For Immediate Release

December 14, 2001

From the NATIONAL CUTTING HORSE ASSOCIATION

Contact: Amy Vorhes

817.244.6188 ext. 113

(Fort Worth, TX) -- The finals have begun at the 40^th Annual National Cutting Horse Association World Championship Futurity! The first champion crowned for the 2001 edition of the event was Limited Non-Pro Rider Jaime Renee Smith.

Smith, who calls College Station, Texas, home was able to successfully complete three rounds of Non-Professional competition riding Peporitas Twist for an opportunity at the $79,052 Limited Non-Pro purse on December 14.

Peporitas Twist is a three-year-old stallion by Freckles Fancy Twist out of Little Peporita by Peppy San Badger that Smith rode to the high score of 216 points in Friday afternoon's finals. The pair earned a first place check of $13,557.

Finishing the class in second place was Joey Patterson of Blountsville, Alabama. His score of 213.5 aboard three-year-old Dualling San Jo was good for second place money of $12,299 and bragging rights in the division that began with 136 entries.

Additional prizes include a Remington bronze from Sam's Club, Gist Silversmith's trophy buckles, Professional's Choice products, M.L. Leddy's saddles and briefcases, and a score of other items. The $345,000 added money for the NCHA World Championship Futurity is provided by the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the City of Fort Worth.

The National Cutting Horse Association's 40^th Annual Futurity will wrap up 20 days of fierce competition on the evening of December 16 with the Open Futurity Finals and Champions Party thereafter where all of the show's champions will be the guests of honor.

In addition to world-class cutting, the NCHA also hosts the Cowboy Christmas Extravaganza trade and gift show, nine cutting horse sales, a Cowboy Santa, and a celebrity cutting. All of the NCHA's sponsors are on hand, including Sam's Club, Chevy Trucks, John Deere, Flowmaster, Sooner Trailers, and many, many more.

For more information about the National Cutting Horse Association, the 40th Annual NCHA World Championship Futurity, or the long list of activities that accompany the 20-day show, please call the NCHA at 817-244-6188 or visit www.nchacutting.com.