Important News: RodeoHouston recently met with the WPRA and expressed an interested in having an approved barrel race. While your Board was very aware the time frame for getting the approval finalized was very tight, every effort was made to negotiate a successful approval. Rodeos are facing challenging times and feel they need to try different approaches in order to ensure a healthy future. Houston is a long time, valued partner of the WPRA and the board felt it was important to work with them. As a result, the 2012 RodeoHouston Barrel Race is WPRA approved. And in order to provide WPRA members with notice, Houston has agreed to delayed closing of their books for barrel racing by one week. The barrel racing books will close on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

Please note, there are some changes in the qualifications this year. Houston will be limited to 40 contestants instead of 50. Qualifications for Houston will be as follows: 1) The top 5 in the 2012 WPRA Pro rodeo standings for Limited Entry Rodeos as of December 1st, 2) The San Angelo 2012 champion will qualify for Houston. (San Angelo is open to all WPRA members and provides one more opportunity for one of our members to qualify for the Houston Rodeo), 3) The previous five Houston Series Champions, 4) The remainder will come from the 2011 WPRA Pro rodeo standings. If there are any overlaps, we will drop down one in the 2011 WPRA Pro rodeo standings. In order to compete at Houston, you have to be a current WPRA card holder. You have until noon on January 3, 2012 to be a member. Houston and the WPRA have agreed that in 2012 negotiations for an approval will begin immediately after the rodeo and an announcement will be made early in the year.