Hold your horses.

Until the weekend at least. The 66th annual Kingfisher Rodeo will be held Friday and Saturday at the Kingfi sher Roundup Club Arena.

The rodeo starts at 8 p.m. each night and is just part of a busy, event-filled weekend in Kingfisher.

That includes the Kool Cars & Chrome Car Show, Krazy Days and citywide garage sales hosted by the Kingfisher Chamber of Commerce as well as the rodeo dance and much more. ( Note: See advertisement on Page 10.)

Similar to last year, the rodeo will be co-sanctioned by the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association (KPRA) and the International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA).

As well, Sumner Rodeo Co. is again Kingfisher rodeo’s stock contractor.

Tickets are $10 if purchased now, but $12 at the gate.

Advance tickets include a raffle ticket. If purchased at the rodeo, they cost an additional $10.

New this year, the Roundup Club is holding a drawing for two rifles: a Remington 700 6.5 Creedmore and a T/C Compass 6.5 Creedmore.

You do not have to be present to win. While the raffle is sure to be attractive for spectators, Sherrie Cross expects prize money and good competition to be a lure to Kingfisher during a busy rodeo weekend.

“A lot of cowboys and cowgirls will try to hit all four rodeos in the weekend and most will go to two rodeos each night,” said Cross, co-chairman of this year’s rodeo.

Cross noted there are three other rodeos - Yukon, Tuttle and Seiling - all within close proximity this weekend.

“There should be plenty of contestants,” she said.

The close distance, as well as the KPRA and IPRA’s co-sanctioning, are features that contestants may enjoy, she added.

Cross shared several benefi ts that competitors can gain from the two associations.

“If you have a card with either association, you can gain points if you win towards their year-end finals,” Cross said.

“This year will have a finals purse of $500,000 and in a couple years it will be a $1,000,000 finals.”

All cowboys and cowgirls are welcome though, she said.

“Anyone can enter these events,” Cross said. “New members are always welcome.”

However, Cross is hopeful there is also - once again - a strong local presence this weekend.

Registration closes on July 31, so Cross won’t have a complete list of contestants until after Monday.

There will definitely at least be one familiar face present though.

Doug Munsell of Ulysses, Kan., will be returning to the arena as a rodeo clown.

Munsell was a clown and barrelman when Kingfisher was a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo.

“He will keep everyone laughing,” Cross said.

The weekend is predicted to be “fun-filled” and Cross encourages everyone to come out to the rodeo to continue its longterm success.

“Thank you for supporting the Kingfisher Rodeo and Roundup Club for the past 66 years,” she said.

( Ed. note: See Wednesday’s edition for Kingfisher Rodeo Queen and Princess contestants as well as a list of events for each night.)