Hello Salinas! The home of the best “Ro day’o” in the country, and this year the California Rodeo Salinas celebrates their 100 year anniversary on July 15-18, 2010! The California rodeo represents the traditions of early California and the American west when great herds of cattle roamed the golden hills and valleys and the vaquero was the mounted prince of the land. The annual roundup was the origin of the modern professional rodeo that is perhaps the fastest growing sport in the nation. The community of Salinas gets western as it hosts this cowboy extravaganza, offering cowboy poetry, wine tasting, dance, parades, carnival and

more. This year the Rodeo introduces it’s own Hall of Fame to preserve the heritage, history and traditions of the California Rodeo Salinas along with showcasing individuals, organizations and livestock whose distinctive contributions have helped keep the traditions of the West alive.

Today’s Rodeo draws over a thousand of the best cowboys and cowgirls as they compete for more then $250,000 in prize money. From bull riding to horse racing the action is non-stop. Professional rodeo action consists of two types of events: roughstock events and timed events. In the roughstock events–bareback riding, saddlebronc and bullriding–a contestant’s score is equally dependent upon his performance and the animal’s performance. In order to earn a score the cowboy must stay aboard a bucking horse or bull for eight seconds. In the timed events – calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping and barrel racing, the fastest time wins.

One of the highlights is the California Rodeo Salinas Horse parade. A Rodeo tradition, the Horse Parade travels through downtown Salinas, to the Rodeo grounds and is a featured part of Saturday and Sunday morning ceremonies. Look for the United States Marine Corp mounted color guard. They will be riding matching palomino Mustangs. Their horses are true wild horses captured in the high deserts of California and Oregon and trained by their riders.

Looking back over the years I remember the old stadium with its stucco facade and wooden benches – a far cry from today’s modem sports complex with aluminum benches. Which reminds me if you are attending for the first time, the evening performances on Thursday and Friday can get really cold, yes, even in July. The marine layer moves in and the temperature plunges. Bring a coat and something to sit on you’ll be a lot more comfortable. During the weekend performance, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat will help deflect the light bouncing off the bleachers.

One of the challenges of the California Rodeo is keeping up with the events on the track and in the arena. There is always something going on from clowns to bulls it is never a dull moment. This year specialty acts will be the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls showing off their amazing riding and trick roping skills and John Payne “The One-Arm Bandit.” who will entertain Rodeo spectators with his trick riding and even some bison along for the ride.. Another contest to follow on the track is the Barrel racing, where Cowgirls race the clock around three barrels in a cloverleaf’ pattern.

The Rodeo committee has done a great job of creating a safe, fun and family friendly atmosphere. There is a really neat play area for the kids, plenty to eat and drink and loads of shopping combined with the best Rodeo you’ll ever see, So make plans to attend the California Rodeo and enjoy the “original” extreme sport.

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