Pete Knight (rodeo)

Peter Charles "Pete" Knight (May 5, 1903 - May 23, 1937) was a Canadian and World Champion Rodeo Bronc Rider. Knight was the acclaimed "King of the Cowboys" of the 1930s, and held the Rodeo Association of America title "World Champion Bronc Rider" for 1932, 1933, 1935, and 1936. The Rodeo Hall of Fame in the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum inducted Knight in 1958. The Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame inducted Pete in 1998. The ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado, inducted Knight in the Saddle Bronc Riding category when it opened its doors in 1979.

Knight began formal riding training at the Deep Dale Ranch, Crossfield, Alberta, in the spring of 1918. At the first competition he entered at Crossfield in June, 1918, Knight won second place in the bucking contest. His riding style was influenced by Yakima Canutt, and was later witnessed by Calgary Stampede founder Guy Weadick, who invited Knight to compete in the 1923 Calgary Stampede; breaking his leg in a riding accident, Knight was unable to compete that year.

At the 1924 Calgary Stampede, Knight won second place in the Canadian Bucking Horse Championship event by 1/10 of a point behind the Canadian Champion, Pete La Grandeur. In 1925, Knight was invited to join the Alberta Stampede Company, a travelling rodeo firm which toured North America. While riding with the company in Montreal in October, 1926, Knight rode the legendary bucking horse, "Midnight". In 1927, Knight won both the North American Open Bucking Championship and the Canadian Bucking Championship at the Calgary Stampede, placing his name on the Prince of Wales' Cup for the first time.

At the Hand Hills Lake Stampede situated near Drumheller, Alberta, Knight won the bucking horse event through four consecutive years (1924, 1925, 1926, and 1927) and the wild horse race event in 1928.

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