PUEBLO, Colo. (November 9, 2009) – American Bucking Bull, Inc. (ABBI) paid out over $891,000 to the country’s most elite bovine athletes last week. Held from Oct. 28-Nov. 5 in Las Vegas, the 2009 ABBI World Finals consisted of a Wild Card Classic event, Classic Finals and Futurity Finals. The two rounds of Classic Finals competition was held in conjunction with the PBR (Professional Bull Riders, Inc.) Built Ford Tough World Finals and pitted the top young bucking bulls against the best 40 bull riders in the world.

From an extremely competitive field, Black Pearl emerged victorious on Nov. 5 and was crowned the 2009 ABBI Classic Champion. Owners Ravenscroft/Boyd-Floyd Bull Co. collected a check for $250,000 for Black Pearl’s efforts. Black Pearl is from Steve and Julie Ravenscroft’s breeding program, earning them ABBI Breeder of the Year honors. Black Pearl, who was the 2008 ABBI Classic reserve champion, now has career earnings close to $500,000. Finishing in second place in the Classic Finals was Martinez’ Top Notch who earned $100,000. In total, $579,411 was paid out to the top 20 ABBI Classic Finals bulls. Classic competitions are for 3 and 4-year-old ABBI registered bucking bulls.

Black Pearl was also one of two Classic bulls in contention for PBR World Champion Bucking Bull and finished fourth in the PBR race. Black Pearl was also chosen by PBR Livestock Director Cody Lambert to buck in the PBR World Finals championship round on Nov. 8. PBR star J.B. Mauney rode Black Pearl in the Championship Round for 93.75 to cinch the event win and become the first man to ever cover eight bulls at the World Finals. The other ABBI Classic bull in contention for World Champion Bucking Bull was D&H/Wiggins’ Crosswired, who Lambert also selected for the championship round. Crosswired was the 2008 ABBI Classic Champion.

The Wild Card Classic event on Oct. 28 allowed four bulls, who had not qualified for the Classic Finals through regular season competition, to join the top 40 Classic animals. Lightning C Cattle’s Copp Hou took first in the Wild Card to win $50,000 and advance. Copp Hou finished fifteenth at the Classic Finals to add another $7,000 to his Las Vegas earnings.

The Futurity Finals champion was Pure Smoke, owned by Cody Ohl/Ken & Tex Beshears. Futurity bulls, who are 2 years of age, buck for 4 seconds with a remote-control dummy on their back. Pure Smoke’s owners pocketed a check for $100,000 on Nov. 4. Pure Smoke came out of Scott Accomazzo’s breeding program, earning him the ABBI Horizon Breeder Award. Reserve Futurity champion was 90 Proof, owned by Walker Bucking Stock Breeders. The top 20 Futurity bulls earned over $261,932 in prize money in Las Vegas.

To learn more about the bucking bull industry contact the ABBI via their website americanbuckingbull.com or through their office at 719-242-2747.

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About the American Bucking Bulls, Inc. (ABBI):
American Bucking Bull, Inc. (“ABBI”) is dedicated to unifying, developing and promoting the bucking bull industry through pedigree preservation; enhancement and promotion of bucking bull ownership, breeding, and welfare; and development of programs and events showcasing the world’s finest bucking bull stock. The ABBI is registry set up to record and preserve the pedigrees of the world’s premier bucking bull livestock. ABBI is structured to promote participation by those with the biggest stake in the bucking bull industry – the owners, breeders and trainers of the world’s greatest bucking bulls. The ABBI provides an environment where bucking bull breeder’s can introduce and foster the growth of young bucking bulls ensuring the finest animal athletes are available to compete at selected PBR Built Ford Tough, Challenger, Enterprise Rent A Car, and Discovery tour events.

Photo by Allen Glanville.