
From the rodeo news archives …
When the Gallup Ceremonial was started in 1922, it was seen as a program of traditional Indian dances as well as a showcase for Native arts and crafts. But the Fourth of July celebrations held in town since Mr. Gallup went on down the tracks, had also featured a variety of races and a few rodeo events.
The sport of rodeo was just getting national attention at the time and few towns had arenas with permanent bucking chutes, regular rules, and profession riders and ropers. In fact, they didn’t have ropers at all. Who wanted to chase a frightened calf through the sagebrush?
For the most part the horses and steers—they hadn’t discovered the...