RODEO NEWS
By Ann Bleiker
Photos by Hailey Rae, Bill Lawless, Josh Homer and David Thomas
WPRA barrel racer Megan McLeod-Sprague has been in the sport a “hot-minute,” but this is the first year she has landed atop the barrel racing leaderboard for most money won over the Fourth of July, a week known in rodeo as Cowboy Christmas.
McLeod-Sprague, who joined the WPRA in 1997, won over $29,000 at four rodeos to outdistance the rest of the field by just under $10,000.
“Honestly just having the horse for it,” stated the Marsing, Idaho, cowgirl, when asked what made this year different than the past. “I have been blessed with a lot of nice horses, but this is the first Cowboy Christmas I have had Jag for, which obviously made a huge difference. I have had some decent Cowboy Christmas runs in the past, but it was all about the horse this year and it was my time.”
