Three years ago Shane Parson and Jaime Hinton sat down with a common goal. The idea was to create an added money race in the state of California that was like no other and after hours of deliberating, discussing and debating, the vision of the Richest Race in the West was born. 

Fast forward to Labor Day weekend 2013 at Diamond Bar Arena. Shane and Jaime are standing in the middle of the driveway and the lineup of trucks and trailers coming in stretches past where the eye can see. In the bank sits $65,960 in added money, all covered stalls and RV spots have been reserved and 350 contestants are on their way to Ceres, California for the 3rd annual West Coast Barrel Racing Finals, the Richest Race in the West. 

A pickup full of barrel racers rolls down their windows, smiles stretching from ear to ear. They ask the two standing in the driveway “are you ready for this?” As excited as they were, you’d think they’d just rolled into Las Vegas! Shane and Jaime looked at each other, were they?

Hours later contestants are scattered all over the facility packing buckets loaded full of goodies they’d received at check in. Michelle and Shelby Sullivan and Charleen Ornellas had stuffed 375 contestant bags with Pyranha fly spray, EQyss products, Blue Diamond almonds, Jack Links beef jerky, Vetericyn, Ivercare wormers from Farnam, Craisins, pistachios donated from Zarina Szeflin, Banixx & Healthycoat samples, Boot Barn coupons, pens, pencils, Redmond salt rocks, waters from Noah’s and much more.

Saturday morning announcer Taylor Nahrgang started off the race with the excitement and momentum that a round with $16,490 added deserves and Josi Appling cracks the gate for the first run of the weekend. The newly constructed holding pens did the trick and helped to move the race along and ensure both riders and horses’ safety. At the end of the day, Napa cowgirl Gia Desimoni and Royal Star Commander topped the list with a time of 17.411 and a paycheck worth $1,871. After a long day in the arena, the Top 20 riders for the year were awarded an array of prizes from Classic Equine bell boots and hay bags to JACO Brands headstalls, breast collars and halters, Andis clippers, Best Ever Pads, Equerrys Probiotic supplements, Cowgirl Tuff jackets and apparel, Custom picture frames donated and handcrafted by Missy Tuck and Splinters, and the year end champion, Cheyenne Hattesen received a custom Crown C saddle, a year’s worth of LMF horse feeds and more! 

Round 2 was just as exciting as the first. Riders with a taste of the money from the day before had high expectations and those that hadn’t earned checks in the first round were hungry. No one was tougher than Stacy Hampton and her awesome bay powerhouse Big Ticket at the close of Sunday’s race. The duo posted a 17.546 and cashed a check worth $1,868. 

Sunday night provided perhaps the most entertaining and dangerous event that Diamond Bar Arena has ever hosted. The stands were packed, event contestants were lined up hours before it started and the anticipation would have blown even the Thomas and Mack’s roof off! With 41 entries, the mens barrel race took center stage at the Richest Race in the West. There are no words to describe what happened that night. Men in bikinis, the strangest barrel racing patterns ever seen, awkward riding, a lot of man-to-man “this is easy”, “dude, that’s harder than it looks”, “what just happened?”, and husbands vowing to never offer their wives barrel racing advice is just a taste of what you missed! Donald Ornellas cruised a 18.7 for the night win of $820 and the official title of the Barrel Racing Champion. 

It’s safe to say that Day three’s momentum changed a bit. Some were exhausted from laughing the night before, some riders were closely watching the average and some were just hoping for the best in Round 3. Halfway through the day a white pickup pulled a cute little Maverick horse trailer into the arena. On the sides West Coast Barrel Racing major sponsors, Central Coast Trailers, Cowgirl Tuff Company, Silver Lining Herbs and LMF Horse Feeds boldly stood out against the white paint. On the back, in black “I won this at the Richest Race in the West!” glares against the door. Central Coast Trailers owner, Pam Wilken, is on hand to draw a name randomly out of a bucket. Contestants had to complete a scavenger hunt that sent them to visit with various sponsors set up at the event. After collecting and completing the hunt they could they go see Janel Flook and Sherrie Jones in the office and sign themselves up for the horse trailer giveaway! Pam rolled the names around in the bucket before pulling the name Katie Fish from San Luis Obispo, Calif. out and sending one happy camper home with a brand new trailer! 

