The bull that had a lot of cowboys quaking in their boots will be the first animal athlete inducted into RodeoHouston’s Hall of Fame in 2026.🤠💛
HOUSTON — The 2026 class of the RodeoHouston Hall of Fame will include a first. Bodacious, often considered the “most dangerous bull in rodeo history,” will become the first animal athlete recognized.
Legendary bull and bronc rider Ty Murray will also be honored.
“Ty Murray and Bodacious are among the most skilled athletes to ever compete at RodeoHouston, leaving a lasting legacy in both the sport and our event,” Chris Boleman, president and CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, said. “Their induction into the RodeoHouston Hall of Fame celebrates the power, grit and spirit that define rodeo at its best.”
Bodacious
Bodacious often had cowboys quaking in their boots, and only a handful managed to stay on him for the required eight seconds. In a four-year career, Bodacious bucked off 127 of his 135 riders and sent a lot of others to the hospital with his bone-crushing style.
The 1,900-pound charbray competed at RodeoHouston from 1992 until his retirement in 1995.
“Known for his unmatched power and unpredictable athleticism, Bodacious achieved near-mythical status after consistently posting some of the highest buck-off rates,” HLSR said.
Bodacious was named PRCA Bull of the Year in 1994-95 and top bull of the National Finals Rodeo in 1992 and 1994-95.
His bloodline has continued to influence rodeo, with his offspring competing in bull riding events across the country.
Ty Murray
Murray earned multiple RodeoHouston championship titles throughout his career, including All-Around Champion in 1990, 1993, 1994 and 1998. He was Bull Riding Champion in 1990 and 1994.
The Stephenville, Texas, native also competed in bareback and saddle bronc riding.
The many titles Murray earned throughout his career included seven-time All-Around World Champion. He qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 19 times and was a co-founder of Professional Bull Riders (PBR), established in 1992.
In 2002, Murray was inducted into the PBR Hall of Fame.
By the way, in case you were wondering, Murray had the bad luck of drawing Bodacious more than once, but always ended up lying in the dirt. We tracked down video of one of those rides at the National Finals Rodeo in 1993.