Barrel racing record falls twice in one day as Kassie Mowry reclaims it

Reigning world barrel racing champion Kassie Mowry set a new Calgary Stampede course record of 16.68 seconds on Thursday during Pool C competition, reclaiming a mark she'd held since last year.

Mowry's previous record of 16.74 seconds fell earlier that afternoon when Michelle Alley of Madisonville, Texas, posted a time of 16.72. Three riders later, Mowry returned to the arena and delivered a blistering run on her eight-year-old horse Jarvis to edge out the competition.

"I knew I needed a smooth start, wanted a clean run, and then I saw how it was going. I was thinking I needed an actual record-setting run to place in this group," Mowry said after the day's events. "This was not the pool to draw here, but the ground felt amazing. It looked amazing for everybody, no matter where you were in the draw. I am so proud of my horse. He loves to step up to the occasion and, when the going gets tough, he steps up."

Throughout the Stampede week, barrel racers have praised the grounds crew for maintaining consistent footing. Mowry echoed those sentiments, noting that Jarvis performed best when the conditions were right. She's been riding the same horse since last year when he placed second overall. This year, after nearly three months off before the Stampede, Jarvis felt ready and energized for one of rodeo's largest crowds.

Mowry credited her horse's rest period and calm handling as keys to his performance. "I practice on him every morning. I never get him out of a trot, just very easy and light. I loosen him up, take the pressure off him and let him just chill in there and kind of take it all in," she explained. "Mostly, though, I just let them rest."