Dawson Hay has record ride on Killer Bee’s last out at the NFR Round 9

Saddle bronc rider Dawson Hay picked a good day to have a great day.

The Canadian tied the Round 9 record with a winning ride of 92 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s BDM Mud’s Killer Bee before 17,762 spectators Friday night at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge at the Thomas & Mack Center.

“Yeah, that’s a crazy good horse,” said Hay, 24. “I remember when I first started riding broncs and I saw that horse come on through the years to become the legendary status we all know it has. I’d never had the chance to draw that horse before. I saw it on the list, and I told my wife, ‘I’m going to draw that horse at the NFR this year.’ I thought it was going to be in the first round but we got her.”

The ride was noteworthy not only because of tying the round record, but also because it was the final out of Killer Bee’s career.

“I’m not sure it’s even sunk in yet,” Hay said. “It’s such an incredible feeling. Going through that ride, I’m not sure I’ve ever been on a horse that feels quite like that. That’s a ride that’s going to stick with me forever. It’s a special moment and the kind of thing we’ve always dreamed of since we were little.”

For the performance, Killer Bee was chosen top saddle bronc horse of Round 9. In Round 4 of the 2022 NFR, Killer Bee carried Chase Brooks to an 88-point ride and was selected saddle bronc horse of the night.

At the 2020 Wrangler NFR, Killer Bee was chosen the top bareback horse. She was the 2019 PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year and voted top bareback horse of Round 3 of the 2019 NFR after bucking off Austin Foss. Killer Bee was also the top bareback horse of the 2018 NFR and top saddle bronc horse of the 2013 and 2014 NFRs.

Killer Bee, 17, weighs 1,350 pounds and is 16.3 hands.

courtesy of the PRCA

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