Gail Petska
Gail Petska is a two-time American World Barrel Racing Champion. In December 1972 and 1973, she won the championship at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[1]
Life
Gail Petska married Paul Petska, a professional team roper. Paul qualified for the NFR four times. They had three children. When their son Cory grew up, he became a world champion heeler in team roping. Cory also married four-time world champion barrel racer Sherry Cervi. Sherry qualified for the NFR 19 times. She became winner of the most money in the event with $3.5 million.[2][3]
Career
Petska competed in the Girls' Rodeo Association (GRA). In 1973, she earned $19,448 by competing in bull riding, calf-roping, barrel racing, and goat tying in the GRA. She was living in Tecumseh, Oklahoma, at the time.[4]
Petska won the World Barrel Racing Championship twice on a small horse she named Dobie.[2] Her GRA world championships are now recognized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women's Professional Rodeo Association.[1]
When Petska won the world championship in 1972, at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, she won seven of the ten go-rounds. Then she won again in 1973. She had a strong lead in 1974, but got the news that another Petska was on the way. No third title for Gail.[5] Petska won the NFR Average Championship in 1972.[5][3]
Petska won the barrel racing event at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming, twice, in 1972 and in 1973.[6] She also won the NFR Average in 1972.[7]
Petska won 13 consecutive go-rounds in the NFR, which is still a record. She still holds the record for the most rounds won at the NFR in the barrel racing event in one year with 7 rounds.[8][2][5][3]
Petska won the barrel racing event at RodeoHouston in Houston, Texas, twice, once in 1974 and once in 1976.[9]
References
- ^ a b 2018 Barrel Racing Records, World Records & Season Stats – World Champion Barrel Racers – 1972 & 1973 World Champion, p. 5.
- ^ a b c Santos, Kendra. "Real-Deal Royal Royalty". The Team Roping Journal. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
- ^ a b c "The Official NFR Experience". www.nfrexperience.com. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
- ^ Robbins, Tom (June 17, 2003). "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues". Random House Publishing Group. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Rodeo Runs In Petskas' Blood". Oklahoman.com. September 30, 1994. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
- ^ "Cheyenne Frontier Days Media Guide" (PDF). Cheyenne Frontier Days. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
- ^ 2018 Barrel Racing Records, World Records & Season Stats – World Champion Barrel Racers – NFR Average Champions, p. 4.
- ^ Wrangler NFR Records, History, Earnings Records; Round-win Records, p. 331.
- ^ "Past Rodeo Champions". RodeoHouston. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
Bibliography
- 2018 Barrel Racing Records (PDF). Women's Professional Rodeo Association. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Wrangler NFR (PDF). Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
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External links