Barrel Racers Bank Big Payouts at Royal Crown Buckeye in Arizona

Familiar faces and rising stars dominate the competition with fast times and huge winnings.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Barrel racers from across the country flocked to Buckeye, Arizona for the Royal Crown event, where the competition was fierce and the payouts were substantial. Many top riders and horses, including some new pairings, put on an impressive display with lightning-fast times and big earnings across multiple events.

Why it matters

The Royal Crown Buckeye event is one of the premier barrel racing competitions in the country, attracting top talent from the rodeo circuit. The high-stakes nature of the event and the large prize purses make it a significant stop on the barrel racing calendar, showcasing the sport's elite athletes and horses.

The details

Legendary barrel racer Sherry Cervi teamed up with the talented young horse HP Hotrod, trained and ridden by Ashley Schafer, to sweep multiple events and earn over $16,000 with a single run. Another standout performance came from Amberleigh Moore and her mare Tres Dark Tigress, who won Round 2 with a 16.865-second run. Wolverrine, a rising star from his futurity season, finished second in the Royal Crown Derby and won the SVE Derby with rider Kit Johnson. Terri Wood Gates and her horse TFour Epic Love topped the Average in both the Royal Crown Derby and SVE Derby, banking big winnings. In the futurity events, Ceri Ward and Flingin Goodbyes won the Royal Crown Futurity and SVE Futurity, while youth rider Payton Johnson and JS Night Moves claimed the round wins and Average Championships in both futurity events.

  • The Royal Crown event took place over the recent weekend in Buckeye, Arizona.

The players

Sherry Cervi

A legendary barrel racer who has teamed up with the talented young horse HP Hotrod, trained and ridden by Ashley Schafer, to sweep multiple events at the Royal Crown Buckeye.

Ashley Schafer

The trainer and jockey of HP Hotrod, who helped the horse earn over $350,000 in his first year of competition despite missing the last two months due to event cancellations.

Amberleigh Moore

A top barrel racer who won Round 2 of the Royal Crown event with her mare Tres Dark Tigress, clocking a 16.865-second run.

Kit Johnson

The rider of Wolverrine, a rising star from his futurity season who finished second in the Royal Crown Derby and won the SVE Derby.

Terri Wood Gates

A barrel racer who topped the Average in both the Royal Crown Derby and SVE Derby with her horse TFour Epic Love, earning big winnings.

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The takeaway

The Royal Crown Buckeye event showcased the incredible talent and competitiveness of the barrel racing community, with both established stars and up-and-coming riders and horses putting on a thrilling display of speed and skill. The large prize purses and prestigious nature of the event make it a must-see stop on the rodeo circuit, highlighting the sport's continued growth and popularity.