Cheney’s Gray out of NFR with liver injury

LAS VEGAS – Cheney’s Ryan Gray, who came into the National Finals Rodeo as the top-ranked bareback rider, was knocked out of the competition when he was bucked off and stepped on by Golden Dream, suffering a lacerated liver during the second round on Friday night.

Gray was taken from the Thomas & Mack Center arena to University Medical Center, where he was admitted for observation.

Also Friday, Trevor Brazile clinched his record eighth all-around gold buckle, breaking a tie for the mark with Ty Murray. With season earnings of $323,526, Brazile has a $186,065 lead over second-place Curtis Cassidy of Donalda, Alberta.

In tie-down roping, Colbert’s Tyson Durfey finished out of the money for the second night in a row. He remains in ninth place in the world standings.