Bailey Bates rose to the occasion at the Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, making the most of her last chance in the ProRodeo regular season to earn $34,978 and jump from No. 19 to No. 12 in the World Standings, securing her first NFBR Qualification.
The Navajo cowgirl from Tohatchi, New Mexico, entered the $155,000-added finale ranked No. 19 in the world standings—well outside the Top 15 cutoff. But over the course of four runs on borrowed gelding, “Reno,” Bates pulled off one of the season’s most dramatic comebacks.
By the end of the weekend, she had banked $34,978, jumped to No. 12 in the world with $108,425 in season earnings, and secured her first career trip to the NFBR in Las Vegas.
From No-Time to Breakthrough
Bates’ Sioux Falls campaign hardly started as planned. She notched a no-time in Round One after a loop slipped over her calf’s tail.
“After that first round, I thought my chance at Vegas might be over,” Bates said. “But I prayed that night, and I knew that I wouldn’t have this opportunity if I wasn’t meant to.”
The Playoff Series Tour points she’d collected at designated rodeos throughout the year had given her the opportunity to rope in Sioux Falls, and she refused to waste it. In Round Two, she regrouped for a 2.7-second run that saw her move to the Semifinals on one head.
From there, Bates thrived under pressure. She stopped the clock in 2.6 seconds in the semifinals to earn a spot in the final four. In that last round, she delivered the run of her season—a blistering 2.1 seconds that sealed the deal.
“It might have looked like I was smiling when I threw, but really I was gritting my teeth,” Bates laughed. “For a second, I wasn’t sure it was going to go on. But Reno stepped up.”
The Reno Factor
Reno wasn’t Bates’ first-choice mount when the season began. She had relied on her longtime partner Rocket, but when an injury sidelined him, Bates felt a supernatural nudge to reach out to Australian Ariana Varischetti. Bates had ridden Reno once at Lari Dee Guy’s place, while LD was caring for him while Varischetti was back home in Australia.
“Bailey uses her rope as good as anyone and is ruthless,” Varischetti said. “She’ll run at the line and [Reno] is just as aggressive. I was like, ‘That would be a cool team.’ I always thought that. Well then LD said that she roped on him and they were lights out—really cool.”
Bates and Reno had chemistry, but it wasn’t until mid-summer when they were brought together again. Varischetti ProRodeoed in 2025, but was seasoning younger, client horses and felt Reno was being wasted.
“That horse is a champion,” Varischetti said. “He craves it, he wants to win as bad as anybody. And that’s why I just wanted to give him the opportunity to go [rodeo], because I just haven’t been in a position where I can go full time.”
Bates and Reno’s partnership started with fireworks. At just their second rodeo together, in Kennewick, Washington, Bates and Reno broke the arena record with a 1.8-second run. Still, true synchronization took time.
“I don’t think I’ve ever broken out as much as I did this summer figuring Reno out,” Bates admitted. “But when we get our start down, it feels awesome.”
She credited both Reno’s style and her faith for carrying her through.
“Reno leaves the corner so strong and really kills the rope,” Bates explained. “I prayed a lot this year, and the way things worked out—meeting Arianna, getting to ride Reno—it was definitely divine. God’s hand was in it.”
A Season of Persistence
Bates’ road to the Governor’s Cup was filled with highs and lows. Early-season flashes at San Angelo, where she posted three 1.9-second times, showcased her explosive ability. But with her main horse sidelined mid-summer, she pieced together runs on different mounts, eventually riding eight horses throughout the year. survive.
“I tried to crunch the numbers back in Mandan, but honestly, it stressed me out,” Bates said. “By Sioux Falls, I told myself: don’t think about the numbers, just go win.”
That mindset, combined with her experience in small indoor arenas like the INFR, paid dividends in Sioux Falls’ demanding setup.
Gratitude and Grounding
For Bates, the Governor’s Cup wasn’t just about her own grit. She quickly turned the spotlight on the people who supported her.
“My parents and brother have been there every step of the way—opening gates, coaching me, traveling with me,” Bates said. “And then there are so many friends who’ve let us stay, helped us practice, or even just sent a little text of encouragement. Sharing this joy with them makes it all more special.”
She also pointed to the significance of representing her home community. As a Navajo roper, qualifying for her first NFBR holds deep meaning.
“I’m Forever grateful,” Bates said. “It feels like everything I’ve experienced, from the American Contender Finals to the INFR, built up to this moment.”
Eyes on Las Vegas
With the Sioux Falls heroics behind her, Bates is already preparing for the next chapter. She plans to compete at the Indian National Finals Rodeo, the Denver All-Star event, and the Turquoise Circuit Finals ahead of the December NFBR. She’ll also pursue the Million Dollar Breakaway in November.
Reno, meanwhile, has returned to Varischetti, but Bates plans to reunite with him in Las Vegas.
“Arianna didn’t even hesitate when I asked if I could ride Reno,” Bates said. “We’ve gotten closer through this, and I’m so thankful.”
Even as she looks ahead, Bates remains grounded. Her Governor’s Cup trophy, she joked, will sit next to the Roughrider Cup she won in 2024.
“They’re twins now,” Bates said.
From No. 19 in the world to the bright lights of the NFBR, Bates’ last-minute surge is proof of what persistence, faith, and the right horse can accomplish.
