Hutto to ride Whitfield’s horse at the Wrangler NFR

Posted Tuesday, November 20, 2007

HOCKLEY, Texas – Nov. 19, 2007 – Eight-time world champion Fred Whitfield won’t be backing into the box at this year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo after a shortened season due to injury, but a pair of his horses will be backing into the box all 10 nights. Houston Hutto of Del Rio, Texas, has called on the services of two of Whitfield’s top horses in an attempt to capture his first world title.

Hutto is currently second in the Crusher Rentals PRCA World Standings and trails top ranked roper Trevor Brazile by $22,126. Hutto plans to ride Whitfield’s 9-year old mare, Jewel, with the backup being Whitfield’s other top horse Gator.

“Fred let me ride Jewel at Cheyenne in the first two rounds and I really liked her,” said Hutto, who won the 2007 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. “She reminds me a lot of my grey horse and she has a lot of speed out of the box. I am excited to see how it works out in Las Vegas.”

Whitfield bought Jewel the end of May before he returned from injury and Hutto rode her a couple times during the year. Hutto had inquired about riding Jewel in mid-September at the Finals and once Whitfield knew he wouldn’t be competing, decided to give it a go.

“Houston had approached me about using the horse and since, he had success on her this year, I thought it would be a good deal for both of us,” Whitfield said. “She is a phenomenal horse that can do it all. She scores well, runs hard, stops fast and she is good in any situation. I am also taking Gator out as a backup horse.”

Whitfield qualified for his first NFR in 1990 and has qualified every year since until this year. After getting a late start in June, due to back and shoulder injuries, Whitfield ended the season ranked 37th in the world. Despite being in Las Vegas in a different capacity this year, Whitfield is still looking forward to the experience.

“It will be a different experience for me but I think it will be fun to see it from another perspective,” said Whitfield about being in Las Vegas but not competing. “I will have more time to visit with people and just relax, instead of always being in a hurry to go here or there. It might also give me a spark for the 2008 season.”

Whitfield will be making appearances on behalf of his sponsors, Cinch Jeans, Cimarron Trailers and P and P Trailer Sales, while in Las Vegas. Visit Whitfield’s rodeo schedule on www.fredwhitfield.com for dates, times and places he will be signing during the NFR, Dec. 6-15.