Barrel racers compete at Grant County Fairgrounds

A rider leans her horse into the turn in barrel racing competition Saturday at the Grant County Fairgrounds. It was the first event at the fairgrounds in about five months.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald

A barrel racer approaches the turn during competition Saturday at the Grant County Fairgrounds. It was the first event at the fairgrounds in about five months.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald

Peewee racers took to the course with some help during Saturday's barrel race competition at the Grant County Fairgrounds.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald

Barrel racing competition at the Grant County Fairgrounds Saturday included peewee competition, to introduce new racers to the sport.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald

Peewee racers took to the course with some help during Saturday's barrel race competition at the Grant County Fairgrounds.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald

by CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Staff Writer | September 8, 2020 1:00 AM

MOSES LAKE — Barrel racing, basically, is about beating the clock.

Of course, there are competitors, but the point of barrel racing is to run the course in the fastest time, and do it without knocking over any of the obstacles.

The challenge, and beating the challenge, is one reason Sophie Fountain keeps racing.

“It’s like beating yourself,” Fountain said.

She was one of the barrel racers competing on Labor Day weekend at Grant County Fairgrounds.

Fountain’s sister Jill Hines said meeting and beating the challenge is one of the attractions of the sport. “The adrenaline rush,” she said.

It was the first event at the Grant County Fairgrounds since the COVID-19 outbreak stopped most activities in March.

The coronavirus outbreak did require some changes. Outside spectators were not allowed, and the riders and their families were required to follow protocols established to slow the outbreak of the disease.

The races were sponsored by Producers Gone Wild and combined a number of different races in one. There was a pole bending event as well as the barrel racing.

Some riders were trying to make the qualifying time for the National Finals Rodeo in December. Some races came with prize money.

Justina Fisher and Jill Conley had their phones out after their race.

“We’re stalking the results to see if we won anything,” Fisher said.

But they were also there for fun. Fisher said she has been barrel racing, off and on, since she was nine years of age.

The event drew racers from throughout the Pacific Northwest, and even beyond.

“Everybody comes from everywhere,” Hines said. As of Saturday morning, more than 400 racers had entered the open competition. “A pretty big deal,” Fisher said.

“The (barrel racing) spectrum is all ages,” Hines said. There were longtime racers like Fisher and Conley and high school competitors like Hines and Fountain.

The sisters are veterans. They’ve been competing a few years, Fountain said.

“Like our whole lives,” Hines said.

There’s an event for even very small children – a way, said organizer Buck McMillan, to introduce the next generation to the sport. Some kids in peewee competition were experienced enough to ride on their own, but others needed someone to lead the horse around the course.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached at [email protected].