WEST OF THE PECOS RODEO: Higher stakes bringing quality competition to 133rd annual event

There’s more at stake this year in Pecos. More added money. More total entries. Bigger pots to be claimed. And that’s going to bring even more first-class competitors to Buck Jackson Arena this week. It doesn’t take a life dedicated to the world of rodeo to understand that. Still, Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Guy Allen knows it all the same. “They go where the money is,” the 17-time world champion said of his fellow competitors. “It’s people trying to make a living. If there’s more money, that’s where you go.” That’s why the 133rd annual West of the Pecos Rodeo should be even bigger and better this year, as cowboys and cowgirls from across the country compete in the latest iteration of what many consider the world’s first and oldest annual rodeo. The rodeo’s committee is upping the ante this year by putting in an extra $27,000 in added money into the event, bringing the bottom-line purse of each of the rodeo’s nine events to $10,000, compared to $7,000 last year — with the pot sweetened with every entry on top of that bottom line. With more money up for grabs, more of the world’s best will be in Pecos competing through Saturday. Evening performances begin tonight, and are scheduled for 8 p.m. each night for the rest of the week through Saturday...more