Don King Days ~ September 4-5, 2022

34rd Annual DON KING DAYs Celebration
*click on this flyer to see a larger version*

Sunday & Monday of Labor Day Weekend 2022

Although there are bigger, more prestigious celebrations out west, few can rival Don King Days.  This event truly recaptures the spirit and traditions of the west, and the open-air, unconfined and unhurried atmosphere of rodeos past. 

Labor Day Weekend, 2022 will be the 34th year for Don King Days which is considered to be the grand finale of equestrian events in the area.  It all started back in 1989 when a group of ranchers, ropers and friends of Don King organized the event and named it in honor the world-renowned saddle maker and King’s Saddlery founder who contributed so much to the western culture.  Their intent was to celebrate the classic equestrian events unique to the Sheridan area -- polo, steer roping and bronc riding.

POLO -- The largest polo tournament of the Big Horn Polo Club’s season is played over this weekend, culminating with the Don King Days Championship game, on Sunday September 6

STEER ROPING -- Steer roping is a sport that developed out of necessity on the open range in the late 1800's and continues to be a common method of doctoring cattle. The Wyoming Steer Ropers have selected Don King Days as the scene for their season finals.  

BRONC RIDING -- The invitational matched bronc riding at Don King Days is truly unique.  The bronc is saddled and blindfolded, then snubbed up to a pick-up man’s horse.  The cowboy, riding double behind the other pick-up man, eases himself onto the waiting bronc.  As soon as the cowboy is “set”, the blindfold is taken off the bronc and the excitement begins!  Since there are no fences, the action can get real close, putting the crowd right in the action!

AND MORE -- Cowboy polo has become a tradition at halftime of the Polo Games. Featuring teams from the local dude ranches, this is a wild and wooly event: Stock saddles, dude ranch horses, and broomsticks for mallets and NO RULES! Cowboy polo is always a crowd favorite!

MUSIC -- Sunday and Monday after the field action winds down, head on over to the Club House and enjoy the live music. Nashville recording artist Paul Bogart and his band have entertained us before...  Paul makes Don King Days a regular stop on his late summer tour each year. An avid horseman himself, Paul writes his own songs about the cowboy lifestyle.

Bring the whole family for old-time western excitement that you won’t forget.  Round up your lawn chairs and be ready to spend your weekend watching the action and visiting with old friends out on the grass.  Some folks pack a picnic and load a cooler on their tailgate while others visit the food vendors and stop by the Club House for spirits of the liquid kind. 

All events are Sunday and Monday
Look for updates on Don King Days on Facebook.

Don King Days Bronc Riding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNbcqyM7wLo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgsAmHXxLnU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJqRKjO0Dhw

Don King Days - Blacksmith Rodeo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJAXNZVSXuk

Don King Days - Polo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS46_F0F_Hs

The clubhouse is rockin' and rollin' every day and into the evening. Dance the night away to live music by Paul Bogart Sunday and Monday night . Everyone is welcome!
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Polo playoff games:
All polo playoff games are free and open to the public... come on out!
2022 playoff dates:
Sunday August 28th through Friday September 3rd. Teams and game schedules will be announced Friday Aug. 27, and will be posted here and on the Big Horn Polo Club website - go to the schedule page:
http://www.thebighornpoloclub.com/polo-schedule.html

Don King Days Polo finals:
Henry Burgess Memorial - Sunday September 4at 11:00 a.m.
Don King Days Final - Monday September 5 at 11:00 a.m.


Results From Don King Days 2017:

Polo
Don King Days Winner: Parrot Heads - Annie Ahern, Gillian Johnston, Brad Blake, Roni Duke
Runner-Up: Cotterel Farms - Trent Passini, Jenny Cotterel, Karen Reese, Juan Curbelo
MVP: Trent Passini
Best Playing Pony: "Earwig" owned and played by Gillian Johnston

Steer Roping Winner: Wade Shoemaker
Second place: John Bartlett from Nebraska
Third place: Trey Sheets from Cheyenne
Fourth place: Colt Bruegmann from Cheyenne
Bronc Riding Winners: Blaze Hamaker - score of 151 on two horses.
Horseshoeing:


Results From Don King Days 2016:

Polo
Don King Days Winner: Bendabout - Gillian Johnston, T.J. Elordi, DeeDee Connell, Brad Scherer
Runner-Up: D.A. Davidson - Jim Ulibarri, Bob Brotherton, Orrin Connell, Shane Rice
MVP: Shane Rice
Best Playing Pony: "Boo-Boo" owned and played by Shane Rice

Steer Roping Winner:
Bronc Riding Winners:
Horseshoeing:


Results From Don King Days 2015:

Polo
Don King Days Winner: No Trees - Craig Duke, Diego Florez, Fort MacCarty, Brad Blake
Runner-Up: Clearwater - Amy Goodson / Julie Nicholson, Annie Ahern, Chip Campbell, Gonzalo Tevez
MVP: Ford MacCarty
Best Playing Pony: "Emma" owned and played by Chip Campbell

Henry Burgess Memorial Winner: Jan Pamela - Wayne Garrison, DeeDee Connell, Paul Wollenman, Hector Galindo
Runner-Up: San Pedro - Kris Dalton, Joe Fitzsimons, Katie Connell, Brad Scherer
MVP: Brad Scherer
Best Playing Pony: "Addy" owned by Joe Fitzsimons, played by Hector Galindo

Steer Roping Winner:
Bronc Riding Winners: Colt Hamaker
Horseshoeing:


 

Here are a few photos from past Don King Days Celebrations -


Click here for 2008-2014 results.


 
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