sasha. She was just so honest for us all three rounds, and I couldn’t be more grateful for her effort because it’s definitely a team effort.” 

Lockhart’s utter dominance didn’t stop with the barrel racing title. Her consistency across all three rounds also earned her the Maverick Award, a $50,000 bonus given to the top overall money earner over the three days at the Hondo. 

When interviewer Kennadee Riggs pointed out Lockhart’s growing love for Arizona and Chase Field, the veteran and fan favorite lady didn’t hesitate, “Without a doubt, Hondo Rodeo is awesome,” she said. 

Lockhart has long thrived in any and all set ups and arenas. Earlier just this year, she took home the Cheyenne Frontier Days title, a completely opposite set up to that in Chase Field. All of this to say, she has proved that her talent travels anywhere the dirt flies and three barrels stand. She also made history years ago at The American Rodeo, setting a precedent for those stadium-style barrel racing successes. 

Now heading into her 19th straight NFR, Lockhart sits sixth in the world standings with just under $170,000 in season earnings going into Vegas. She remains on the verge of another huge milestone, needing just over $125,000 to become the first $4 million earner in WPRA history. 

In a stadium built for home runs, Lisa delivered her own kind of perfect finish, one that needed no bat and no glove, just undeniable talent in a duo that sure knows how to win.

Full Barrel Race Results

Round 1

1. Tayla Moeykens 13.790
2. Lisa Lockhart 13.855
3. Wenda Johnson 13.95
4. Hayle Gibson-Stilwell 14.030
5. Mackenzie Mayes 14.054
6. Hailey Kinsel 14.433
7. Megan Mcleod-Sprague 15.636
8. Emily Beisel 19.129

Round 2

1. Lisa Lockhart 13.613
2. Tayla Moeykens 13.858
3. Wenda Johnson 13.92
4. Mackenzie Mayes 13.951
5. Hayle Gibson-Stilwell 14.062
6. Emily Beisel 14.115
7. Hailey Kinsel 14.173
8. Megan McLeod-Sprague 24.144

Round 3

1. Lisa Lockhart 13.788
2. Tayla Moeykens 13.976
3. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell 14.011
4. Hailey Kinsel 14.156

Average 

1. Lisa Lockhart 41.256/3
2. Tayla Moeykens 41.584/3
3. Wenda Johnson 42.036/3
4. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell 42.103/3