Barrel racer takes first title in stride

Lindsay Sears can saddle up her horse, Martha, tonight and ride all out -- not that she seems to know any other way to ride.

The 27-year-old Canadian clinched her first barrel racing world championship Thursday with another dominating run in the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center.

But don't congratulate Sears on winning her first world title just yet. She refuses to acknowledge she's the champion until after Saturday's final go-round.

"I honestly haven't kept track of my total winnings so far. Actually, I really don't want to know," she said after winning her third consecutive go-round and fourth in six nights at her third NFR.

Sears and Martha, an 8-year-old sorrel mare, completed the three-barrel, cloverleaf course in 13.57 seconds Thursday in front of a crowd of 17,463. The victory was worth $16,766 and pushed Sears' season total to $274,891, a women's barrel racing record.

Sears won $119,255 in last year's Finals and finished second in the world standings. She's poised to top that with earnings of $90,324 through eight rounds this year. She leads the Finals aggregate standings, in which a first-place finish is worth a bonus of $42,999.

And two go-rounds remain, as Sears is quick to note.

The Nanton, Alberta, cowgirl is the second NFR contestant to clinch a 2008 world championship; Trevor Brazile wrapped up his sixth all-around title after Tuesday's sixth go-round.

J.W. Harris had a chance to lock down the bull riding title Thursday, but was bucked off along with money leader Chance Smart and Bobby Welsh, who is third in the world standings.

So the championship night was left all to Sears, but she wasn't accepting the fact that no one can catch her.

"I haven't thought about it," she said with a wide smile befitting someone who had just made the biggest ride of her life.

"There are still two more rounds to go, and we won't think about anything other than what we have to go out and do tomorrow night."

But Sears did concede that Saturday night, when she can finally call herself a champion, will be truly special.

"I will be extremely excited and happy," she said. "It's a dream come true.

"We set out in January with a goal. It doesn't get any better when you make a plan and everything comes together and you reach your goal."

Spoken like a true champion.

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247