The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WALLA WALLA -- The Valley Girls Barrel Racing Association held the fourth race of the winter jackpot racing series last Saturday at the Walla Walla Fairgrounds indoor arena.

Racers came as far away as Pendleton and Lewiston to try their luck at a piece of the jackpot.

Participants must attend at least five of the six races to be eligible for the series award to the high money winner in each "D" class at the end of the season.

The fastest time of the day sets the 1D class and takes home the biggest purse with the top of the next three classes beginning a half a second off that top time of the previous class.

Out of 74 entries for the day, Dayton's Tommie Hoyecki rode Mr. Sox 'Em Biankus for a first-place time of 14.386 seconds and setting the bar for the rest of the riders.

Veteran rider Karen Gleason of Touchet was hot on her heels on Bald Ridge for a second-place finish of 14.9 seconds.

Long-time cowgirl and rider extraordinaire Kelli Currin took a first-place finish in the 3D class schooling Juno Catty Biankus on how to turn and burn with a 15.393 finish.

Shalya Currin of Dayton, and daughter to Kelli, finished faster than dear 'ol mom with a time of 15.199. But, with the way the classes fall with the half second determining the beginning of the next class, it was mom who got to take home the check.

Rosie Gallaher of Huntsville took a timeout from her announcing post for a 15.494 finish on Dash for a fourthplace finish in the 3D.

Waitsburg youngster Ellie Johnson was there in full force, riding a favorite retired race- track babies Hooch. While Hooch's specialty in the past was a 350-yard run, Johnson took him around three turns without even making him breathe hard for a 16.29 finish.

Dayton youngster Josilyn Fullerton was the top 4D winner in the youth division with a 16.1 finish. Fullerton is quickly learning the economics of the sport as she's worked out a deal with mother Nikki Fullerton on financing the activity.

"Our deal is, is that I'll pay for the gas to get her here," says Nikki Fullerton. "But the entry fees are up to her."

The economics of barrel racing definitely take their toll on the riders. This favorite sport doesn't take long to drain the pocketbook.

The two college students from Lewiston who were digging the change out of their truck for a burger at the lunch wagon know all about this. They traveled the 92 miles and paid the $35 entry fee because the track here has better conditions and the purses here usually have money added, where in Lewiston they do not.

With gas prices, entry fees, hay, grain and vet bills, one could say this is definitely a sport of love, not fame and fortune.

Love of that good horse smell early in the morning makes you enjoy being a country girl. Love of the dirt flying as you turn and burn giving it all you've got to get to the wire. The love of the snuggle around the neck that tells them you know they've given it all they've got.

So for those of you who believe it's a fools sport, cowgirl up.

The Valley Girls' next race will be at the Walla Walla Fairgrounds indoor arena Feb. 11. Time only runs will be from 9 a.m. to noon with racing beginning at 1p.m.