ORR- Racing on eight-year old Flash of Firewater, Laura Julkowski took top honors at this year’s Minnesota National Barrel Horse Association state finals, the weekend of Aug. 18, in Verndale, Minn.

Julkowski clocked a time of 14.55 seconds in the finals, taking top honors.

“I go to races almost every weekend,” she said. “It’s been my goal to do well.”

Julkowski won a cash prize and a gift certificate for a new saddle.

“I’ve been barrel racing since I was a kid,” she said. “I do barrels all day long, and also train barrel racing horses.”

Barrel racing is a rodeo sport that is all about speed. Riders enter the arena and then race around three 55-gallon barrels in a cloverleaf pattern.

Julkowski currently has eight horses at the family’s home near Orr, some hers, others being trained.

Her days are filled with horse training and care, along with taking care of the couple’s toddler.

“We also have ponies now,” she said, “for our daughter to ride.”

There were 360 entries in the state competition.

“Barrel racing is very popular,” she said. The event included elimination races to qualify for the finals. She drew last spot in the finals, which meant a long wait.

Julkowski rode two different horses in the event. Flash of Firewater is a horse she raised and trained, but then sold to another rider, who loaned her back for the race.

“That can be pretty stressful for the horse,” she said. “But she was calm and I was calm…It was a fast, smooth run.”

Successful barrel racing horses are able to easily maneuver themselves around the barrels, hugging in as tight as possible so they don’t waste any steps or time. The horses also need to be very intelligent and able to accurately follow their rider’s commands.

The sport is about the cooperation between the horse and the rider.

Julkowski said that was an unusually fast run for her in that pen.

“I had always ran 14.8 seconds, the last six runs in that pen,” she said.

Being last, the other top racers were all waiting for the final time.

“My horse kind of ruined it for everyone who was waiting,” she said.

This win qualifies Julkowski to enter the national competition, but she said she is waiting it out this year.

“I have gone to nationals before,” she said.

There are other barrel racing organizations that she competes in, and she is planning on attending other finals this year.