Cutting Horse Competitors Spend Thanksgiving in Fort Worth

Not everyone has the luxury of spending the holiday at home. Many men and women serve overseas and others are on duty as first responders.

And then there are those who choose to be away for home, all in the name of winning a world championship.

At the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, drinks are being served, the guest list featuring names like "Adele", "Jon Snow" and "Big Squirt" are all in attendance and of course, there's the food.

"Sweet feed and supplements," said Code Lee, a North Carolina native now living and working in Jay, Oklahoma.

It's clearly not your typical Thanksgiving environment, as it's really just another day of work for the men and women competing and working at the National Cutting Horse Association's World Championship Futurity event.

"This is our Kentucky Derby," said Tim Smith of Payson, Arizona. "This is the biggest event we have."

Smith is in his 25th year attending Futurity in Fort Worth. The highest he's finished is third and he's already on to the semi-finals in two weeks.

Smith is one of the many who come from across the country and world to compete. Competitors are here for about a month, including the holiday, and there's a very big reason why.

"There's a big paycheck at the end," Smith said. "If you can get to that last Saturday evening, there's $250,000 waiting for the winner. So, it's worth our time."

Lee is in her first trip to Fort Worth and the Futurity event. Her group from Oklahoma has been on the road at shows since the start of the month and will see Futurity through its end.

"Definitely a new experience, but one I'm actually very thankful for," Lee said. "This is my life dream, right here."

She spent her holiday getting to work at 7 a.m., cleaning stalls, warming up horses and prepping others for competition, including Ms. Red Oak.

"And if we do really good, we'll go to the semi-finals and then the finals," Lee said.

That's plenty of reason to spend a holiday in the barn. After all you could get a turkey lunch in the Amon Carter Building or spend time with friends.

"Thanksgiving for us is in Gainesville," Smith said.

"Tonight, [it's] a friends-giving type deal," Lee said.

Even while working, the cutting horse family finds a way to have fun and be thankful.

The Futurity event runs until Saturday, December 12. Tickets for the finals events are still available.

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