Tilar Murray
Tilar Murray – Fort Worth, Texas ($86,020)
First-time WNFR qualifier
Tillar Murray’s first qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is an example of how the best-laid plans can change.
After dedicating much of her time to barrel racing in high school, she was ready to take a break. Starting school at the University of Texas — where there wasn’t a rodeo team – gave her an opportunity to focus on her education and enjoy college, or so she thought.
But during her freshman year, she decided to go to some rodeos hoping to earn enough money to qualify for the building rodeos that were coming up that winter. She finished the 2015 season, her first, 41st in the world with $31,436.
Last year, rodeo fans had the pleasure of watching the 19-year-old win the barrel racing at the legendary and prestigious Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. She finished the year in 22nd place earning $48,479.
Tillar’s success started with a horse she calls Tic Tac. When she decided to keep competing while in college, she started looking for horses. She found Royal Star Commander, a 10-year-old gelding that California’s Erin Ricotti had been riding. It was Commander that took her to the win at the “Daddy of ‘em All.”
Murray has been riding Commander this season and six-year-old Dirty Dan Stinson, “Dan” who took her to her first win in Las Vegas. The duo won the Helldorado Days last May.
That rodeo was during finals week for Tillar and she had some juggling to do to make it all work. Now with the NFR coming right before winter break, she will again be trying to coordinate exams along with competing on the biggest rodeo stage of her life. Tillar is enrolled in the honors program at UT for Liberal Arts and Business.
With her emphasis on education, and love for barrel racing she has had to depend on a lot of people to help her achieve her goals. Her parents often travel with her. She trained under the late Ed Wright and has had help from Ricotti along the way.
She is the first person in her family to compete and with all of her new experiences has taken them along for the ride. Now they will have the opportunity to watch her pursue her passion for 10 nights in Las Vegas. She starts the NFR in 12th place with $86,020 in regular season earnings.