One of pro rodeo’s top 5 bull riders, JT Moore of Alvin, Texas scheduled to compete at the South Point Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding
South Point Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding
High Scores and big checks are what four professional cowboys ranked among the top 15 in the country, are hoping to earn as they head west for the Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding at the South Point Hotel & Casino Equestrian Center on February 29, 2020.
Providing an opportunity for bull riders and bulls to earn a combined $80,000 - Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding returns to the South Point Equestrian Center on Feb. 29
Twenty-six elite bull riding athletes will try to increase their Saturday night payday in the three-round sudden style event worth $30,000 to the riders and brought to Las Vegas annually by four-time World Champion and Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer, Tuff Hedeman.
“These guys all have what it takes to ride at the highest level, you never know on what night who is going to make a great ride and then again it is Vegas where we usually have some surprises too,” said Hedeman.
Bull riders who have a chance to win over $200,000 on Hedeman’s tour are making his invitation-only events a priority in the first quarter of the year to help finance their dreams of returning to Las Vegas in December for the National Finals Rodeo.
“Between January and April, there are Hobbs, El Paso, Las Vegas, and Fort Worth events, and there’s a lot of money up for grabs,” said Hedeman, the bull riding analyst for the NFR on the CBS TV broadcast in December.
Fans not able to be in Las Vegas in December for the NFR, can take this opportunity to see several of the industry's perennial stars and see the industry’s young guns at the South Point.
Among the highlighted riders on the roster, who, according to ProRodeo.com, have amassed $91,496.58 collectively early in this season, are fourth-ranked JT Moore of Alvin,Texas, No. 5 Parker McCowan, Montgomery, Texas, No. 8 Brody Yeary, Morgan Mill, Texas, and the 2018 Las Vegas THBRT Champion and 2019 NFR qualifier Ruger Piva, Chalis, Idaho.
2018 Las Vegas THBRT Champion returns to the South Point
Moore, like many bull riders, hails from a family involved in agriculture, raising cattle and hay in Southeast Texas. He expressed an interest in rodeo and began riding sheep. Moore's dad bought him several to practice on. He advanced to calves, then steers with each stage he focused on practice. That plan has served him well as he is now ranked fourth in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world championship standings.
A win in Las Vegas would be his second Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding title. Money and confidence come with a big event title win, both crucial for Moore to continue moving towards the top of the standings and his goal of returning to Las Vegas in December as a contestant in his first National Finals Rodeo.
Brody Yeary among to Pro Rodeo contenders riding in Las Vegas next week.
Moore, who missed the 2019 Superbowl of rodeo with a mid-season injury, has been focused since the beginning of the 2020 PRCA qualifying and riding consistently with traveling partner Parker McCown, never out of the top 5 in the World Standings.
Hedeman's invitation-only THBRT Bull Team competition will highlight the first two rounds of competition where superstar buckers, including World Champion and NFR bulls, will compete in teams of three. The bulls are also looking for cash as they compete for over $50,000.
Hedeman also announced the return of Cody Sosebee, rodeo's top award-winning entertainer, to the South Point. Sosebee, the 2019 PRCA Entertainer of the Year and 2017 NFR barrelman, will be entertaining the crowd with his spontaneous humor and roaming the crowd giving away merchandise during breaks in the action.
Fans can catch Hedeman and the bull riders in person for selfies and autographs at Boot Barn on Friday, February 28, at 11 am to 1 pm at the store on S. Las Vegas Boulevard, and the popular rock stars of the rodeo will be available for again for fans to meet in the arena immediately following the bull riding.
“I look forward every year to providing the Las Vegas fans and visitors with a top-rated bull riding competition and a great entertainment line-up, we always bring a few World Champions and National Finals Rodeo qualifiers to the South Point,” said Hedeman.
Families and friends can enjoy top-shelf entertainment by past NFR Clown of the Year, Cody Sosebee, the Tuff Hedeman Bullfighters and grand pyrotechnics introduction.
Doors will be open at 6:30 p.m. for ticket holders who want to enjoy the pre-event activities surrounding the event, including food, cold beer, shopping and autograph opportunities. The show itself will start at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now at Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Tour website or by visiting the South Point Arena website. Tickets are also available in-person at the South Point Box Office, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89183 or phone 702-797-8055.