The end-of-the-day saw Diane Williamson’s 17.346 at the top of the list. She and GBA Impressive Command had won the round and secured their first place spot in the three day average, worth $2,854 and a brand new Crown C custom saddle. Stephanie Dehner and Creatin Smoke from Petaluma, Calif. won the 2D average and the saddle. Salinas, Calif. cowgirl Shannon Shade and AR Smokin Now took the 3D average and Sue Krause riding Gypsy Ropin Review took the 4D saddle home to Bakersfield, Calif.

Twenty monies in each division were paid each day and 10 monies and awards in the average. Over $123,000 was paid out in the open this year and with $20,000 in awards being handed out. Major sponsors such as Flair Nasal Strips, LMF Horse Feeds, Cowgirl Tuff Co., Silver Lining, Central Coast Trailers, Equerry’s Choice, Boot Barn and Classic Equine contributed to a prize line that contestants were excited about and happy to win. West Coast Producers poured their energy into an event that will be hard to match in years to come. 

On Monday evening Shane and Jaime are back in the driveway. The same truck rolls up with the same smiling barrel racers. One has a Bob Berg buckle in her hand, one is holding a check worth $1,200 and the other has a Redmond Rock on her lap and says she didn’t earn a dime. All three are tired, worn out and ready to go home. All three asked about the following year because they can’t wait to come back! The pair standing in the driveway looks at each other again. Tomorrow starts a new year and a new season for West Coast Barrel Racing and they’ll be ready with more to give away, bigger and better plans, and since the men’s race is sure to return, maybe an increase in their insurance policy.

Results to 5th place are as follows (place, rider, horse, time and money won). Complete results can be found at ww.westcoastbarrelracing.com 

SAT., AUGUST 31

1D: 1st. Gia DeSimoni, Royal Star Commander, 17.411, $1,871. 2nd. Diane Williamson, Impressive Command, 17.491, $1,631. 3rd. Cheyenne Hattesen, Let’s Play Rodeo, 17.528, $1,331. 4th. Cheryl Gatz, Bacon, 17.529, $962. 5th. Diann Giffin, Quixote, 17.535, $770.

2D: 1st./2nd. (tie) Shannon Shade, Sixy Saity, 17.914, $1,576; and Bailey Nahrgang, In The Sky Bar, 17.914, $1,576. 3rd. Shella Dewhurst, Top Time Dude, 17.918, $1,198. 4th. Charlene Jespersen, Frenchmans Brucey, 17.934, $866. 5th. Megan Brint, Bridle Bit Star, 17.942, $693.

3D: Abigail Knecht, Pearl, 18.418, $1,435. 2nd. Tammy Davis, Rocky Hancock, 18.419, $1,250. 3rd./4th. (tie) Noel Cosca, Red Hot Howie, 18.428, $880; and Jene Mathis, Dees Prescription, 18.428, $880. 5th. Cathey Vallerga, JJ, 18.434, $590.

4D: 1st. Katie Drosihn, Flicka Wood, 19.415, $1,247. 2nd. Colleen Sabin, Paddy, 19.426, $1,087. 3rd. Lynette Deetz, Hot Rod, 19.427, $887. 4th. Connie Ungewitter, Freckles Snow Toes, 19.441, $642. 5th. Rachel Magdaleno, Mojave, 19.455, $513.

SUN., SEPTEMBER 1

1D: 1st. Stacy Hampton, Big Ticket, 17.350, $1,868. 2nd. Paige Isaacs-Garza, Maggie, 17.357, $1,628. 3rd. Gia DeSimoni, Famous Scarlett, 17.403, $1,329. 4th. Stacey Freitas, Mohican Sun, 17.414, $961. 5th. Kylie Mullen, Tuffy, 17.440, $769. 

2D: 1st. Cheryl Gatz, Bacon, 17.856, $1,681. 2nd. Amanda Stallins, Tivios Custom Gage, 17.880, $1,465. 3rd. Jaycee David, Shining Moxy, 17.897, $1,196. 4th. Julie Martin, Hip Wrangler, 17.905, $865. 5th. Cathey Vallerga, Dodger, 17.906, $692.

