Spectators welcome at Sunday’s barrel racing

The community can get a taste of rodeo this Sunday, just two weeks before the 35th annual Ramona Rodeo, when an open barrel race and the youth qualifiers for the rodeo’s junior barrel race will be held.

Free for the public to watch, the May 3 open barrel race event, approved by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), will start at noon. Youth qualifiers are expected to start around 3 p.m. Both events will be held at the at the Ramona Rodeo grounds, 421 Aqua Lane. Parking will be free.

“People can come out and enjoy it,” said Selena Roberts, who is serving as event producer.

A Ramona resident who served on the rodeo committee for 20 years, Roberts said Sunday’s event will ramp up excitement for this year’s rodeo, May 14-17.

She described the barrel racing as fun and fast-paced. “It’s pretty entertaining,” she said.

Residents can bring chairs and blankets and concessions will be available.

Between the 5-Division WPRA-approved open barrel race and the 3-D youth qualifier, Roberts expects to have about 150 competing Sunday with some coming from Arizona and Nevada, as well as from other areas in California.

Entries from competitors will be accepted from 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday. Practice will be from 9 to 11 a.m., followed by the open barrel races and youth qualifiers.

Roberts said 40 to 50 youths will likely participate in the qualifiers. The first- and second-place winners in each of the three youth divisions will get to compete in the junior barrel race on Saturday night of the rodeo, May 16. In addition, Roberts said she will pull two wild cards out of the entries for a total of eight youth competitors at the rodeo’s junior barrel race.

Ramona Rodeo added $1,000 to the open barrel race jackpot, and The Bag Cellar at Bernardo Winery is sponsoring the youth qualifier buckets.

Involved in barrel racing for about 30 years, with awarded saddles and buckles to show for it, Roberts formerly produced Hot Summer Nights Barrel Racing and served as the California director for the International Barrel Racing Association for five years.

Her husband, Rick, will also be involved in the upcoming barrel racing, preparing the ground so it is equal for all the racers.

“Ground preparation is huge in the races,” said Selena Roberts.

For more information on the May 3 event, contact Roberts at 760-315-3741 or visit www.ramonarodeo.com and click Open Barrel Race Event.” Information on the upcoming rodeo and May 16 Main Street parade is also on that website.