Phoenix Rodeo Opens $1 Million Competition

The three-day Hondo Rodeo Fest opened November 13 at Phoenix’s Chase Field, where professional rodeo competitors competed for shares of a $1 million purse. Kade Bruno won saddle bronc riding with an 88-point ride, while Daniel Keeping topped bull riding, Lisa Lockhart won barrel racing, and Riley Webb took tie-down roping; other opening-night winners included Leighton Berry, JD Struxness, Hali Williams, and the team of James Arviso and Levi Lord. Stetson Wright placed second in saddle bronc and third in bull riding, earning $11,000 across the two events. The opening-night country music program was disrupted when Tim McGraw could not perform after travel delays caused by a nationwide FAA ground stop. Rusty Wright was helped from the arena after a hard fall, but no injury update was available at the time of reporting.