The Unluckiest, Lucky Year for Barrel Racer Kelly Allen

Rodeo Daily sat down with Pro Barrel Racer Kelly Allen to discuss the Cinch Playoffs, rollercoaster of a rodeo season she's had and her 2023 NFR dreams reigniting.

The battle to make it to the National Finals Rodeo is at it's peak. 

Only the top-15 professional athletes in each rodeo event are able to compete in Las Vegas at the NFR this December. Those top athletes are decided by the amount money won in that season of rodeo throughout all sanctioned events.

Athletes that are on the edge of making it to the NFR are on the "bubble" of qualifying and are grabbing at any chance they can down the stretch to win money towards that top-15 status. 

When professional barrel racer Kelly Allen hit a barrel at the Abilene Pro Rodeo earlier this week, she thought her dream of competing at her first NFR was out of reach. In a crazy twist of fate, Lisa Lockhart did not enter the Governor's Cup in Sioux Falls, SD and this opened up one spot at The Cinch Playoffs taking place Sept. 28-30. A spot for 17th overall barrel racer Kelly Allen.

The Cinch Playoffs' Governors Cup is the last big chance for an athlete to earn money towards their NFR standing. And it's a tough one to qualify for. Only 12 barrel racers will take the dirt.

It was a massive change of events.

Luckily, we had the chance to catch up with Allen and discuss this news, as well as horses, strategy and luck. We hope you enjoy!

Madi Roelofsen: Hey Kelly, thank you so much for taking time to talk today. Let's jump right into it. Lisa Lockhart did not enter the Cinch Playoffs, opening it up to you. What was your reaction when you found out?

Kelly Allen: I have been in communication with Lisa and she mentioned she was on the fence about if she was going to enter or not. She texted me two days before the books closed so I kind of knew. I got my call backs and entered up. It's been like that all year, have had one lucky break after another. I may go and win zero dollars or may go win the whole thing.

Madi Roelofsen: We are looking forward to watching you run at the Governor's Cup. Speaking of, what horse are you planning on running?

Kelly Allen: My plan right now is my mare Miss JB 165 "Cinco". She is sired by The Money Depot out of Shorease, a Dash Ta Fame daughter. I won the pro rodeo at Rapid City, SD on Cinco. Rapid City is a very similar pattern to Sioux Falls. They are both smaller 13 second patterns with black dirt. I am going to go to Northside in Fort Worth, TX this weekend since it is a smaller pattern to see how her and my gelding ,JJ, feel. WildChildsGotCashUno "JJ" is sired by BugemForCash out of the amazing mare XV Wild Child.

Madi Roelofsen: I know you mentioned going to run at Northside this weekend but what else is going into your plan going for the Cinch Playoffs?

Kelly Allen: It does not really matter how much planning you do. I am preparing for it like I am going to the NFR. Kind of a 'whatever is meant to be will be' mindset. Can't put too much pressure on it and get your hopes up, you know what I mean? I am going to run at both horses at the Glen Rose jackpot and at Northside, keep them feeling their best with therapies and keeping them in shape. 

Madi Roelofsen: I love that you have them as a priority. You mentioned having a lot of lucky breaks this year, can you describe what this season has been like for you? 

Kelly Allen: A rollercoaster. It's been the unluckiest lucky year. I was really grateful to add JJ to the team. Doing that many rodeos is hard on one horse and Cinco was starting to get sore so having JJ gave her a well deserved break. It's been so stressful. It's fun but stressful. I mean we all enjoy it and try to keep it fun but is our job and livelihood so its stressful. I hit three barrels that cost me $25,000. Just three barrels. When you are hot, you're hot. When you're not, you're not. 

Madi Roelofsen: It sounds like having a great support system would make a big difference, do you have a good one?

Kelly Allen: The best support system. My boyfriend Anthony Russo, my mom Lori and my dad Kenny. I couldn't have made it this far without any of them. I have been on the road since June and big chunk of that I was by myself. That's a long time to be away from home. They've been there every step of the way and I am so thankful.

Madi Roelofsen: It sounds like you've got a group of loving and supportive people in your corner. Speaking of loving and supporting, I just have one more thing, tell us about what happened in Calgary. You supported a fellow barrel racer in a huge way.

Kelly Allen: Kassie Mowry had qualified for the finals at Calgary in Canada, but she was out a horse and couldn't get him across the US border in time. I texted her to see if she had found one and she hadn't yet. She actually mentioned about running a pick up man's horse. I talked to JJ's owner, David Harmon, and agreed to offer him to Kassie to run. JJ and I hit a barrel to advance to the finals. Kassie may not have won it but she came in 6th out of 12th in the finals and that's an incredible for jump jockeying a horse. Kassie never asks for anything and deserves so much, I was glad to have been able to lend her JJ.

Madi Roelofsen: Wow, from the outside eye that looks crazy that you would help your competition especially when she's ranked third in the world. 

Kelly Allen: Anthony, my boyfriend, and I say all the time "We don't have anybody to root against". We are all close and are friends. We all have been traveling to the same rodeos and have had a lot of the same struggles and success.

Madi Roelofsen: What camaraderie. Thank you so much for taking the time to sit down and talk to us today. We look forward to watching you run at Governor's Cup!