Old West Sale Tops $4.2 Million in Amarillo
Twenty-two rope horses sold for a combined $4,207,000 at the Amarillo Tri-State Fairgrounds on Oct. 16.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Rodeo
The Old West Rope Horse Sale brought in $4,207,000 gross for 22 horses sold at the Amarillo Tri-State Fairgrounds on Oct. 16. The sale's top horse, Dirty Deed, sold for $1.3 million.
Why it matters
Many consignors chose to retain their horses rather than sell, keeping their chance to compete for a million dollars in the Graduate Incentive. Old West also added $750,000 in bonus money for 2027 through the sale sidepot.
Sixty-five horses were consigned and 62 went through the ring, with seven of twelve Metallic Cat-line horses selling for a combined $2,105,000. The Metallic Cat-line grosses are the only breakdown the sale provided by sire line.
The players
Old West Rope Horse Sale
The annual Amarillo consignment auction for rope horse prospects, which runs a graduate incentive tied to its sale results.
Dirty Deed
A 2023 bay roan mare who was the top seller at the sale and was bought by a partnership of Cracklin J Ranch and Zito Equine.
The details
Consignors kept 40 horses by retaining them, and paid the same commission on the reserve as consignors whose horses sold. Every horse in the sale was a prospect, and none was older than 3.
Timeline
Oct. 16, 2026: Old West Rope Horse Sale held at the Amarillo Tri-State Fairgrounds.
2027: Sale sidepot bonuses of $500,000 for Intermediate and $250,000 for Limited divisions.
Season Trajectory
The sale's strong showing sets a high bar for rope horse prospects heading into the next competitive cycle. Retained horses now carry the chance to compete for the million-dollar Graduate Incentive, reshaping how consignors weigh selling versus keeping their stock.
Retained horses still carry a shot at the million-dollar Graduate Incentive, so consignors who kept stock are still in contention. Fantasy and ownership planning for the 2027 cycle hinges on which retained horses stay in the competition.
The takeaway
Retaining a horse keeps its path to the Graduate Incentive open, which makes the sale's retention strategy a practical option for owners weighing their next move.
What happens next
Sale sidepot bonuses of $500,000 for Intermediate and $250,000 for Limited will be paid out in 2027.
Further reading
For more on the sport, explore Rodeo coverage across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Team Roping Journal.
