Las Vegas Weekly

December 1, 2009 · 10:02 AM

Photo Gallery: NFR celebrates 25 years in Las Vegas and 51st year

By Robin Leach

Action from the National Finals Rodeo.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

It’s known as the biggest and richest rodeo in the world: The National Finals Rodeo celebrates its 25th year in Las Vegas with 10 days of thrilling events as it starts its 51st year. Oklahoma City hosted the NFR for 20 years until legendary gaming king Benny Binion worked to bring it to Las Vegas in 1984.

It was simple math, really. Whereas Oklahoma came up with a $900,000 prize package, Las Vegas simply doubled it to $1.8 million -- and it’s been growing ever since. I’m reliably told that this year’s 51st Wrangler National Finals Rodeo events at the Thomas & Mack Center running through Dec. 12 will have a record $5.75 million prize purse.

Registration for the Miss Rodeo Pageant festivities and the PRCA Convention Trade Show starts today at South Point. The official welcome reception also takes place there tonight. Last night, the get-acquainted parties began at the South Point along with Wrangler’s 2nd Annual Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame benefit dinner.

The 10 consecutive performance nights start on Thursday with Trevor Brazile attempting to win a record-tying seventh All-Around World Championship. That would tie him with Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Ty Murray. It was in 1989 that Ty, who is married to singer Jewel, became the youngest all-around world champion at age 20. In 2007, Trevor broke the PRCA single season record with $425,115 in earnings for the year.

Country music stars and cowboy comedians also arrive today, with entertainment attractions starting tomorrow. We’ll have a daily ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN of all the NFR activities, parades, performances and shows in town through the closing night on Dec. 12.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Action from the National Finals Rodeo.

Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue will be on duty as the dirt flies each night for his remarkable ringside photo shoots at the arena, and we asked him to put together a photo gallery of his favorite NFR moments from last year as a warm-up for what lies ahead this year.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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