SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - The Tuesday performance of the 76th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration got underway in the Celebration Oval promptly at 6:30p.m., with the presentation of the colors by Counterfeit Dollar and Hall of Famer Bud Seaton. Counterfeit Dollar is owned by OK Walking Horse Farm, Curtis McCloy and is prepared for exhibition by Hugh Stables. The Flag Horse Sponsorship is by the Tommy Grider family. After a night and morning of showers, the temperature was a little more bearable and horse show fans were ready for the competition to hit the ring. Judges for the event were Rollie Beard, Jennifer Bingham, David Landrum, Paul Robbins and David Sisk.
Country And Famous and Miles Irby kicked off the show with the World Championship in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings, Five Years & Over, Canter class. Country And Famous is owned by Rick and Marla Lovett and won at the Kick Off Classic in April. This marked the second world title for the gelding who earned his first in 2012 with Mickey McCormick in the irons. In her third outing of the season, She’s A Shady Sister and Lee McGartland rode to the reserve award. She’s A Shady Sister was a World Championship in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Third went to Lord Stanley and Allison Thorson. This team had wins at the Gulf Coast Charity, Spring Fun Show, Columbia Spring Jubilee and Money Tree Classic before heading to the big oval.
The A Division of the Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings resulted in a unanimous choice of the judging panel and Flirtin’s Command with Courtney Grider in the winner’s circle. Sired by The Sky Command and out of Generator’s Flirtin’, this was the fourth outing for the youngster this season. With this win the Tommy Grider Family retired the Henry C. Hulan Memorial Challenge Trophy. Reserve went to Color Coded and Eric Lackey. This duo had two wins under their belt when they headed to the ring and this was the second reserve title for Color Coded. The first came earlier in the show with Casey Wright aboard. Rounding out the top three was Secrets In The Gin and Tom Kakassy. The team won at the Tazewell County Classic in July.
The B Division of the Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Mares or Gelding invited 10 competitors down the hill. Walking their way to the winner’s circle was Steele Grey and Josh Wright for Tina Wright. Steele Grey was named reserve World Champion earlier in the show and has only appeared in the show ring twice this season. Second went to O’Lainey and Trish Harrison Spivey. Sired by Gen’s Black Gin, this was a debut for the new team. Two-Year-Old Mares World Champion Jetta James and owner Lance Lincoln carried out the yellow streamer.
Next to perform for the judges was the Park Performance Walking Horses, Five Years & Over, Riders’ Cup contenders. Earning his second world title this year and his fourth career World Championship was Dirty Sexy Money and Jeff Laughlin for Dr. William and Jannie Chapman. Dirty Sexy Money carried Jannie Chapman to the Amateur Park Performance Mares & Geldings win on Thursday night. This win marked his ninth win of 2014. Reserve went to Reflection In Gin and John Allan Callaway for George-Ann Pratt. This was the first season for Reflection In Gin to show in the Park Performance division and he earned earlier season wins at Fayetteville, the Columbia Spring Jubilee and Marshall County shows. Third went to the 2011 and 2012 World Champions in the class, Moonshine Man and Philip Trimble for Bob Cunningham.
The Royal Dollar and Lee McGartland made the victory pass in the class for Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Ponies, Mares or Geldings. Their last Celebration appearance was in 2012 when they claimed the Amateur Riders on Geldings World Championship. After taking 2013 off, The Royal Dollar won earlier in the season at the Mid-South show. Reserve in the class went to the team of Tommy Lee Jones and Benjamin Bowen. In their first season in the Amateur ranks this team picked up blues at the Kick Off Classic, Money Tree Classic and Red Carpet Show of the South. He’s Hot As Fire and Caleb Kilburn carried out the yellow ribbon. This was the sixth show ring appearance for the gelding this season.
