The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) is returning to Amarillo

This is a major development for Amarillo's growing equine events industry. Already, the city hosts three major equine championships in November; the U.S. Team Penning Association National Finals, the World Championship Ranch Rodeo and the National Finals Steer Roping.

The NCHA World Championship Finals will be held in the Amarillo National Center at the Tri-State Fairgrounds. It is a new event that will grow out of their existing World Championship Finals held each February during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

The NCHA anticipates 550 horses competing in this new event, with competition in 11 classes. The top 50 money earners in each class will be invited to compete for a share of a total purse exceeding $600,000. World champions will be crowned in each of the 11 classes.

Thousands of cutting horse enthusiasts are expected to compete and visit the show, and each will spend about 9-10 nights in Amarillo.

The show dates are Jan. 12-22, 2004 and are yet to be determined for 2005 and 2006.

Amarillo is a hub of cutting horse interest and therefore is a logical choice to host this new event, according to Hooper. Nearly 2,000 NCHA members live within six hours of Amarillo. Additionally, nearly 75,000 American Quarter Horse Association members live in Texas and the surrounding states of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. More than 96% of all horses in NCHA events are American Quarter Horses.

The World Championship Finals will bring a large economic boost to Amarillo at a traditionally slow time of year for the local hospitality industry. January is the month of the year with the lowest occupancy and room rates at area hotels and motels, Jerry Holt, Executive Director of the Amarillo CVC, explains.

"We are very excited to bring this business to Amarillo, not only for the added economic benefit but also for the increased civic exposure," Holt says.

Initial CVC estimates peg the show's economic impact at nearly $2 million.

Helping the Amarillo CVC put this bid together were the Tri-State Fairgrounds, City of Amarillo and American Quarter Horse Association. Also bidding for the show were Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Houston.

The NCHA has deep roots in Western ranching tradition. The association has grown to more than 14,000 members. Based in Fort Worth, it sponsors over 1,400 events each year with purses totaling more than $28 million.