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In the bull pen: San Antonio

Lambert pulls Code Blue until he receives vet's OK

PUEBLO, Colo. (July 29, 2010) - Four Top 10 bull riders who were out with injuries two weeks ago – Travis Briscoe, Guilherme Marchi, Robson Palermo and Ryan McConnel – are all in the draw for this week’s Built Ford Tough Series event in San Antonio.

But one of the top World Champion Bull contenders won’t be there.

Code Blue is being held out of the U.S. Air Force Invitational because of an injury to his back. The reigning champ has been out of competition since the injury was discovered in Bismarck, N.D., earlier this summer.

“I’m just not going to buck him until the vet signs off on him and tells me he’s OK to buck,” said PBR Livestock Director Cody Lambert in his weekly Podcast. “Because when you get a champion like that there [are] only bad things that can happen.”

Lambert records “In the Bull Pen” every Thursday prior to a Built Ford Tough Series event.

He said he spoke with Rick Wagoner, one of Code Blue’s owners, and was told “he’s doing really well and he’s feeling good.” Wagoner told Lambert that as far as he can tell, Code Blue is ready. But he has yet to take his prized possession to be examined by a veterinarian.

Lambert said that Code Blue is still a contender for this year’s title, but that he’s holding out the bull for his own good.

According to Wagoner, the plan is to have the bull examined this week. While he won’t be in San Antonio, the hope is that he’ll be cleared to compete two weeks later in Nashville, Tenn.

Lambert likened his call to Dr. Tandy Freeman’s decision to withhold McConnel from competition in Tulsa, Okla., two weeks ago.

“We take chances on bull riders getting hurt all the time,” Lambert explained, “but Tandy stepped in and wouldn’t let Ryan McConnel ride in Tulsa because he had a neck injury. Until he was convinced that he didn’t have a broken neck, he wasn’t going to OK him, so [McConnel] had to have an MRI and have several other doctors look at it.”

“Same thing with Code Blue. I want the best vet in the world – and I don’t mean a bull chiropractor, I mean a real vet – to look at him and tell me that he’s OK.”

Lambert’s entire 10-minute interview can be heard here. He also reviewed the recent Touring Pro event earlier this week in Cheyenne, Wyo., and looked ahead to the task of assembling the bull pen for the upcoming PBR World Finals in Las Vegas.

Lambert added, “We’re going to know [about Code Blue’s health], and Rick wants to know just as bad as I do.”

—by Keith Ryan Cartwright


9 Comments
  • FlashOBlue
    July 31, 2010
    We'll wait 'till you're all healed up, Champ!!!
  • pembroke
    July 30, 2010
    Rick Wagoner is a very responsible bull owner. So many owners think of only the money they can win and enter a bull that is injured. Thank you Messrs. Wagoner and Lambert for making the decision not to enter Code Blue until a vet has done a medical check-up. Hopefully Ol Blue will win the bull title of the bull as he sure is one special bull.
  • NCBullFan
    July 30, 2010
    For sure everyone wants to be certain that Code Blue is in top form! They have to watch out for our World Champion!! We all hope to have good news soon.

    Meantime, anyone in the NC region can go to the WW Ranch Arena next weekend (6th & 7th) and see Code Blue up close and personal. :) He will be "overseeing" the festivities at the WW Bucking Bulls' local bullriding event.

    Email WWBuckingBulls@yahoo.com for more info
  • reznibd
    July 30, 2010
    Yes, thank the good Lord above that Code Blue's being checked out so carefully. Keep him out as long as necessary. While his adoring fans miss him on tour, we'd be devasted to hear of him being hurt further--or worse. Blessings to our dear bovine and reigning champ!
  • cactus-sue
    July 30, 2010
    I am so happy Cody made this decision!! Our Blue is too precious and valuable to chance any further injury!! I'm sure Blue's owners want only what is best for their boy!! I sure do miss seeing Blue buck, but am so willing to wait and see him come back strong and healthy!!

    Thanks for taking such good care of these amazing animal athletes!!
  • Bookdragon3
    July 30, 2010
    Thank you, Cody, for taking such good care to keep our bovine athletes safe, too.
  • Shannon K
    July 29, 2010
    Oh dear, I do hope Code Blue gets a clean bill of health -- but I'm glad Cody Lambert is waiting to be sure for allowing him to buck!

    So I just tried, again, to watch the "on-demand" video from the last day of the Tulsa event. It's now split up into three videos, which is great because it takes less time to download, but the sound seems to be missing?
  • ilikepie
    July 29, 2010
    Poor boy :( Feel beter, soon, Blue
  • thewarners
    July 29, 2010
    Oh no! I hope he’s okay. These back injuries seem so frequent lately. What a handsome guy…I just put his picture on my desktop. :)

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