PHILIP - The 2008 Philip Invitational Matched Bronc Ride is ready to go. The event, which is June 20, has 25 celebrity invitation-only cowboys signed up for competition and has five bucking stock contractors vying for their own prize.
The autograph session will begin at 5:30 p.m. under the arena tent on the west side of the Philip Roping Arena. The session will run until 7 p.m., when the riding will begin.
There will be three progressive rounds in which only the top-scoring riders from one round go on to the next. After the first round of the bucking bronc competition, the top 12 of the 25 cowboys will be selected for the second round. Only six bronc riders will advance to the last round.
An amount of $5,000 has been added to this year's pot for a total of $8,500 for the riders, $4,000 more than last year. Each round's winners will earn prize money, with the big money being paid for the final go-round.
The five livestock contractors will each provide five of the top bucking broncs in the rodeo world.
"That first round is going to be phenominal for the riders and for the spectators," said event coordinator Branden West of Philip, who will also be competing.
A $1,000 prize will go to the contractor with the best performing horse at the matched bronc ride.
"This added incentive is to further ensure that we have the very best livestock available," said West.
No one will know which cowboy will draw which horse until Tuesday, at the 73- Cowboy Auction.
The second round will display T.J. Korkow's Wild Ride Pen.
"These special colts are a bunch of 'I don't know,' " said West. "Anything can happen."
The third round will show off Korkow's National Finals Rodeo horses.
"These are the best in the world. Some may have already been named Best Bucking Horse in the PRCA," said West.
This is the second year of the event and more than 1,400 adults and children attended the night's events last year. Tickets at the gate will be $2 per person more than advance tickets, which are available at six different Philip locations.
Children 10 and under get in for free.
"It should be good," said Jesse Bail. "Last year, the horses were good and they will be this year, too. Everyone got through it (the first Matched Bronc Ride event during Philip's Centennial Celebration) last year, and it'll just get better each year now."
Bail will be riding in Reno, Nev., the day before and will be competing in Utah the next day.
"It's a pretty good deal. It worked out really well last year," Jeff Willert said. "It seems that its going to catch on pretty good. The stock will be good. Everybody wants to get on Korkow livestock. It should be a good year."
Again this year, the list of cowboys already registered to ride is a who's who of bronc riders. Barring any conflict of rodeo competitions on June 20, the cowboys are J.J. Elshere, Jeff Willert, Jesse Bail, Chad Ferley, Louis Brunson, Rollie Wilson, Tyler Corrington, Matt Hebert, Red Lemmel, OJ Heidler, Ryan Elshere, Wade Yost, Eric Addison, Branden West, DJ Martin, Ty Thompson, Zach West, Jeremy Meeks, Jamie Willert, Jake Costello, Ty Kennedy, Cole Elshere, Kaden Deal and Cole Hindman.
The 25th slot, vacated by a cowboy who ran into a rodeo conflict, will be filled very soon, said West. There are many professional bronc riders who have shown great interest in being invited to ride in Philip.
