Kelleher wins big in Jingle Bell Classic barrel races

TRIPLE CROWN WINNER

  • Ali Kate Kelleher (fifth right) with her support team accept a big check after winning the Jingle Bell Classic in Perry Dec. 16. CONTRIBUTED
    Ali Kate Kelleher (fifth right) with her support team accept a big check after winning the Jingle Bell Classic in Perry Dec. 16. CONTRIBUTED

    A Jones County barrel racer won big in Perry this week, winning the 2D in the Triple Crown Incentive slot race.

    Ali Kate Kelleher, riding her horse Sister, pulled in a total of $55,000 Dec. 16 during the event known as the Jingle Bell Classic. Kelleher has trained and owned the horse since 2020, and her first time running was in 2021. This win pushes Sister’s lifetime earnings over $75,000.

    Deanna Kelleher, Ali Kate’s mother, explained that Sister was a threeyear- old when she was purchased from Jeanette Nelson at NNN Ranch in Milledgeville. The mother said the slot race earned $40,000 and that race rolled over to three more races and four incentives, which added another $15,000 that day and probably around $10,000 in prizes.

    In her Facebook post after the win, Ali Kate said a lot of thank yous to racing staff, producers, sponsors, her fiancé Garrett and to her parents, Todd and Deanna, for their continued support.