Stampede's superstars blew the chutes open at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas in December, the premier championship rodeo event in the United States. Bucking sensation Grated Coconut, an 11-year-old 1,600-pound bay stallion, was named the NFR's best bareback horse, one of his sisters won a gold belt buckle, as did 1,300 "small" bull, Speed Dial.

Knife Money, a brown mare with the same sire as world famous Grated Coconut, took home the buckle for the best saddle bronc ride in round one with an 89 point ride, earning cowboy Bryce Miller a US $16,000 pay day. Speed Dial, a black and white Brahma-cross bull with Mexican fighting bull heritage, won a prized NFR buckle for the best ride in the sixth round, earning cowboy Shawn Proctor 89 points and $16,000. The Stampede's Coconut Roll (GC's mom), Majestic Rocket (GC's son), Mad Money (GC's daughter) and Knight Rocket also thrilled the crowds and the cowboys with great performances.

Rodeo senior manager Keith Marrington says, "This showing of Stampede stock once again points to the outstanding success of the Born to Buck program which continues to produce champion bucking stock that perform at the highest level."

Knife Money and Grated Coconut are the result of the Stampede's commitment to constantly improving the sport of rodeo by raising world-renowned bucking stock. The Born to Buck breeding program has produced many sensational horses since its start in 1961. The most famous of which is Grated Coconut who has been named the world's best bareback horse by the American Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association five times and the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association bareback horse of the year five times. He is featured in the 2009 Calgary Stampede poster based on the Jody Skinner painting: July Explosion: Grated Coconut.

In December, the Stampede purchased one of Grated Coconut's sons, Northern Coconut, a five-year old dark bay stallion, a product of trading sires with an Alberta stock contractor. Ranch manager Raymond Goodman says "He's not totally proven yet, but he will be bucked this spring in Hand Hills, Alta. and possibly at the Stampede."

Stampede's bulls are purchased and raised on Stampede Ranch. The Stampede's herd, comprised of 500 bucking horses and 90 bulls, carries the Calgary Stampede banner to the rodeo world and by the end of each year will have competed on 180 days in 30 different rodeos.