Marty Yates and Ty Harris stopped the clock at 7.3 seconds in Round 8 of the 2024 NFR, splitting the win and each pocketing $30,155.
Harris secured his second round win of the Finals after previously winning Round 3 and placing in Rounds 4 and 5. Yates, meanwhile, hit his stride in the second half of the Finals, splitting fourth in Round 7 before sharing the Round 8 win.
Marty Yates: A Comeback Story
After having horse troubles leading up to the 2024 NFR, Yates is glad to be back on top.
“It’s nice to finally be back in the winner’s circle,” Yates said. “This year has been a little rough. I’ve got a slow start coming out here, riding a different horse than I’ve ridden before, and it’s kind of been a struggle. Now we’re on the right track, I’m excited for these next two rounds.”
Yates and Hughes So Pretty, aka “Rolex,” owned by Chisum Allen, took a few rounds to adjust to the challenges of the Thomas & Mack.
“She’s a great mare,” Yates said. “I was fortunate enough to get to ride her at Salinas in the short round this year and get the win out there. She can really run and really, really stop. It’s been difficult for me to get my slack figured out in the Thomas & Mack. These calves are a little bit more seasoned, and you could say they have been roped quite a bit, so my goes haven’t been very good and I haven’t flanked and tied like I should.”
After losing a horse just before the Finals and competing on a young, green horse all year, Rolex’s performance in Round 8 brought relief to Yates.
“The horse I planned on riding, Dinero, had an injury two weeks before the NFR, and we had to put him down,” Yates said. “So, my plans changed pretty last minute. No excuses, I just haven’t roped well this week and haven’t made it work. It’s great to finally be back.”
This year’s NFR is also special for Yates because of a new fan cheering him on—his daughter, Miley Grace Yates.
“It’s fun to come out here and get to drag Miley Grace along,” Yates said. “It’ll be pretty special to take her up on stage at the South Point for the first time.”
Another key figure in Yates’ corner is World Champion header, Kaleb Driggers, who has been helping him in the box.
“It’s awesome to have a guy like Kaleb Driggers with that much confidence and experience standing right there next to you,” Yates said. “He’s always calming me down or offering advice.”
Ty Harris: Overcoming Struggles in the Thomas & Mack
For Ty Harris, Round 8 was a breath of fresh air after some struggles in the Thomas & Mack.
“I’m really excited to get another win,” Harris said. “I think we’ve talked a lot about my struggles in this arena specifically, and I knew I could do it. I put the work in and the preparation, and it’s really nice to see it pay off.”
After not getting the feel he wanted in the box in Round 5, Harris made a few changes on Peso.
“I didn’t know what I was doing wrong, but then I found it,” Harris said. “Blair Burk helped me and then Logan Bird helped me get a little better feel in Round 6 and he left perfect. He kept turning his head. But in Round 6, 7 and 8, he’s left exactly when I wanted it. He’s gave me a good go. He can run so hard and he’s flat. I’m excited now that we’ve finally got it figured out.”
Harris drew a calf that pushed a little with Hunter Herrin in Round 5, so he opted to take an extra wrap, just in case.
“I just wanted to get a good start and let the rest take over,” Harris said. “That calf pushed a little bit, and I told myself to put two wraps. It was a soft round, so I just wanted to take the start.”
Two to Go
With just two rounds left, both Yates and Harris have their eyes on finishing strong. Harris remains in contention for the average and has made it clear that he’ll be going for broke.
“I’m going out the next two as fast as possible,” Harris said. “If I think I can take a wrap and a hooey, I’ll do it. If I need to put two, I’ll put two. But I’m hitting that barrier and trying to win.”
For Yates, the win in Round 8 has reignited his momentum, and he’s eager to finish strong.
“The plan is the same as always: win as much as you possibly can,” Yates said. “It’s great to finally be back, and I’m ready to finish strong.”
