Bobo Excites With Black Cash Delight On A Stormy Monday Night In Shelbyville

by Mark Davis

   Well, it's Monday night in Shelbyville!  Normally, a crowd of roughly 10,000 would gather to watch the Two-Year-Old Stallions and Open 15.2 and Under Stallions, but tonight, thanks to Hurricane Katrina, expected to still be at Tropical Storm level when she reaches Middle Tennessee early Tuesday morning, the numbers are far less.  The ones who are in the house are definitely members of past announcer Bobby Sands' Celebration Diehards Club.
   As usual, promptly at 7 pm, Celebration Flaghorse Counterfeit Dollar and Bud Seaton came down the hill with the American Flag.  The invocation for the evening was given by Bro. Mark Pierce, pastor of Horse Mountain Church of Christ, Shelbyville, Tenn. Gary Hale of Shelbyville, Tenn. did an outstanding job with the National Anthem.
   With that, the call was on for class 104, Owner-Amateur Gentleman Drivers, Fine Harness.  Six of the 10 with reservations made the call to work for divisional honors.  Judge Stephen Brown served as call judge in the division. Topping the division for the second consecutive year was the perennial World Champion Genius Gold Spirit and Bob Keenan for The Robert Keenan Family of Franklin, Tenn.  With the win, the duo retires The Scott Edwards Memorial Challenge Trophy.  The trophy, presented on it's third challenge, was retired each time by Genius Gold Spirit as well . . .quite a feat.  Reserve in the division was On The Money and Ben Harrell, a past World Champion, driving for Double Springs Farm of Murfreesboro, Tenn.  Dot Com and John Tapocik accepted third for The John Tapocik Family of Kona, Hawaii.  
   Up next, a regular Monday night tradition, the Two-Year-Old Stallions.  Class 105 A, Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions brought 23 of the 47 expected made the call to work for Judge Mack Motes and staff.  Topping the outstanding division was Corinth, Miss.'s Magnolia Classic Champion Black Power and Jackie McConnell riding for Stan Wilcoxen of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.  Maxx-A-Million and Rodney Dick captured the red streamer for JoAnn Dowell of Canton, Ohio and Shelbyville, Tenn.  Going brown, UPS and Knox Blackburn picked up the yellow streamer for The Paul Bryan Family of Thomasville, Ga.
   Class 105B, Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions, brought a talented group of contenders with 17 of the 50 programmed entries to the soggy track to work for Call judge Mike Sims and the panel.    
   At the top of the division, reigning Bethesda Horse Show Champion,Star Of RPM and John Allan Callaway made a stellar performance for Michael and Ty Hart of Corbin, Ky.  This makes the second consecutive year that Callaway has topped one of the Two-Year-Old Stallion divisions.  In 2004, of course, the winner was the eventual Two-Year-Old World Grand Champion PGA.  Command Again and Knox Blackburn picked up the second award for Mike & Annette Webber of Dousman, Wi.  Mickey McCormick and Been Offered tied third for Harbert & Nora Alexander of Jackson, Tenn.
   Once again, the Two-Year-Old Stallions was spilt into three divisions and Class 105C brought the final split to the show ring to work as Judge Sam Sorrell served as the call judge.  As this division was in the ring, the winds started to pick up.  For safety reasons, officials from The Celebration were working their way through the stadium securing the folding chairs not in use.  By the time the judges cards were turned in, the rains had returned, but that didn't stop The Strike Zone and Link Webb from making their victory pass for L & L Enterprises of Topton, NC.  The team knocked it out of the park with a unanimous decision of the judging panel.  Sanatone and Larry Edwards worked to the reserve position for The Ray Pittman Family of Sumerall, Miss.  On a stormy night in Shelbyville, Skywatch's Perfect Storm and Mickey McCormick accepted the third award for Gordon Timmons of Ridgeville, SC and Shelbyville, Tenn.
