Jill Wilson and Justine Elliot are the two barrel racers that clocked fast enough to top the leaderboard in the Wildcard Round of the Calgary Stampede. Wilson stopped the clock at 17.17 seconds while Elliot came in with a 17.26 not far behind.
Wilson could say that 17 is her lucky number after a 17.17 on her 17-year-old gelding, Blue Dean, earned her a spot in the Short Go.
“He just went in and did his job, we finally drew up good on the ground… I think being top of the ground makes a big difference, we go left so we didn’t have to cross anybody’s tracks,” Wilson said.
Alberta’s own Justine Elliot and her horse, Blondie, ran their fastest time of all when it really counted to bring them back to Championship Sunday.
“It’s honestly unbelievable. I was just believing in Blondie and I knew she could do it as long as I did my job and she definitely did her job… She worked unbelievably today, I’m just so so grateful to own her,” Elliot said.
The barrel racing has been an exciting event the past week with a new arena record being set and times getting faster and faster has the week went on. With the Short Go up next, it is any lady’s rodeo to win but Wilson and Elliot will be giving it all they’ve got.