3D: 1st. Sami Jo Morisoli, Son Olena Sugar, 18.356, $1,432. 2nd. Aimee Barragan, Magical Filly, 18.358, $1,248. 3rd. Lindsay Derobertis, Colormelikeabully, 18,384, $1,019. 4th. Shannon Shade, Smokinow, 18.388, $737. 5th. Tammy Davis, Rocky Hancock, 18.392, $589.

4D: 1st. Shawn Hayes, Paulis Chairman, 19.359, $1,246. 2nd. Kristyn Sanders, Cool Smart O Lena, 19.401, $1,085. 3rd. Sherry Zacher, Sparka Latte, 19.428, $886. 4th. Cheryl Gomes, Little Red Rodeo, 19.442, $641. 5th. Tina Hermann, Sky Cash, 19.466, $512. 

MON., SEPTEMBER 2

1D: 1st. Diane Williamson, Impressive Command, 17.346, $1,865. 2nd. Gia DeSimoni, Famous Scarlett, 17.370, $1,625. 3rd. Renee Ryckebosch, Cooper, 17.489, $1,327. 4th. Bailey Nahrgang, In The Sky Bar, 17.495, $959. 5th. Shelley Holman, Smart Bert Bills, 17.498, $767.

2D: 1st. Karla Sanchez, Missy Marquita, 17.847, $1,679. 2nd. Emily Mangione, Rich J Wrangler, 17.848, $1,463. 3rd. Erin Ricotti, Kiss My Star, 17.859, $1,194. 4th. Karlee Wesney, Leaving Promises, 17.871, $863. 5th. Laura Ward, Dakota, 17.890, $691. 

3D: 1st. Cheryl Gomes, Quincy Zan, 18.347, $1,430. 2nd. Stacy Hinkle, Piranha Man, 18.363, $1,246. 3rd. Tammy Hoskins, Chex The Blue, 18.374, $1,017. 4th. Aimee Sawyer, Rio, 18.376, $735. 5th. Jaycee Spence, Right Like Ike, 18.377, $588. 

4D: 1st. Ashley Robertson, Penny, 19.346, $1,244. 2nd. Teresa Hill, Winning Ways Poco, 19.349, $1,084. 3rd. Natacha Hawks, Pages Keepsake, 19.353, $885. 4th. Brian Scheer, Cee JS Tank, 19.373, $640. 5th. Cassie Dallara, Smokin’ Haida Pep, 19.398, $512.

Average results are as follows:

1D: 1st. Diane Williamson, Impressive Command, 52,471, $989. 2nd. Stacy Hampton, Big Ticket, 52.523, $890. 3rd. Gia DeSimoni, Famous Scarlett, 52.643, $742. 4th./5th. (tie) Danielle McCants, Snappy Mate, 52.842, $532; and Kylie Mullen, Tuffy, 52.842, $532. 

2D: 1st. Stephanie Dehner, Creatin Smoke, 54.077, $890. 2nd. Tiffany Hannan, Sanjo’s Milligan, 54.106, $801. 3rd. Kimberlee Boddy, Sweet Lady Escape, 54.187, $668. 4th. Cynthia Fancher, Lena’s Sugar Gal, 54.248, $534. 5th. Melissa Perry, Nu To You, 54.251, $423.

3D: 1st. Shannon Shade, Smokinow, 55.517, $759. 2nd. Lindsay Derobertis, Colormelikeabully, 55.553, $683. 3rd. ShaKoda Hodge, Remi, 55.566, $569. 4th. Brynn Fannin, TopNotchPrescription, 55.570, $455. 5th. Summer Kutchera, Six Pack Of Bugs, 55.602, $360.

4D: 1st. Sue Krause, Gypsy Ropin Review, 58,482, $660. 2nd. Teresa Hill, Winning Ways Poco, 58.549, $594. 3rd. Shelly Pelowski, Colonel Catarey, 58.566, $495. 4th. Sherry Zacher, Sparka Latte, 58.578, $396. 5th. Madi Peterson, Jingle Me Later, 58.580, $313. 

For complete results go to www.westcoastbarrelracing.com.

Diane Williamson riding GBA Impressive Command was the winner of the 1D Average held during the WCBRA Finals. (Photo by Gene McFerran)

Shannon Shade riding AR Smokinow was the winner of the 3D Average held during the WCBRA Finals. (Photo by Gene McFerran)