Round three brings new faces to the top ranks of John Deere World Finals

Open race remains wide open while Non-Pro leader is untouchable

(Fort Worth, TX) — The 2002 John Deere / National Cutting Horse Association World Finals cutting is proving to be an exciting last-ditch effort for the Open World Championship title.

Rosies Lena, Quixote Mac and Stylish Pepper all began the cutting within $8,000 of each other at the top of the Open field. In three rounds, Rosies Lena and Quixote Mac have switched position twice, while Stylish Pepper and Harriott Playgirl continue to close the gap between first and fourth place for the year.

This evening’s third round of John Deere World Finals Open cutting belonged to Rosies Lena and McKenzie Mullins, who scored 225.5 points. Rosies Lena is an 11-year-old AQHA gelding sired by Lenas Jewel Bars out of Rosies Playboy Lena. The gelding is owned by Donald Mullins of New Ulm, Texas, and was campaigned throughout the year by McKenzie’s step-father, Robert Rust, who is showing Stylish Pepper in the World Finals. At 12 years old, McKenzie is the youngest competitor to ever ride in the Open World Finals.

Just one-half point behind Rosies Lena was the current World Finals average leader, Harriott Playgirl with 225 points. Harriott Playgirl is ridden by Allen Crouch and owned by Lee Garner of Batesville, Mississippi. The 10-year-old AQHA mare is sired by Case Of Freckles out of Kitten Sidewinder. The pair is currently leading the average by an astounding 21 points.

The Milners were in control of the Non-Pro division in round three. Joey Milner and Pappion Cat bested the field of 14 riders with 222 points under the NCHA’s five-judge system. Milner, of Southlake, Texas, and Pappion Cat were the 2001 NCHA Non-Pro Reserve Champions. Pappion Cat is a 9-year-old AQHA stallion sired by High Brow Cat out of That Smarts.

Joey’s mother and reigning NCHA Non-Pro World Champion, Mary Jo Milner, finished second in the round with 220 points. Milner’s horse is Red White And Boon, a 15-year-old AQHA gelding sired by Smart Little Lena out of Royal Blue Boon. Mary Jo has won the NCHA Non-Pro World title four times already, and is untouchable in what will be her 5^th year to win the title.

The John Deere/National Cutting Horse Association World Finals are a culmination of the year’s efforts for thirty of the sport’s best. Fifteen of the top Open horses and fifteen of the top Non-Professional riders in the 2002 NCHA point year have confirmed their plans to make one last push for a World Champion title February 27 through March 2 during the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.

Through the course of four rounds and an average non-working round, $256,400 will be distributed among the World Finalists. Should one horse or rider win every round, their money for the year will increase by $32,050 as $25,640 will be paid out in each round and each division daily.

John Deere’s financial contribution to the World Finals comes in the way of $100,000 added to the Open purse and $100,000 added to the Non-Pro purse for a total of $200,000. Their outstanding support of the World Finals paves the way for stronger competition throughout the year, as well. It takes a lot of showing, a lot of miles, and a tremendous amount of heart to become a World Champion cutter. Each of the shows on the circuit benefit from the race to be World Champion, and in the Top 15, as well. The World Champion race in the 11 classes recognize by the National Cutting Horse Association is in large part responsible for the success of the NCHA’s 1,400 approved weekend cuttings throughout the year.

The 2002 John Deere/NCHA World Finals began at 7 pm on Thursday, February 27 and will follow every evening through Sunday, March 2. The cutting will be held in the Reliant Arena in the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Complex in Houston, Texas. Tickets are still available for this historical event -- $11 for reserved seating and $6 for general admission. Tickets are available at the HLSR Reliant Arena box office the day of the show, or by calling Kathryn Hawthorn (832-667-1000) at the HLSR office.

The National Cutting Horse Association is made up of over 14,000 members across the United States with a wide range of backgrounds. The sport of cutting has roots in Western ranching traditions, where good horses were a necessity for everyday ranch work and cattle handling. From cowgirls to CEOs, from firefighters to professional football players, the common ground is often in the cutting arena. Each year more than 1,400 NCHA-approved events are held throughout the country with more than $28 million in prize money awarded.

To learn more about the National Cutting Horse Association and the sport of cutting, call 817-244-6188 or visit www.nchacutting.com.