Barrel race honors slain Gallup rider

By Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

GRANTS — When things go a bit better than expected the first time, chances are people may want to do it again. When things go better than one's wildest expectations, well, it has to happen again.

Leo Mitchell, a Gallup cosmetologist, was murdered in 2002. To be sure, he loved his job, but he loved barrel racing even more and because he was a member of District 1, of the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA), his family and friends in the association decided to hold a barrel race, in Mitchell's honor. It was not just a race at the rodeo grounds at Red Rock State Park, but one geared to raise scholarship money for a Gallup cosmetology student.

Norene Canada, who represents District 1 of the National Barrel Horse Association was there. She saw it from the start to the finish on each race and she came away more than impressed.

More of a contestant sport than a spectator sport, if 50 racers had entered, it would have been a good event. "We had 163 contestants from New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Utah and Texas," Canada said. "That is the largest race this district has ever had."

Canada said the association paid back $5,285 to the contestants and the Leo Mitchell Family gave out more than $5,000 in awards, such as saddles, blankets and belt buckles.

Canada said the shocking part, though, came from the scholarship money. The event was geared to raise scholarship money for a Gallup cosmetology student. "The Mitchell family thought if they could raise $500 for a scholarship, they would be tickled-pink," Canada said. "A total of $2,840 was raised."

With a turnout like the 2004 race, it had to be done again.

The 2005 Leo Mitchell Barrel Racing Classic will be held June 12, at the Red Rock State Park Rodeo Grounds. The New Mexico High School Rodeo Association will wind up an arena full of events on June 11, Canada said. "This year, the Leo Mitchell family, instead of providing awards like saddles, blankets and belt buckles, will give added prize money, so the contestants will get more money," Canada said.

Mitchell was found dead in December 2002, near the Holiday Inn in Gallup, the victim of a horrible murder. His murderer was sent to prison, but that does not make Mitchell's death any easier for family members. Mitchell loved his vocation, Canada said, but even more, he loved every aspect of barrel racing. Mitchell trained barrel racing horses, rode in barrel racing events in addition to helping to train some of the nation's top barrel racers. Twice Mitchell qualified for the national championships.

Barrel racing is a timed rodeo event. "The Leo Mitchell Barrel Race will see men and women competing against each other," Canada said.

In barrel racing, the rodeo arena is cleared and barrels are set up at marked locations. Racers enter the arena at full gallop and they round each barrel in a cloverleaf pattern as fast as they can. Then they race out of the arena. The stopwatch is started from the second they enter the arena to the second they leave the arena.

The closer a racer can steer his or her horse to the barrel while rounding it shaves precious seconds from the timed event. If a racer knocks a barrel over a five-second penalty is added to the overall time.

Even though Canada said the sport is more of a competitor's sport than a spectator's sport, the association encourages people to watch. "It is free to the spectators to come and watch," Canada said.