Emily Beisel of Weatherford, Oklahoma, made the short two-hour drive to Shawnee, Oklahoma, for the 2024 Bonus Race World Finals (BRWF). The Bonus Race World Finals, taking place June 10-16, adds more than $90,000 to barrel racing and rope racing payouts. Racers must earn a “qualifier” from a qualifying event/series to participate in the $40,000 bonus race and the final $5,000 bonus in the BRWF. Entry to this event is rider-based, with the only limitation placed on horse entry: the maximum is two times.
Beisel earned eight qualifying spots before the BRWF. On Tuesday, June 11, Emily won the Bonus Race aboard the Namgis D 33, better known to barrel racing fans as “Chogo.” This veteran team recorded a run of 13.83 seconds. The race also finished second overall in the combined bonus race and won the ultimate prize.
Beisel’s entire team of horses contributed to her big victory in the event. Ivory on Fire “Liza” placed fifth overall and third in the finals. Teasin’ Dat Guy “Chewy” finished third on Wednesday and seventh overall. Namgis D 35 “Pipewrench” placed 16th overall and 10th in the final. Fresh off his first position and victory in a professional rodeo, Vanilla Gorilla “Trigger” even snuck into 2D to contribute to the team total.
Chongo did the heavy lifting on Biesel’s team. The 14-year-old gelding added another $20,349 to his lifetime earnings. Chongo’s BWRF earnings put the gelding dangerously close to $850,000 in career earnings. Biesel’s earnings in this event totaled $41,650, with each horse contributing to the overall total.
Emily’s top mount for the 2023 NFR, Liza, earned $13,267. Chewy, owned by 4M Equine, a new addition to Emily’s arsenal, earned $6,296. This 8-year-old mare, trained by Molly Otto, recently helped Emily earn money in North Platte, Nebraska; Parker, Texas; Crossett, Arkansas; Claremore, Oklahoma; and Abbeyville, Kansas, in favor of rodeos. Pipe wrench, who has been part of Biesel’s team for nearly a decade, won $1,175 and local Trigger won $563.
Two days of earnings at the BWRF look even more attractive considering Beisel’s 2023-2024 WPRA season earnings of $49,294. Beisel occupies ninth place in the world rankings and, after his performance in the BWRF; She and her horses will be a force to be reckoned with come summer.