The Show Pleasure Stallions with their professional riders were next to take the ring. Emerging from the lineup and claiming the World Championship was Masq Of Jazz and Brock Tillman for the Lester & Tillman ownership. Masq Of Jazz carried Lauren Tillman to the reserve title in the Novice Show Pleasure class on Sunday night. Black Hawk’s Boogie Man and Jeff Green are now Reserve World Champions for Bob and Linda Imler. Black Hawk’s Boogie Man carried Linda Imler to the blue at the O.K. Hege show before heading to the Celebration. Third was Jubilee’s Awesome Dream and Michael Wright for Ed and Shannon Cotter. Jubilee’s Awesome Dream has shown seven times in 2014.
Walking their way to the winner’s circle in the Owner-Amateur Riders 50 & Over on Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack was Kathy Zeis and Etta James By TJB. Bred and raised by the Zeis family, Etta James By TJB has had a very successful trip to the Celebration earning a National Futurity win and a reserve world title before capturing this win. Bel Air and Kathy Anderson earned the red streamer in the class. They won the English Trail Pleasure earlier in the week. Daddy’s Cash and Dr. Donnie Headrick were third in their 20th show this season.
Continuing his undefeated season was Five Star’s Jazzman with Henry Metcalf aboard to win the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions Division A. This duo won at the Kick Off Classic, Bedford 4-H and Red Carpet Show of the South before taking on the Celebration. The talent was a Two-Year-Old Stallions World Champion in 2013. Second in the class was O Glory At The Ritz and Maisie McSwain for Elaine and Keith McSwain. This reserve world title marked the fifth outing for the stallion this season. O Glory At The Ritz is sired by He’s Puttin’ On The Ritz and is out of a Prides Generator mare. Rounding out the top three was My Major Ordeal and Debbie Eichler. The team won at the WHAA Summer Classic in June.
Two-Time World Champion in 2013 is now the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Stallions Division B World Champion. Mr. Country Gentleman and Robert Deutsch made the winning ride to top the competition. This was the sixth win of the season, keeping up with their undefeated record for the year. The talent is sired by The Sky Command and is out of a Gen’s Major General mare. Quarterback Keeper and Summer Brooks tied second in the class. Sired by The Coach, this was the seventh show of the season for Quarterback Keeper. Third was Paroled From Hardtime and Sister Milligan. The young talent had five wins this year prior to the Celebration.
Next up was the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings, 15.2 & Under. Wearing the blue was I’m Stan The Man and Dr. Lynda Brogdon. This team had six outings before claiming their title. I’m Stan The Man carried Ben Brogdon to a World Championship in 2008 and is also a three-time Reserve World Champion. Earning the reserve title was Lindsey Lohan and Kim Butler. This pair won at the Kick Off Classic, Gallatin Lions Club and Wartace. They were also the 2011 Two-Year-Old Amateur Mares World Champion. A Bit Of Change and Dee Broome Yoder were third. On Monday night, A Bit Of Change carried trainer Justin Harris to a World Championship.
Seven Young Trainers, 35 & Under on Walking Stallions World Champion worked to the ring for the judging panel, which came back with a unanimous decision. Lester H. Burns and Ryan Blackburn made the winning ride for Martin Cox. Absolute Proof and Bill Callaway carried home reserve for Ricky Young. Third went to I’m Deuce and Casey Wright for Bill and Debbie Woods.
The final class of the night brought the Owner-Amateur Novice Gentleman Riders on Novice Walking Mares or Geldings to the track. Emerging from the line up no longer a novice was Dr. David Bullock and West Point. This team came to the Celebration oval with four wins under their belt and carry their blue ribbon back to their home in Kentucky. Second went to The Metalist and Jim Finch. Also from Kentucky, this was the team’s debut performance. Third went to Jose Sure Thing and Aaron Taylor in just their second outing.
Tuesday night was the second of two Dollar Nights at the Celebration. Wednesday night will be the final night for preliminary competition before the World Grand Champions are crowned on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
The Celebration Gala Exhibitors Party will be held in Calsonic Arena following the Wednesday performance. Thursday night will be Veterans Appreciation night and everyone is encouraged to wear red, white or blue. Following the competition Thursday evening, Shelby Lee Lowe will entertain fans.