Hayes’ lead shrinks, but he remains world’s No. 1 midway through National Finals Rodeo

Through the halfway mark of the National Finals Rodeo, Hayden bareback rider Keenan Hayes remains atop the leaderboard, but the lead has shrunk since round 3. 

Hayes rode his horses to 83- and 87.5-point rides on Sunday and Monday, respectively, but was unable to score high enough to get into the money for rounds 4 and 5.

Creeping up behind him is Rocker Steiner of Weatherford, Texas, who held the world No. 1 ranking heading into the National Finals Rodeo, but quickly lost his lead to Hayes after the first round. 

Hayes sits with a total of $281,243.89 in earnings this season while Steiner looms roughly $2,600 behind at $278,636.14. Steiner earned money with rides to fourth and fifth in rounds 4 and 5, respectively, to catch up.

Behind the two at world No. 3 is Altamont, Utah’s Dean Thompson, who sits at $259,984.93. 

The National Finals Rodeo runs through Dec. 14 and its bareback riding portion hosts the top-15 ranked cowboys to battle over the 10-day span, riding one bronco each night. Each round is centered around big money and the rider who has accumulated the most earnings across the entire season by the end of the 10th night is named world champion. 

This season, Hayes has amassed 13 rodeo wins, including the New Year’s Eve Buck and Ball, San Angelo Cinch Chute-out, NFR Open and Larimer County Fair and Rodeo. 

Hayes is no stranger to the moment. Last season, he broke several records including becoming the first cowboy to win a bareback riding world championship title in a rookie season. He also became the holder of the highest bareback single-season earnings total at $434,050. 

He is poised to earn his second title in just two years. 

To watch Hayes and the rest of the National Finals Rodeo, visit CowboyChannelPlus.com. The stream begins at 6:45 p.m. each night through Dec. 14 and does require a fee.