Ariat World Series of Team Roping Title Fights XIV Pays Out $1.51 Million

The Ariat World Series of Team Roping Title Fights XIV (opens in a new tab) produced by Yost Events once again travelled to Rancho Rio in the heart of the Team Roping Capital of the World—Wickenburg, Arizona. The Feb. 14-17, 2024, event paid out a staggering $1.51 million to ropers from across the world.

Held annually, the four-day event is the second-largest WSTR (opens in a new tab) qualifier of the year. And for the first time ever, the roping was streamed live on the Roping.com app and website (opens in a new tab), featuring two arenas of action and drawing in team roping fans from across the country.

The Title Fights began Wednesday, Feb. 14, with a #15.5 add-on and concluded with the Open qualifier Saturday, Feb.17. When the dust settled, the #8.5 World Series qualifier was the richest roping of the weekend, paying out $269,280 and 20 places deep. Home-state cowboys Greg Baker of Wickenburg, Arizona, and Joe Talbott of Augila, Arizona, were paid $53,560 for the win with a 38.04 on four head.

Fellow Arizonans Jay Valera and Emilio Garcia won the second-richest roping, the #9.5 Qualifier, worth $37,440. They were 37.04 seconds on four steers.

NFR Header Bubba Buckaloo and World Champion Cory Petska won the Open with a time of 28.73 seconds on four head, worth $14,820. Petska was on his stallion, MP Dineros Woodpatch, who stands at Highpoint Performance Horses.