FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Judy Mayes

817-244-6188

2001 NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro Finals Comes To An Exciting Close As Kevin Arnold Wins His First Major Show On Riosmysister

Fort Worth, TX (April, 14, 2001)-- Kevin Arnold, from Kermit, TX, had the biggest win of his cutting horse career $28,594 to take the NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro Championship aboard his horse Riomysister with the top score of 224 at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum. The top 20 cutters, who had advanced from the semi-final rounds, were competing for a purse of $471,434.

"This is my biggest win so far," said Arnold, "I had made the finals at the futurity, but didn't place." Kevin has NCHA lifetime earnings of over $130,000. The rider praised his horse, Riosmysister, which has NCHA lifetime earnings of over $52,000, because he's strong and always loves to cut cows

Reserve Champion honors went to Mary Ann Rapp of Weatherford, TX , who amazingly has placed on 4 horses during the competition and is seven months pregnant with a baby due in June. Her lucky horse today was Playin CDs with a score of 219.5 which she co-owns with her husband, Phil Rapp. She will receive a check for $27,450 which will bring her NCHA lifetime earnings to over $980,000.

Third place honors went to Dean Sanders of Anderson, TX on his mount, Justa Smart Peanut for a score of 217. The impressive finish brings Dean's NCHA lifetime earnings to over $640,000. _

The sport of Cutting has roots in Western ranching traditions, where good horses were a necessity for everyday ranch work and cattle handling. "Cutting" horses specialized in their ability to separate or "cut" one cow from a herd of others, for branding, doctoring or shipping. The National Cutting Horse Association was formed in 1946 by a group of cowboys and ranchers, who wanted to promote cutting competitions, have standardize rules and preserve the cutting horse's Western heritage. Today, the Fort Worth based NCHA represents more than 12,000 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, please contact Judy Mayes at 817-244-6188, or visit the NCHA website at www.nchacutting.com