Jeff Hooper Named Executive Director 
Of the National Cutting Horse Association

(Fort Worth, Texas)…The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) has named Jeff Hooper as the new Executive Director of the 11,000-member organization. Hooper comes to NCHA from his position as Vice President of Administration at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie. He will assume his new duties with the NCHA on August 21, 2000 according to NCHA President Jim Milner. 

“We are extremely fortunate to have Jeff Hooper on board,” said Milner. “He has an incredible list of accomplishments in the horse industry, having served as a top executive for both non-profit and for-profit organizations.” 

Hooper has been a part of the Lone Star Park management team since August 1997. Lone Star Park is a $96 million facility offering live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing at a major league sports and entertainment complex. As vice president of administration and a member of the executive committee, his duties included directing all administrative functions of the facility, with a staff of 1,600 during peak season. 

In his responsibilities with Lone Star Park, Hooper also served as a liaison to Fasig-Tipton Company, Inc. and the Texas Thoroughbred Association. He developed the business plan and secured funding for a $1.2 million horse sales pavilion at Lone Star Park, with gross sales expected to top $20 million in 2000. He also coordinated major special events, such as the innovative National Thoroughbred Racing Association All-Star Jockey Championship, televised nationally on ESPN2.

 In 1997, as vice president of Racing Resource Group, a national consulting firm based in Alexandria, Virginia, Hooper developed and implemented a variety of projects for Lone Star Park. 

Prior to his involvement with Lone Star Park and Racing Resource Group, Hooper, a Southern Methodist University graduate, served for nine years as executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association. His achievements included development of the multi-million dollar Texas-bred Incentive Awards program; expansion of the annual TTA public horse sales auction into multi-million dollar events; and the growth of the monthly magazine into an award-winning, four-color publication with substantial monthly advertising revenue. 

Hooper, who resides in Fort Worth with his wife Nancy, and children Clayton, 10, and Emily, 6, looks forward to guiding the National Cutting Horse Association into the new millennium. “The NCHA has fantastic natural resources in terms of its rich and colorful history, its grass roots membership, and an exciting multi-million dollar sport where horse owners can participate as amateur and non-pro riders,” said Hooper. “We have many opportunities to enhance the public’s awareness of the sport, while serving the diverse needs of our membership. In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to meeting members from coast-to-coast to discuss our common goals.”