10/13/2026
$100,000 match roping
The word on the social media platforms is that the upcoming match roping is up to $100,000. The cowboy legends match roping is being held October 25 in Uvalde, Texas, it’s part of the South Texas Showdown roping.
Seven time world champion calf roper Fred Whitfield and five time world champion calf roper Cody Ohl will battle it out on ten calves. Fred and Cody both won an all around world championship, but this match is strictly about calf roping.
Over the last thirty years Fred and Cody have matched ten to fifteen times. Cody has won some and Fred has won some.
Both men set records at the National Finals Rodeo back in the 1990s and 2000s. Both men have won every major rodeo in the United States and Canada. Both men have owned great horses over the years.
Fred Whitfield is 59 years old. He’s been retired from rodeo for a few years. Fred works for a fuel company in the Houston area these days.
The past couple of years Fred has been training a couple of calf roping horses he owns and taking them to some local rodeos. He has three horses he’s taking to the roping in Uvalde.
Cody Ohl is 53 years old and trains calf roping horses and gives roping lessons at his house in Hico, Texas for a living. He has several horses to choose from in his barn. He ropes every day, it’s his “job.”
It’s interesting to watch these men practice at home. Fred has a bigger arena to practice in. He scores the calves out a ways and makes his horses go get them. This forces him and his horse to set the run up. Fred’s horses really stop and pull on the calf.
Cody’s practice arena is set up in a couple of different ways. Cody has a narrow roping lane to track calves in then he also has a larger arena to rope calves in as well.
When it comes to practicing for the set up of a typical match roping, I give an advantage to Fred. He’s been scoring calves out there like they are walking fresh and setting his runs up.
If the barrier is long and calves are walking fresh, Fred is ready.
On the other hand Cody’s arena is set up to let him to practice making those six and seven second runs he’s so famous for.
How the arena is set up at Uvalde may give one man a distinct advantage over the other. If it’s a long score, advantage Fred, if it’s a short score, advantage Cody.
Fred is 59 years old. He’d had some neck injuries towards the end of his pro rodeo career. Cody has had knee injuries for years. One knee injury almost killed him a few years ago when his knee became infected. Both men look to be in good shape for being over a half century old. They’ve been practicing for months getting ready for this match. Fred said he’s been eating salads and really trying to get his body ready. Cody ropes everyday, I couldn’t get ahold of him to see how he’s been training and getting ready, but according to his social media, he’s 100% ready.
October 25 in Uvalde, Texas is when the Cowboy legends match roping will take place. I’ve never seen a match roping where they have $100,000 to bet. It will be one for the ages. I hope I am able to attend the roping, but it’s my son’s birthday and I may not be able to make it.
James Lockhart lives near the Kiamichi mountains in southeast Oklahoma. He writes cowboy stories and fools with cows and horses.
