May 15, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Amy Vorhes

817.244.6188 ext. 113

WESTERN HORSEMAN CUP UPDATE:

Boards cleared for Horsecity.com Summer Season

Second phase of cutting series begins with Flowmaster PCCHA Derby

(Fort Worth, TX) — The second phase of the Western Horseman Cup championship cutting series, the Horsecity.com Summer Season, is underway. The first show of the season is the Flowmaster PCCHA Derby, which concludes on Sunday, May 18 in Reno, Nevada.

The Horsecity.com Summer lineup includes 17 shows across North America with added money alone of over $1.5 million.

Events include:

- Flowmaster PCCHA Derby in Reno, Nevada

- Breeders’ Invitational Derby in Reno, Nevada

- Zirnhelt’s Cutting Bonanza in Kamloops, British Columbia

- NCHA Summer Spectacular in Fort Worth, Texas

- Canadian Super Stakes in Claresholm, Alberta

- Galles Ranches Cutting in Farmington, New Mexico

- Ellensburg Futurity in Thorp, Washington

- Oklahoma Early Bird in Depew, Oklahoma

- Iowa Breeders Cutting in Marshalltown, Iowa

- NWCHA Ranch Festival in Fort Klamath, Oregon

- Missouri Futurity in Columbia, Missouri

- West Texas Futurity in Amarillo, Texas

- South Dakota CHA Limited Age Event in Platte, South Dakota

- CSRA CHA Fall Futurity in North Augusta, South Carolina

- Idaho CHA Aged Event in Nampa, Idaho

- Kansas Futurity in Salina, Kansas

- Ike Hamilton Memorial in West Monroe, Louisiana

The five Open horses and five Non-Pro riders (plus ties) with the highest cumulative scores at the conclusion of the Horsecity.com Summer Season will qualify to compete in the Western Horseman Cup finals, to be held in January 2004 during the Augusta Futurity. Qualifiers from the Quarter Horse News Spring Season will be ineligible to qualify twice to compete at the finals, which will offer $250,000 to the top limited age cutters.

The Western Horseman Cup program was unveiled at the 2002 Chevy Trucks / NCHA World Championship Futurity in December. The Futurity, held annually in Fort Worth, Texas, was the first on the long list of events included in the first annual Western Horseman Cup championship cutting series for horses four years of age in 2003. Each event on the list must offer total added money of $10,000 or more.

The series brings a new continuity to the limited age cutting horse circuit by adding seasons, and tracking results. The five Open horses (plus ties) with the highest point total and the five Non-Professional riders with the highest point total at the end of each of three seasons will be invited to participate in a newly-created Finals during the 2004 Augusta Futurity in January. Those 15 horses and 15 riders will cut one time for a total of $250,000.

The Western Horseman Cup was created under the support and direction of longtime cutter W.S. Morris, III. Morris’ Cowboy Publishing Group publishes Western Horseman Magazine and Quarter Horse News, and operates the equine web destination, Horsecity.com. The CPG publications, as well as the NCHA’s official magazine, the Cutting Horse Chatter, and newspapers across the country, carry results and updates for the Cup.

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 competition, standardize rules and preserve the cutting horses' Western heritage. Today, the Fort Worth-based NCHA represents over 14,000 people and oversees more than 1,400 NCHA-approved shows with more than $26 million in total prize money awarded annually.

For a complete list of events, results, points, rules and running totals, just visit www.westernhorsemancup.com or check your favorite cutting horse publication!