Goodbye to the Rodeo Prison: "The Wildest Show Behind Bars"

The Mad Cow Scramble at the Texas Prison Rodeo

The Texas Prison Rodeo started in 1931 at the Huntsville State Prison.  In addition to the standard rodeo events, the Prison Rodeo included wild cow milking and bull dogging.  One of the most popular events was "Hard Money."  A sack of money was tied to the horns of a wild (and angry) bull.  Forty inmates were then placed in the ring with the bull and told "go get it."

The Texas Prison Rodeo ended in 1986.  With the demolition of the arena last week, story of the Texas Prison Rodeo has ended.