By: SaraBeth Thompson
The Lucky Dog Barrel Racing Series finished the 2015 season over the weekend of December 4-6, 2015 at the Show Place Arena in Memphis, Tennessee. The $7,500 added Open 4D Barrel race drew over 1,500 runs over the three days of barrel racing. Buckles were awarded to the Average winners in each division of the open race, High Money winners of each side pot group for the weekend, and the Overall High Money Winner. Saddles were given to the Open Division winners and the Overall High Money earner for the year-end prizes.
A special part of the Lucky Dog Barrel Race is the dog race! Every Saturday and Sunday after contestant number 100, the dogs get their chance to show their skills. With entry fees as low as $1.00, who wouldn’t want to sign up their dog? Two lines are drawn in the middle of the arena as a start and a finish line. One person is allowed to hold the dog at the starting line, while another person sits at the finish line using all kinds of tricks to get their dogs to them the fastest. Depending on the number of entries, the dogs run 2-3 at a time and the winners run against each other in a final race. The top two dogs in each division (Small Dog/Large Dog) are awarded prizes. The Dog Race interjects some light-hearted fun and makes some serious money for charity. 100% of the dog race entries are donated to the Tyler Parten Foundation in honor of many American soldiers.
The Lucky Dog Productions Team emphasizes honoring God and country. Cowboy Church is offered each day before the races, and each race begins with the National Anthem and a prayer. Lucky Dog also donates 100% of their hat fines (if you lose your hat in the arena, you pay $5) to the Wounded Warier project. Everyone is encouraged to wear red on Fridays in order to “Remember Everyone Deployed.”
Heading into the finals, the 2015 High Money standings had Angela Festervan leading the pack with $12,249.41 over the season. Right behind her was JR Sullivan and his $10,517.26 in earnings. Leading the 1D in points was Sullivan with 259, followed by Festervan with 252. In the 2D, Angela came in quite comfortably with her 258 points, followed by Sullivan at 214 points. In the 3D, Debbie Caywood came in sitting first with 254 points, followed by Tena Spencer at 228 points. In the 4D, Haley Anderson entered the finals sitting first with 200 points, with Sydnie Lynn in second with 139 points.
Contestants battled all weekend at their chance to come home with the win. Once the dust settled, Festervan went home with the 1D win for the year-end, with Brookelyn Owens second. In the 2D, Darby Duncan came home with her win, with Daylee Barrom in second place. In the 3D, Caywood held onto her lead with Spencer in second place. In the 4D, Anderson walked away with the win, with Lynn in second place.
John Michael Poss and KK Frencys Toy of Gallatin, TN took home the 1D average win over the weekend with three consistent runs: clocking 15.057 on Friday, 14.916 Saturday, and another 14.916 on Sunday. Poss headed home with over $1,700 and a Red Bluff Belt Buckle. JR Sullivan took home the win for the 2015 High Money earner with $14,114.27 won over the year.
Lucky Dog Productions will be in Texarkana, AR, Starkville, MS, Tunica, MS, West Monroe, LA, and Memphis, TN in 2016. For more information on show dates visit Lucky Dog’s website: www.luckydograces.com
