Dodge City Roundup Rodeo: Preview, Format, and How to Watch

The Dodge City Roundup Rodeo kicks off on July 31 and will feature the best rodeo athletes in the world as the highest paying rodeo in the first weekend of August.

The rodeo began in 1977 and has since been honored as a PRCA Rodeo Committee of the Year. In its first installment in the summer of 1977, the rodeo featured 175 contestants competing for $8,200. It is now five days of rodeo with more than $300,000 on the line.

Here is a look at what you can expect over the next five nights of rodeo action from Dodge City.

FORMAT

In roughstock events, athletes will compete in one Long Round to open the rodeo, and then the Top 12 will advance to the Finals on Aug 6. After the Finals, the athlete with the highest score on two head will be crowned champion.

In all timed events other than barrel racing, competitors will have two rounds to post their fastest times. The Top 12 on Average will move on to the Finals where they will have one more run. The fastest on three head will be crowned champion.

Barrel Racing is laid out the same as roughstock events. Cowgirls have one run in the opening round, and the Top 12 move on to the finals where the fastest on two heads takes home the title.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Rocker Steiner has put together a strong season, entering the Dodge City Roundup No. 4 in the PRCA World Standings. Steiner will compete on opening night as he looks to close the $35,000 gap between himself and Keenan Hayes who holds the No. 1 spot in the standings.

In bull riding, No. 3 Creek Young will look to close in on Josh Frost, who is nearing $200,000 on the season. Young will compete on Saturday alongside JR Stratford, Trey Kimzey, Cannon Cravens and others.

With Shad Mayfield turning out, Ty Harris looks to take advantage and close the $15,000 gap between him and first place. Harris competes in slack as he looks to advance to the Finals on Sunday. No. 3 Haven Meged will also compete in Slack as he looks to increase his season earnings of $145,000.

The No. 2 bulldogger, Dakota Eldridge, has a golden opportunity to close in on No. 1 Dalton Massey, who is not competing in Dodge City. Eldridge is $20,000 behind Massey as we enter the Dodge City Roundup.

HOW TO WATCH AND BROADCAST SCHEDULE

You can watch every performance LIVE on The Cowboy Channel and The Cowboy Channel+ App. For a full broadcast schedule click HERE.