Laura E. Jesse
Express-News Staff Writer

 

The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo is now proof that everything is bigger and better in Texas.

 

Rodeo officials confirmed Tuesday that the 17-day rodeo in February will have a purse of a little more than $1 million.

 

This comes less than two weeks after RodeoHouston announced it will pay out $1.275 million with $50,000 bonuses for event champions and $25,000 for team roping champions.

 

"Yes, we are very excited about this and the cowboys are excited too," said Pam Rew, the rodeo's assistant executive director.

 

The increase for San Antonio's event is more than double the $475,000 purse offered this year and makes it the second highest paying regular-season rodeo next to Houston.

 

"It is significant because the only rodeo right now with a purse more than $1 million is the Wrangler National Finals at $5.375 million," said Ann Bleiker, senior spokeswoman with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

 

Competitors use rodeos like San Antonio and Houston to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals, which start Friday in Las Vegas.

San Antonio and Houston have been in the top 10 PRCA rodeos as far as purse amounts for several years, Bleiker said.

 

"Obviously with this they will continue to take the lead on purse amounts," she added.

 

The Calgary Stampede, which is not a PRCA-sanctioned event, became the first rodeo to offer a purse larger than $1 million in 2003.

Although RodeoHouston changed its format and limited the number of competitors to 50 per event, San Antonio will maintain its format, which has three qualifying rounds leading to the championship. The pool of contestants will stay at 72, a limit set last year.

 

The change is yet another step the San Antonio rodeo is making to set itself apart from the pack of PRCA-sanctioned rodeos, Rew said.

 

"San Antonio has sort of separated itself and become a leader in the professional rodeo industry," she said. "We have stepped out and done a few things such as being the first to bring in the world's top quality stock to make sure San Antonio has the best quality rodeo available."

 

Better stock, a limited pool of competitors and more money to be won gives the competitors a better shot at making it to the Wrangler National Finals, Rew added.