• LAS VEGAS, Dec. 14, 2012 --- It took nine days, but Oelrichs barrel racer Lisa Lockhart won a prestigious round and $18,257 at the 10-day, $6 million Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. The night prior, she had reached the milestone of $1 million in earnings through her 12-year career.
• "When you really put things in perspective and see the stats on how few have reached that level, it makes it that much more sweet to know it's a very elite group," said Lockhart. "I'm honored."
• Only the top 15 contestants in each of seven events qualify for rodeo's Super Bowl, which kicked off in UNLV's Thomas and Mack Center on Dec. 6 and wraps up Dec. 15.
• Lockhart, a wife and mother of three, is competing in her sixth straight Wrangler NFR. Riding a horse she calls Louie, 47-year-old Lockhart raced around the cloverleaf pattern in 13.66 seconds for the win, which brought her total NFR earnings to S63,409.
• Lockhart entered the NFR in fourth place in the world championship standings and, aside from a penalty she took in Round Two for a tipped barrel, she's placed in every round but one. Still, she trails leader Mary Walker by nearly $100,000 and has no chance at a gold buckle this year.
• "You come in here hoping you can have the rodeo you're capable of having," said Lockhart. "Sometimes you do and sometimes you don't. It happens to all of us; it's a roller coaster. I'm thrilled it's turned out as good as it has."
• With one more solid run Saturday night, she has a chance to earn $46,821 in addition to the nightly first-place money of $18,257.