News from NCHA

For Immediate Release - October 30, 2000

WINNERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH GARNER PRIZES AT SOUTHERN FUTURITY IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, OCTOBER 20-29

Fort Worth, Texas --- More than $116,000 in added money helped make the recent Southern Cutting Horse Futurity one of the top cutting events offered in the South this year, and true to form, most of the events' winners represented "southern" states.

The Open Futurity saw a pair of Texans take the first two places. Corky Sokol of Brenham, Texas rode Lot of Handle to the win with a score of 217. Leon Harrel of Kerrville, Texas took the reserve title aboard Hickorysap with a 213.5 score.

Janet Bowen of Brenham, Texas won the Non-Pro Futurity with a 217 marked on her horse, Savanah Holli. Billy Atwood of Koscuisko, Mississippi was named the Reserve Champion, with a score of 212 on Young Boogie Man.

In the Open Derby finals, Roy Carter of Hempstead, Texas rode Mighty Aphrodite, owned by Brenham, Texas resident Betsy Mecom to the title with a score of 221. Lady Richardson carried Kenny Pugh of Victoria, Texas to the reserve title. Lady Richardson is owned by Lynn Coneway's Dead Horse Ranch in Ribera, New Mexico.

Benjie Neely of Lyons, Georgia took both the champion and reserve champion honors in the Non-Pro Derby event. He rode Fritz Doc Finale to the Championship with a mark of 216, and claimed the reserve title riding Tronas Little Cowboy to score 214.

The Southern Cutting Horse Futurity is one of many annual cutting events offering spectacular prize money and competition to cutting horse enthusiasts. The sport of cutting has roots in Western ranching traditions, where good horses were a necessity for everyday ranch work and cattle handling. The National Cutting Horse Association was formed in 1946 by a group of cowboys and ranchers who wanted to promote cutting competitions, standardize rules and preserve the cutting horses' western heritage. Today, the Fort Worth-based NCHA represents more than 13,000 members in 22 countries and oversees more than 1,400 NCHA-approved shows with more than $22 million in total prize money awarded annually.

For more information, contact Pete hale at (817) 244-6188, or visit the NCHA website at www.nchacutting.com.

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