The National Cutting Horse Association World Finals is back in Amarillo to give the best of the best a chance to compete for the title of World Champion.

The top 50 NCHA money-earners in each of the 11 NCHA-approved classes will make their way to Amarillo for competition from February 9-20 at the Amarillo National Center in the Tri-State Fairgrounds. Daily go-rounds will start at 8:00 am. Scores and a live web cast will be available each day through www.nchacutting.com.

This year, with entries growing to more than 540, and a record total purse of more than $637,000, the event is shaping up be the best World Finals yet.

New this year is Finals Night on Saturday, February 18, featuring the final runs for the Open and Non-Pro classes and some of the most experienced riders and horses in the entire event. Many eyes will be watching top horse Bobs Hickory Rio in the Open Class and top rider Mary Jo Milner in the Non-Pro Class.

Tickets for Finals Night will be available throughout the Amarillo area at the Amarillo Globe-News, Amarillo Visitor Information Center, Cavender’s Boot City, Boots ‘n Jeans, West Texas Western Stores (Amarillo & Canyon), Campbell’s Bits & Spurs, RT Feeds, Gander Mountain, Scott Tractor, M&R Liquor, Westgate Chevrolet, Plains Chevrolet, Quality Nissan, Gebo’s, Gene Messer Cadillac/Mitsubishi, Village Bakery & Cafe and Foust Feeds. Finals Night starts at 6 p.m.

Each class has an Amarillo-area sponsor and they are Amarillo National Bank, Johnson Ranches, American Quarter Horse Journal, Amarillo Globe-News, Cavender’s Boot City, Hi-Pro Feeds, Maxor, Tule Ranch, Brenda Michael and Jim and Mary Jo Milner. Also sponsoring this event are the Ambassador Hotel and the Holiday Inn.

The NCHA World Finals joins other major equine events in the city: the Bayer Senior Select Show for the American Quarter Horse Association; the U.S. Team Penning Association National Finals; the World Championship Ranch Rodeo; and the Amarillo Showcase of Championship Roping, including the National Finals Steer Roping.

The National Cutting Horse Association is made up of 16,000 members across the United States, with nearly 2,000 NCHA members living within six hours of Amarillo. The sport of cutting has roots in Western ranching traditions, where good horses were a necessity for everyday ranch work and cattle handling. Each year more than 2,200 NCHA-approved events are held throughout the country awarding more than $35 million in prize money.