Masked Rider Rose Rosas Rides Centennial Champion For “Red Raider Weekend” at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack

THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2025

It’s an extremely important job being Masked Rider at Texas Tech University—one that junior Rose Rosas does not take for granted.

“You are a role model for so many young students who look up to you and Centennial Champion,” Rose said this week. She’ll be aboard the TTU mascot on Saturday at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack for “Red Raider Weekend” as the 64th Masked Rider in school history.

Rose and Centennial Champion will make about three public appearances per week throughout the upcoming school year. Most of those involve children in the Lubbock and west Texas region wanting to get an up-close peak at Texas Tech royalty.

“I’ve been involved in the Masked Rider program for two years already,” Rose said. “There is a pretty big time commitment along with caring for the horse. It’s a lot of hard work but its an honor to be named Masked Rider. It’s a very prestigious role.”

Rose was born in Florida and grew up in Brady, Texas where she spent time on a goat and cattle ranch nearby. That’s where she learned to ride originally and then picked up riding more seriously her freshman year. She is an Animal Science major with an emphasis on AI production and Embryo transfer technology for sheet and goats.

“I was a member of Future Farmers of America and 4-H in high school which led me to my future interests,” she said. “The experience that I’m having as an ambassador for Texas Tech has been a tremendous asset to my college career.”

Rose said being a Masked Rider takes hard work, dedication, and the willingness to inspire others. “When you put on the mask and cape, you embody so much more than your own personal self-interests. You represent something the standards of our university and I’m proud to serve in this role for my year as the Masked Rider.”