Sunday offered a breath of fresh air with the first Celebration morning free of day classes, but the quality prevailed with the four-year-old stallions taking the center stage in the final class of the evening with three riders of the same last name taking the spotlight. 

Three members of the same family showed up for the evening’s finale with Allan, John Allan and Bill Callaway all showing entries in the 13-horse class. John Allan rode Shanghai MCF, Bill directed A Pink Floyd, and father Allan expertly guided Amen Corner as well, but it was Tim Smith to cross the finish line first for Wayne and Gail Putnam aboard The Mason Dixie Line.

The night had a slow go to start with a time-out in the middle of the first class of the evening, the youth mares and geldings for the 12-14 riders, but after that it was smooth sailing with large and quality classes for devoted Celebration fans on church night. Earlier in the day, Celebration-goers enjoyed the annual golf tournament in addition to the Celebration Dog Show, which was also showcased Sunday. 

Several had a sneak peak of industry favorites, such as A Bruce Pearl and Lisa Baum, who topped the amateur stallions class as well as the second to last class of the evening when husband Dr. Jim Baum rode Unreal to the first-line finish for the second year in a row and also in unanimous fashion in the amateur elite gentleman’s class. 

The Baums are regulars but others made their presence known for strong comebacks after being away for a while, including Joel Stewart who won after not being in the Celebration ring in 20 years. Brittany Baum represented the family well by carrying out the yellow streamers behind Lisa in the same class.
Others cheered on for youth die-hards like Maxine Beasley when she made a big victory aboard Inception in a novice youth class.

California was definitely missed but represented well at the same time when Sherri Pollack won the elite ladies mares and geldings class that was sponsored by Roger and Rebecca Emerick who have been missed so far this year, but also hail from the Golden State. 

Several pleasure classes were on display with the amateur western pleasure providing the cream of the crop with Lisa Baum, Kimberly Walden and Kyndra Myers, none of whom are strangers to the winner’s circle, carrying out the top three prizes, respectively. Baum won the 20-horse class with Eye On The Title, Walden was reserve aboard Diamond At The Ritz, and Myers held her own on board proven champion Side Lined. 

Novice classes were the theme of the night with a highlight in that category coming from Sean Hader’s win in the novice trail western class when 21 entries competed. He rode Checkpoint Charlie to the blue in this 21-entry class.