Sue Smith has been the top barrel racer on the Wilderness Circuit (primarily in Utah and Idaho) since 2009. Back in ’09, she set the regular season earnings record of $41,730.27, which stood until ’23, when the Idaho native broke her own record by earning more than $53,4000 in one year (before the circuit finals). But that one didn’t last as long. Carlee Otero started strong this year and now has $54,669.67 with two weeks left in the year.
Otero has had an incredible year following her fourth qualification to the NFR. According to WPRA, she is the world’s number-five cowgirl as of September 11, and she will compete in her fifth NFR in December. More than one-third of her winnings this year came from the Wilderness Circuit; without these rodeos, she would be nowhere near the top-15.
2025 for Carlee Otero
During the summer, the Wilderness Circuit is arguably one of the best places to visit. Committee after committee works hard to ensure that the grounds are fast and safe, making their rodeos worth attending. Barrel horses are expensive, to say the least, and their health is the number one priority. When entering a rodeo in this circuit, there is little concern for their safety.
The Texas native spent a significant portion of her summer there, including the famous Days of ’47 rodeo in Salt Lake City. It is well-known for awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals to their champions on a podium similar to that used in the Olympics. Otero won the gold medal and nearly $21,000 after sweeping her bracket and the finals.
The Wilderness Circuit has many high-dollar rodeos, and Otero was the queen of them this summer and all year. She didn’t need to win a lot of them.
Records like this are broken on a consistent basis, and she was the queen of it this summer and throughout the year. She had numerous sub-17-second runs on a standard pattern, which is why Otero is now the circuit’s most successful barrel racer.
Otero is preparing for her next trip down Thomas and Mack Alley. She has an incredible equine team in her trailer, and she will be gunning for her first world title when she arrives in Vegas, and her big wins on this circuit play a significant role in her chances of winning the gold buckle.
