Bailey Bates comes up clutch at Governor’s Cup, earns NFBR qualification

WINDOW ROCK

Before the Governor’s Cup, Bailey Bates was roughly $19,000 out of making her first National Finals Breakaway Roping.

She was one of handful ropers trying to make their case of reaching the NFBR, which will be held December 2-3 at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

On Sunday afternoon, the Mexican Springs, New Mexico cowgirl asserted herself as one of the best breakaway ropers in the world when she captured the event title at the Governor’s Cup inside the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with a winning run of 2.1 seconds in the final round. That first place run paid her a whopping $32,000.

“It’s a great feeling, knowing that we went out there with a huge goal and we accomplished that,” Bates said. “(I’m) nothing but thankful of this win.”

To make the Governor’s Cup, Bates qualified by earning points at a few selected rodeos during the long rodeo season. The format of the event invited the top eight in the point standings while four qualifiers earned their spots from the Puyallup Rodeo in Washington state.

“The San Angelo was crucial early in the year,” Bates said. “I also placed third at the Cheyenne Frontier Days and second at St. Paul and Prescott.

“I think those are my major key wins,” she added.

At the Governor’s Cup, Bates also earned a fourth-place check of $2,978 in the second round with a 2.7 run as that effort gave her a total windfall of $34,978 at the South Dakota rodeo.

That second round run was huge, as that helped Bates advance into the eight-man semifinals on Sunday afternoon. Despite facing some intense pressure, Bates roped her calf in 2.6 seconds.

“I was the first gunner in the eight-man round, so I knew that I had to just go out and make a sharp run and be as fast as I can,” Bates said. “My calf slowed up a bit and I took my first shot.”

Admittedly, the Diné cowgirl didn’t know how that 2.6 run would hold up, as her peers were also looking to be just as sharp. But in strange twist of fate, four of the top five semifinalists missed their calves, which opened the door for Texas cowgirl Martha Angelone to make the finals with 12.4 run.

“I thought it was going to be a tough round because some of the girls were roping fast in the earlier rounds,” Bates said. “I had to sweat out the seven girls that roped behind me and that was nerve-wracking but then four of the last five girls missed.

“It really opened up and that just shows that anything can happen,” she added.

The four finalists also included California cowgirl Rylee George and Louisiana native Josie Conner as the two ropers made runs of 2.2 and 2.6, respectively.

As the second high-call back in the final round, Bates reset the bar with a 2.1 run after Angelone opened the round with a penalty run of 12.1 seconds.

“When I left (the box), I knew I had to see a good start,” Bates said. “In my other runs, I didn’t really score that sharp, but on my last calf I seen the calf start and I went for it. There was a lot on the line but at the same time there was redemption for me, too, because I had that same calf in the first round and I missed.”

With a run of 2.5 from Conner and a no time posted by George, Bates was seen grinning ear-to-ear on national television after her biggest win of the season.

“It does feel good and this is a long time coming,” said Bates, who added that the 2025 season was full of trials and tribulations to make her first NFBR.

“It was a tough season,” Bates said. “A lot of girls roped fantastic throughout the whole year. I mean, the 15th spot won $99,000 so everyone roped. Seeing these girls throughout the year, they’re all gunslingers.

“Preparing for the NFBR, I’m familiar with the South Point arena and I’m gonna roll with that,” she said. “I just gonna have fun and enjoy this experience while I’m living it.”

Get instant access to this story by purchasing one of our many e-edition subscriptions HERE at our Navajo Times Store.

 

---