Bailey Bates got the big Texas Swing ProRodeo win she was looking for at the 2025 San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo with three 1.9-second runs worth a total of $10,217.
The win was a sigh of relief following a winter rodeo season that saw her come close to the big paychecks but barely miss out. The earnings coupled with her No. 18 finish in the 2024 ProRodeo standings are fueling Bates to push to greater heights as the rodeo season enters the spring.
The Breakaway Roping Journal caught up with Bates to break down her runs, hear how her horse Rocket is faring, and get a peek inside her mental strategy.
BRJ: You had solid showings at Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, even if they didn’t all go your way. What was that like?
Bailey Bates: “I made it back to semifinals [at Fort Worth] and didn’t get a time there. I ended up with $2,000. Then at Houston I made it out with $1,000, and then at San Antonio, I missed a semi-finals by a dollar.”
That’s brutal—missing by a dollar. Did that make San Angelo feel even more important?
Yes. I knew the potential it could have. It could really bump me in the standings or it could be another rodeo in the Texas swing. So I was thinking, ‘Okay, just capitalize on it. Just get out there, make sure you get a good start and finish it.’
Talk us through your first two runs at San Angelo. You led it from the start.
My goal there was; make sure you see your start and get it on him. I wasn’t actually shooting to be 1.9, but I got a good start on him and then the shot just came up right there and I took it.”
For the second round, I had Larry Dee’s calf, who was strong. It was the fourth time that calf had been run. I was thinking, ‘Make sure you have an aggressive start on him. Don’t get left behind.’ He pretty much just ran right into my lane and I just had to finish it.
Let’s talk nerves—were you feeling the pressure Saturday night?
Yes, I was. I was thinking, ‘Get one more down. You just gotta be aggressive. You gotta get your start.’ Trying not to let the nerves get to me… It’s a big difference from just catching two calves to getting a check in the average.
Your horse Rocket was key in those runs. How’s he been feeling?
In the last year Rocket bas become more seasoned, and I have more confidence on him—and it’s still growing. We’re learning how to navigate how to keep him solid and sound. Going to rodeo after rodeo, you don’t have all the time to practice, and you kind of figure out how do you practice and compete at the same time.
What did this win mean to you, compared to your past career highlights?
This is one of my biggest wins. I’ve won a lot in the INFR, and those wins set me up to win on more stages.
What’s next for you on the road?
I went to Red Bluff Saturday, I’m up at Clovis today, then Lakeside, California. After that, I’ll head home, celebrate my birthday with my mom and dad, and then go to Guymon.
Happy early birthday, Bailey Bates—and congrats on the big win!
