Overview
A century ago, when Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona outlawed steer roping contests, there was one place a southwestern roper could go to hone his skills: Cowboy Park, the arena established in 1907 in Ciudad Jurez, Mexico, just across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas. During the formative years of rodeo that preceded the first Calgary Stampede in 1912, Cowboy Park promoted the sport of steer roping and provided a ready training ground for up-and-coming champions. From its inception until growing political turmoil in Mexico brought the enterprise to a halt, Cowboy Park kept the sport alive and fostered celebrity - its alumni swept the first prizes in Calgary and continued to dominate for some years. This unique institution, despite its significant influence on the future of rodeo, has until now received scant attention. Through the history he has recovered and photographs - many published here for the first time - John Baxter documents and illuminates the era of Cowboy Park and the early champions who won their spurs there.
Full Product Details
Author: John O. Baxter ,
Richard W. Slatta
Publisher: Texas Tech Press,U.S.
Imprint: Texas Tech Press,U.S.
Dimensions:
Width: 16.00cm
, Height: 2.30cm
, Length: 21.10cm
Weight: 0.480kg
ISBN: 9780896726420
ISBN 10: 0896726428
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 30 December 2008
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
This interesting and entertaining book relates the important story of Cowboy Park in the history of rodeo. --Dee Ann Ray, Books Are My Bag, Clinton Daily News Fans and historians ... will eat this book up...Baxter writes with a real affection for his characters, painting them in dashing terms even while acknowledging their faults. --Robert Nott, Santa Fe New Mexican: Pasatiempo, May 2009 A definite for rodeo fans. --Steve Shaw, True West, June 2009 An easy read and an interesting characterization of life in the days before calves supplanted steers in the arena and before New Mexico and Arizona achieved statehood in 1912. --Fritz Thompson, Albuquerque Journal, May 10, 2009
Author Information
John O. Baxter is an expert in water rights and other aspects of the history, culture, and law of the Southwest. A former archivist and historian for the State of New Mexico, Baxter holds the Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico and is the author of Dividing New Mexico's Waters, 1700-1912 and Las Carneradas: Sheep Trade in New Mexico, 1700-1860. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.Richard W. Slatta is professor of history at North Carolina State University. He is the author of eight books, including Cowboy: The Illustrated History, and more than 250 articles and reviews. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.
