The National Cutting Horse Association World Finals return to Amarillo, giving the best of the cutting world a chance to compete for the title of World Champion.

The top 30 NCHA money-earners in 2008 for each of the 12 NCHA-approved classes will make their way to Amarillo for competition from February 12-21 at the Amarillo National Center on the Tri-State Fairgrounds. Daily go-rounds will start at 8:00 am. Scores and a live web cast will be available each day through www.nchacutting.com.

This year’s competition is the sixth World Finals event and all have been in Amarillo. Entries are expected to be close to 360 with a purse of more than $540,000.

“Amarillo looks forward to this NCHA event each year. NCHA members, entrants and fans bring more than $1.2 million not only to our city’s hotels, motels and restaurants but also to vets, farriers, stock suppliers, gas stations, and other retailers,” Jerry Holt, Vice President of the Amarillo Convention & Visitors Bureau, says.

Back this year is Finals Night on Saturday, February 21, starting at 2 p.m., featuring the final runs for the Open and Non-Pro classes and with some of the most ?experienced riders and horses in the entire event. Closed-circuit radio commentary of the evening will be available on smart bug radios.

Youth finals are planned for one weekend earlier, on February 14 and 15, depending on the class of competition.

For a complete rundown of all classes and events, go to the NCHA web site at www.nchacutting.com- click on the World Finals logo in the upper right corner. Area businesses and individuals have helped make the NCHA World Finals a topnotch event.

Class sponsors for the NCHA World Finals are Amarillo National Bank, Johnson Ranches, American Quarter Horse Journal, Bar G Feedyard and Whiteface Ford, Tule Ranch, Brenda Michael, Abraham Equine, Herring Bank, Mr. & Mrs. Bob Cunningham, Mr. & Mrs. Clint Johnson and the Amarillo World Finals Working Group.

The NCHA World Finals joins other major equine events in the city: the Bayer Senior Select Show for the American Quarter Horse Association; the U.S. Team Penning Association National Finals; the World Championship Ranch Rodeo; and the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association.

The National Cutting Horse Association is made up of over 21,000 members worldwide, with many members living within six hours of Amarillo. The sport of cutting has roots in Western ranching traditions, where good horses were a necessity for everyday ranch work and cattle handling. Each year more than 2,200 NCHA-approved events are held throughout the country awarding more than $43 million in prize money.

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Visit the Amarillo CVC web site at www.amarillo-cvb.org

Visit the National Cutting Horse Association web site at www.nchacutting.com