Gail Petska

Gail Petska is a two-time American World Barrel Racing Champion. In December 1972 and 1973, she won the championship at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[1]

Life

Gail Petska married Paul Petska, a professional team roper. Paul qualified for the NFR four times. They had three children. When their son Cory grew up, he became a world champion heeler in team roping. Cory also married four-time world champion barrel racer Sherry Cervi. Sherry qualified for the NFR 19 times. She became winner of the most money in the event with $3.5 million.[2][3]

Career

Petska competed in the Girls' Rodeo Association (GRA). In 1973, she earned $19,448 by competing in bull riding, calf-roping, barrel racing, and goat tying in the GRA. She was living in Tecumseh, Oklahoma, at the time.[4]

Petska won the World Barrel Racing Championship twice on a small horse she named Dobie.[2] Her GRA world championships are now recognized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women's Professional Rodeo Association.[1]

When Petska won the world championship in 1972, at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, she won seven of the ten go-rounds. Then she won again in 1973. She had a strong lead in 1974, but got the news that another Petska was on the way. No third title for Gail.[5] Petska won the NFR Average Championship in 1972.[5][3]

Petska won the barrel racing event at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming, twice, in 1972 and in 1973.[6] She also won the NFR Average in 1972.[7]

Petska won 13 consecutive go-rounds in the NFR, which is still a record. She still holds the record for the most rounds won at the NFR in the barrel racing event in one year with 7 rounds.[8][2][5][3]

Petska won the barrel racing event at RodeoHouston in Houston, Texas, twice, once in 1974 and once in 1976.[9]

References
  1. 2018 Barrel Racing Records, World Records & Season Stats – World Champion Barrel Racers – 1972 & 1973 World Champion, p. 5.
  2. Santos, Kendra. "Real-Deal Royal Royalty". The Team Roping Journal. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  3. "The Official NFR Experience". www.nfrexperience.com. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  4. Robbins, Tom (June 17, 2003). "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues". Random House Publishing Group. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  5. "Rodeo Runs In Petskas' Blood". Oklahoman.com. September 30, 1994. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  6. "Cheyenne Frontier Days Media Guide" (PDF). Cheyenne Frontier Days. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  7. 2018 Barrel Racing Records, World Records & Season Stats – World Champion Barrel Racers – NFR Average Champions, p. 4.
  8. Wrangler NFR Records, History, Earnings Records; Round-win Records, p. 331.
  9. "Past Rodeo Champions". RodeoHouston. Retrieved October 16, 2019.

Bibliography
  • 2018 Barrel Racing Records (PDF). Women's Professional Rodeo Association. Retrieved October 15, 2019.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Wrangler NFR (PDF). Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

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