LAS VEGAS – Bareback rider Clayton Biglow had never been on C5 Rodeo’s Virgil.
Biglow was in the Thomas & MackCenter and competing in Round 3 in 2017 at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo when Tim O’Connell tied an arena record on the horse.
On Monday night, Dec. 10, Biglow finally got his chance to climb aboard. He didn’t waste the opportunity.
Biglow notched an arena-record, 93-point ride on Virgil, receiving a standing ovation from the 16,877 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas during Round 5 of the 60th edition of the Wrangler NFR.
Biglow was understandably excited when he saw his name paired with Virgil, the two-time Bareback Horse of the Year.
“Oh, outstanding,” said Biglow, eight days shy of his 23rd birthday. “I’ve beenwanting to get on him since the first time I saw him. Before the NFR even started I thought to myself, ‘Well, if there’s a place to draw him it’d be here, that’s for dang sure.’ Last night, when I got the draw and I saw his namenext to mine I couldn’t sleep at all. I sat there as happy as could be. Icouldn’t shut up about it to my girlfriend.”
Only 10 other cowboys have ever been 93 points or better in the history of the PRCA – six have scored 93, the other four 94.
Biglow and Virgil now stand among the best rides in PRCA history.
“It’s awesome and humbling,” Biglow said. “I’m just happy my name’s up there right now with all the other greats – a lot of people have been 90 points. A bunch of guys in that locker room have also been 90 and set records. To be in that group of guys it’s what I’ve always dreamed of.”
The Clements, Calif., cowboy loved every bit of the ride. He knew it felt good. He knew he’d be in the money. He thought he had a chance to win.
He did more than that, obliterating the arena record by 1.5 points.
“Well, in my mind, I was thinking 89, 90, but I did not think it was going to be 93,” Biglow said.
The victory helped Biglow climb into third place in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $192,551.
“It gives me that boost of confidence that I can ride against those guys and win,” Biglow said.
O’Connell, the two-time defending world champion, is still in first place with $227,147.
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