Summary: Although the Will Rogers Memorial complex in Fort Worth has hosted National Cutting Horse Association events for decades, Weatherford is known as the Cutting Horse Capital of the World. Now, Fort Worth and Weatherford are in a high stakes competition for cutting horse business.
Latest Update: Monday, 03 July, 2023
Fort Worth, Weatherford in high stakes competition for cutting horse business
Although the Will Rogers Memorial complex in Fort Worth has hosted National Cutting Horse Association events for decades, Weatherford is known as the Cutting Horse Capital of the World, Weatherford.
Now, Fort Worth and Weatherford are in a high stakes competition for cutting horse business.
• Fort Worth, Weatherford in high stakes competition for cutting horse business, The Fort Worth Reporting, 26 June 2023
The cities of Fort Worth and Weatherford are facing off in a competition for the National Cutting Horse Association and its accompanying events.
At stake are the considerable event-business brought in by the organization as well as cultural bragging rights for the Western heritage.
For its part, Fort Worth is promising updates to the Will Rogers Memorial Complex, which has hosted the organization’s events for decades. Meanwhile, Weatherford has acquired several acres of land just off Interstate 20 where the city is proposing to build a cutting horse-focused complex with a hotel and other amenities.
Cutting horse competitions refers to the sport that involves a horse and a rider and a herd of cattle. The horse and rider must quickly separate a cow from the herd.
In February, the Fort Worth City Council approved $8.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act Revenue Recovery funds to renovate the Will Rogers Memorial Center Coliseum concourse, restrooms, grand lobby entrance and the Backstage Club.
The Will Rogers Coliseum is used for more than 30 equestrian events a year. The city says the equestrian shows had an economic impact of $74.2 million in 2021.
As Fort Worth moves to make improvements, association officials said they are attracted by the idea of having a facility dedicated to their sport.
While Fort Worth has plenty of bragging rights for Western heritage, Weatherford and Parker County are home to many cutting horse ranches.
The city of Weatherford has purchased about 240 acres of land off Interstate 20 near Teskey’s Saddle Shop, [3001 West I-20 Weatherford, TX 76087] a large retailer dedicated to the cutting horse and Western culture. According to James Hotopp, Weatherford city manager, about 100 acres could be focused on the cutting horse association with plans for a hotel, restaurants, retail, riding trails and a campground.
“Several years ago, we realized there may be an opportunity, because of our connection to cutting, to team up with the NCHA,” said Hotopp, in the association’s video.
Hotopp said the city has been extending infrastructure to the site, spending $10 million on water and sewer improvements.
“The first thing you need to know is the city of Weatherford is very interested in preserving their rural Western equine culture,” John Kratzer, an cutting horse competitor and CEO of JMI Realty, said in the video.
• "Known as the Cutting Horse Capital of the World, Weatherford is home to dozens of professional trainers, hall-of-fame horses and is in close proximity to Silverado, where several National Cutting Horse Association affiliates hold local competitions." [Brief History, City of Weatherford]
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