Reigning Champion Kassie Mowry Out of 2026 American Rodeo, Top 5 Invitation Won’t Roll Down

Kassie Mowry, the reigning American Rodeo barrel racing champion, will not compete at The American Rodeo at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on May 23, BarrelRacing.com has confirmed.

Mowry, the 2025 WPRA world champion, was an invited “Top 5” Athlete set to enter the American Rodeo Showdown Round (Round of 10) on Saturday. The reason is not specified.

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Her spot will not be filled. Under Section 1.1.3.6 of The American Rodeo’s 2025-26 Rules of Advancement:

“If a ‘Top 5’ Athlete declines a position and/or is injured and unable to compete in the The American Rodeo Showdown Round, the invited position will not roll down to the next placing Athlete.”

That means the No. 6 finisher in the 2025 WPRA world standings does not roll up— no American Rodeo champion Hailey Kinsel and her horse Sister (DM Sissy Hayday), nor any other backup invitee.

The Showdown Round barrel racing field on May 23 will run with one fewer Top 5 Athlete. The 15 Western, Central and Eastern Regional qualifiers headed to Arlington still compete through the American Rodeo Semi-Finals on May 22 for a shot at the Showdown Round and the $1 million Qualifier Bonus per the announced format.