Martini winning Dodge City KS Pro Rodeo and making the cover of Barrel Racing Report

Michelle Darling & Morning Traffic Take Second Dodge City Roundup Title

By Tanya Randall
National Finals Rodeo hopeful Michelle Darling and her great mare Morning Traffic (“Martini”) jumped back within the WPRA’sTop 15 with nearly $12,000 weekend that included her second championship at the $20,000-added Dodge City Roundup, held August 3-7 in Kansas.
“This is the busiest run!” said Darling, who currently sits No. 12 in the World Standing with $67,331. “I made six runs this week! She placed on every run she made! I’m so happy with her consistency. I couldn’t ask her to be any better than that!”

After the WCRA’s Days of ’47 in Salt Lake City, Darling headed home to give Martini a small break before the lucrative rodeos in her home circuit. They got started off at the Lea County Fair & Rodeo in Lovington, New Mexico, where they finished 15th for $222. She and her husband Cody made the all-night drive to Dodge City for Thursday morning slack.

“I was originally up in the Friday night perf and I traded,” she explained. “It was a one-header to get back (to the 12-spot short round). The more I thought about it, I wanted slack. Martini’s first run in slack is usually pretty fast...

Read the full article in the Barrel Racing Report