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Don Gay: Bull Riding Champion Trivia Quiz

Many fans of bull riding know Don Gay only as a color commentator. However, he is 8 times the World Champion Bull Rider of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

A multiple-choice quiz by metalmtnman. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
metalmtnman

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
280,897

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
374

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was most significant about Don's title in 1977?
Hint

He was competing against his traveling partner for the title

He got married the same day he won the title

He won despite not being able to compete on his last bull

It involved the first ever "ride off" in Professional Rodeo

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Question 2 of 10

2. From 1974 to 1982, Don Gay won 7 world titles in the bull riding. However, there was an interruption in that quest. Who beat Don for the championship in 1978? Hint

Denny Flynn

Lyle Sankey

Gary Leffew

Butch Kirby

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Question 3 of 10

3. Besides it being his first world title, what made Donnie's 1974 championship especially memorable; maybe even unique? Hint

He did it while riding with a broken hand

He was still in high school

He was so far ahead in money won no one could catch him

He was riding with borrowed equipment

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Question 4 of 10

4. How many times did Don Gay set a record for highest marked ride ever in Professional Rodeo? Hint

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Question 5 of 10

5. Of what bull did Don comment, "Thats the hardest I ever been bucked off in my life"? Hint

Savage 7, Vold Rodeo Co.

Red Rock, Growney Rodeo Co.

Red Rocker, Mesquite Rodeo Co.

Cowtown, Beutler Rodeo Co.

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Question 6 of 10

6. As great a bull rider as Don was, even he had his Achilles heel. In his case there were 2 of them and they had 4 legs. What 2 bulls was it that most thwarted Donnies success? Hint

Kung Fu and Oscar

777 and Joe Kool

Ring Eye and Black 6

Panda Bear and D39

7. In a professional bull riding career that spanned over 15 years, Don Gay had many acheivements. One is the 8 World titles that has stood for over 20 years now, and not likely to be broken. What is his other record that stood unbroken for over 25 years? Hint

Riding all 10 bulls at the finals

Most money won in a single year

Highest score in bull riding at the National Finals

Most National Finals average titles won

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Question 8 of 10

8. Most famous for his bull riding, Donnie Gay competed in other rodeo events as well including team roping. What other event did Don narrowly miss qualifying to the 1975 National Finals Rodeo in? Hint

Saddle bronc riding

Bareback riding

Team roping

Calf roping

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Question 9 of 10

9. From a rodeo family, Don's Father owns Mesquite Rodeo Co., and his mother served as rodeo secretary for years. Don has 2 brothers who both competed in bull riding as well as other events. What are his brothers names? Hint

Bobby and Dalton

Rick and Mike

Pete and Jim

Larry and Jeff

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Question 10 of 10

10. To become a full fledged member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, you must first win on a PRCA 'Permit'. And just like everyone else, Donnie had to fill his permit before he could become a full member. What event did he win his qualification in? Hint

Bareback riding

Team roping

Bull riding

Saddle bronc riding

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was most significant about Don's title in 1977?

Answer: It involved the first ever "ride off" in Professional Rodeo

At the end of the 10th round of the National Finals Rodeo, Don Gay and Randy Majors were tied in points for the title and they each had to get on 1 more bull to determine the winner. Randy went first and was bucked off. With some encouragement from his mentor Jim Shoulders, Donnie held on to #11 of Dell Hall Rodeo Co. just long enough to make the 8 second whistle and win his 4th World title.

2. From 1974 to 1982, Don Gay won 7 world titles in the bull riding. However, there was an interruption in that quest. Who beat Don for the championship in 1978?

Answer: Butch Kirby

The middle of 3 bull riding brothers, Butch Kirby from Alba Texas made it count in 1978, winning his first and only Bull Riding World Championship, breaking Donnie's string of titles. Gary Leffew was the 1970 World Champion, Denny Flynn was runner-up to Donnie for the Championship on two occasions, and Lyle Sankey won the bull riding average title at the National Finals twice in the late 1970s.

3. Besides it being his first world title, what made Donnie's 1974 championship especially memorable; maybe even unique?

Answer: He did it while riding with a broken hand

Don had a broken bone in his riding hand, but as he said in an interview "pain didn't figure in. I just iced it down and kept riding."

4. How many times did Don Gay set a record for highest marked ride ever in Professional Rodeo?

Answer: 1

He rode the infamous 'Oscar' of RSC Rodeo Inc. at the Cow Palace for 97 points. Though the little brahma from California was never voted Bucking Bull of the Year, he was a legend in bull riding. Oscar was retired from rodeo at the last round of the National Finals Rodeo in 1978. The bull rider who rode Oscar on his last trip was a little guy from Texas named Don Gay.

5. Of what bull did Don comment, "Thats the hardest I ever been bucked off in my life"?

Answer: Red Rocker, Mesquite Rodeo Co.

Interestingly enough, Red Rocker and the Mesquite Rodeo Co. were owned by Don's father Neal Gay. The explosive buck-off was at the National Finals in 1985. Don remarked that the ground was real hard and he could barely get out of bed the next day. As Don is infamous for saying, "You can't teach bulls to read (your buckle), they don't care if you are the world champion."

6. As great a bull rider as Don was, even he had his Achilles heel. In his case there were 2 of them and they had 4 legs. What 2 bulls was it that most thwarted Donnies success?

Answer: 777 and Joe Kool

In the book, 'Why We Win', Don commented, "there was only 1 bull I got on three times and did not ride, that was Harry Volds 777." The other bull that often tossed Donnie was Joe Kool of Mesquite Rodeo Co. "I got on him seven times and rode him once. He now has a lush green pasture right beside my house."

Answer: Highest score in bull riding at the National Finals

95 points at the Finals in 1975 at Oklahoma City. Having to ride his last bull to win the title, in typical Donnie Gay fashion, he scored 95 points on Red One of the Kelsey Rodeo Company and won his 2nd Championship. The ride was the National Finals record until Cody Hancock scored 96 points at the Finals in 2001.

Answer: Saddle bronc riding

Enroute to his 2nd world title in the bull riding, Don won enough money in the saddle bronc riding that he almost made it the the NFR in that event also. Ever the capable rodeo cowboy, Don Gay was ranked in the top 10 in the PRCA All Around Cowboy standings from 1973 - 1979. To be in the all around standings you must win money in 2 or more events, not an easy feat in professional rodeo.

Answer: Pete and Jim

Don has always claimed that older brother Pete was a far better bull rider than himself, Pete qualified for the National Finals in the bull riding several times and was a very good bareback rider also. Little brother Jim was a Texas High School Steer Wrestling Champion as well as winning his share of money riding bulls in the professional ranks.

Answer: Bareback riding

Formerly in the PRCA it was almost impossible for a permit holder to get entered in the bull riding because there were so many riders. However, you could always get entered in the bareback riding and the ever determined Don Gay did what it took to win the qualifying money, even though it was not in his preferred event.

Source: Author metalmtnman

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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