Etbauer on verge of rodeo history

Posted: Mar 15, 2010 3:05 PM by Scott Breen
Updated: Mar 15, 2010 3:05 PM

HOUSTON - Houston has a long and storied history of watching things soar to new heights - think NASA - and the rodeo fans at Reliant Stadium will have something pretty special to keep on their radar this week.

When five-time World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Billy Etbauer enters the second round of Super Series V tonight at RodeoHouston, he will be $8,452 away from joining Trevor Brazile as the only $3 million cowboys in the history of professional rodeo.

Perhaps more significantly, Etbauer is $9,786 shy of becoming the first man to earn $3 million in a single rodeo event (yes, Billy has $1,335 in career team roping money).

"I didn't honestly realize I was that close," Etbauer said with a slight shake of his head. "That's amazing. I just wish I had all that money in my pocket today. But it's a true blessing to be healthy and be able to continue doing something you love.

"It's been a lot of years since my brothers (Dan and Robert), Craig (Latham) and I started down this road, pooling our prize money so we could keep going. It's always been a family effort; Craig still does all my entering for me. And I couldn't do this without the continued support of Express Ranches. They are the biggest part of why I'm still able to go do this."

With $2,000 first-place money in each round of Super Series V plus a $4,000 award for highest average score, Etbauer could get pretty close to both milestones even before the semifinals ($2,000 for first place) or that $50,000 Shootout Round on March 20. He is tied for fourth in the average after one round of Super Series V with 79.5 points.

Etbauer, 47, has won RodeoHouston three times, most recently in 2008, when he defeated Canadian Rod Hay in a ride-off and earned $55,000.

His nephew, Trell Etbauer (Robert's son), has already qualified for the semifinals in saddle bronc riding and will compete again on March 17.

"I'm looking forward to watching him ride that night," Billy Etbauer said. "Now I've just got to do my part and make it into the semifinals on the 18th."

Etbauer moved ahead of Joe Beaver into second place on the career earnings list at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo last December and is already first on the career list for most money won in a single event ($2,990,214), with tie-down roper Fred Whitfield second ($2,805,546) and Dan Mortensen third ($2,536,631).

Etbauer holds the record for most Wrangler NFR qualifications by a roughstock cowboy (21 and counting), the record for most round victories in the Wrangler NFR in any event (51) and he holds the distinction of being the only cowboy to have more than $1 million in earnings at the Wrangler NFR.