It was quite the year for Australian bull rider Ky Hamilton, who is heading to the NFR in the No. 2 position after earning over $254,000 this season.
It is Hamilton’s fourth consecutive appearance in a young career that already includes Top 5 finishes in the PRCA World Standings in 2020 and 2022.
Even though he won a pile of money this year, Hamilton still trails Stetson Wright by over $100,000 as he looks for his first career Gold Buckle. That’s a lot of ground to make up, but at the NFR, it’s possible, especially when you have Hamilton’s ability to deliver massive scores in big moments.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
RodeoHouston, $62,250
Hamilton cleaned up at RodeoHouston with a 6-for-6 performance. Hamilton swept the opening four rounds with rides of 88 points, 83.5 points, 86 points, and 89.5 points. After those four rides alone he had already earned more than $12,000. Hamilton was not done, however. In the Finals, he would be crowned RodeoHouston Champion after a 90.5-point ride on The Cervi Brothers’ Dim Tricks which earned him an additional $50,000.
HIGHEST MARKED RIDES
Lion’s Dixie Roundup (Utah), 93 Points
Hamilton ended the season with a great month of September. The month was highlighted by Hamilton’s best ride of the season which came at the Lion’s Dixie Roundup. Hamilton was matched up with Angels Landing and would be marked 93 points to get the win and earn nearly $4,500. It was part of a September stretch in which he rode five straight bulls and made over $20,000 in less than a week.
Ute Mountain Round-Up (Colorado), 91.5 Points
Hamilton took the Ute Mountain Round-Up with a 91.5-point ride on Poweder River Rodeo’s Heater while Stetson Wright was second as the only other cowboy to ride for the entire rodeo. The win earned Hamilton over $3,800 and would go down as his second highest marked ride of the season.
New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo, 91 Points
Hamilton took the New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo with a 91-point ride on Mr. Wilson. The ride would be the sixth of an eventual seven 90+ Point Rides for Hamilton on the 2023 season, which is a career high.
NOTABLE WINS
Redding Rodeo (California), 85.5 Points
Hamilton won nearly $6,000 for his May victory with a ride on Far West of Brookman Rodeo. In that same trip to California, he also added more than $3,000 for a third place finish at the Redding Extreme Bulls.
Crooked River Roundup (Oregon), 82.5 Points
While it wasn’t the highest marked ride for Hamilton, his 82.5-point ride got him the win at the Crooked River Roundup to earn him $7,400 towards his PRCA World Standings. Once again, Stetson Wright was the only other cowboy to ride at the rodeo.
Summit County Fair & Rodeo, 91 Points
Hamilton was marked 91 points at the Summit County Fair & Rodeo to get the win and earn over $4,000. His ride on Diamond G’s Flight Child was 5.5 points better than the rest of the field.
Mandan Rodeo Days, 88.5 Points
Hamilton earned a nice check at the Mandan Rodeo Days after he was marked 88.5 points to get the win. Hamilton beat out Jestyn Woodward who was marked 87 points to get the win and earn $6,853
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