   Class 106 brought the Owner-Amateur Gentleman Riders on Show Pleasure Walking Horses to the ring with 14 of the 31 entered hitting the track as Judge Rollie Beard called the gaits in the division.  With a performance that will be keeping all the competition awake, reigning World Champion Insomnia and Keith Johnson rode to the winners circle for Cartwright & Johnson of Shelbyville, Tenn.  Okay, so Keith didn't go DIRECTLY to the winner's circle.  He was so obviously excited about his win that he rode right past Jack Greene and the presenters on the West side heading all the way around the ring as he was being chased by trainer Mickey McCormick.  Johnson finally realized what he had done and headed back to the west side for the picture and presentation. Johnson and Insomnia preceded this win with victories at Jackson, Miss.'s Mississippi State Charity Horse Show, Shelbyville, Tenn.'s Liberty Lions Club Horse Show and Lynchburg, Tenn.'s Moore County Horse Show. San Juan, a champion on Sunday evening with trainer Joe Cotten, and Eric Lackey accepted the reserve for Mr. & Mrs. Eric Lackey of High Point, NC.  Bob Adcock and A Rebel Without A Cause were presented with the third award for The Bob Adcock Family of Lancaster, Pa. and Shelbyville, Tenn.
   The trainers were back on the track for another of the Monday night traditions, the Walking Stallions, 15.2 and Under.  Thirty of the 57 made the gate call to work for Judge Stephen Brown and his cohorts.  It was determined that additional work would be needed to determine who the champion of the division would be.  Of the original 30, thirteen were asked to remain to work as the panel was looking for that one who would be the World Champion in the division.  When the work was complete, it was Black Cash Delight and Bill Bobo, champions at Manchester, Tenn.'s Lions Club Horse Show, Columbia, Tenn.'s Moneytree Classic and Dickson, Tenn.'s Dickson County Horse Show, capturing the title with a phenomenal performance for Judy McDonald of Tullahoma, Tenn.  As the rains came down, London Rain and Chad Baucom picked up the reserve honors for Charles Clark of Charlotte, N.C.  Strolling Through The Ritz and Larry Edwards were third for The Don Bridges Family of Dawson, Ga.
   Class 108 brought the Elite Owner-Amateur Lady Riders on Walking Stallions to take a swim in the big oval.  Seven of the 27 scheduled made the call to work as Judge Mack Motes called the gaits in the event.  Repeating on their 2004 win, WGC John FK's Pusher and Robin MacDonald, 2005 champions at the National Trainers' Show, Clemson, S.C.'s South Carolina Ladies Auxiliary Show, The Celebration's Spring Fun Show and the Woodbury, Tenn. Lions Club Horse Show, didn't let the poor conditions ruin their day as they made an outstanding performance to score the win for Bruce and Robin MacDonald of Atlanta, Ga. and Shelbyville, Tenn.  Close on their heels, Escalade and Wilsene Moody took away the red streamers for Opal Moody of Batesville, Ark.  Simply Dangerous and Debbie Eichler rode for the yellow streamers for Rising Star Ranch of Shelbyville, Tenn.
   The all new Park Performance division was up next as class 109, Owner-Amateur Riders on Park Performance Walking Stallions, brought 21 of the 25 to the ring as Judge Rollie Beard and staff watched over the competition.  Topping the division were the partners in crime of The Concealed Weapon and Patti Pollack riding for Pollack's Silver Spur Ranch of Saratoga, Calif. and Shelbyville, Tenn.  Bright Star's Nightwatch and Cindy West claimed the reserve honors for Harold Miller and Cindy West of Huntingdon, Tenn.  The Classic Horse and past World Champion Walking Pony, Gold Coin Cash and Paige Brown accepted third for Joel Davis of Graham, N.C.
   The professional trainers were back in class 110, Walking Mares, 15.2 and Under (Canter).  Twelve of the 21 with reservations worked for the title as Judge Sam Sorrell and his cohorts watched over the event.  It was a dark and stormy night in Shelbyville, but that didn't keep Skywatch's Dark & Stormy and trainer Mickey McCormick, champions at Jackson, Miss.'s Mississippi State Charity Horse Show, from making a stellar performance to top the division for Patricia Timmons of Ridgeville, SC and Shelbyville, Tenn.  She's A Jazz Thing and Jackie McConnell took the red streamer back to West Tennessee for Kelsey Farese & The Farese Family of Germantown, Tenn.  Pusher's Delightful Star and Joe Martin rode to third for The Mike Chiappari Family of Santa Rosa, Calif.
   The amateur riders were back on the track for class 111, Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings.  Fifteen made the gate call to work for Judge Rollie Beard and staff.  When the work was complete, it was Flashy Cash and Caresse Mills riding to the winner's circle for Hy-Steppin' Farms/Rusty Hyneman and Caresse Mills of Germantown, Tenn.  Reserve went to Driving Miss Dumas and owner/exhibitor Terry Mann of Shelbyville, Tenn.  Hitt Happens and owner/exhibitor Jack Radar of Gassaway, WV.
   Class 112 meant it was time to get in the western way for Owner-Amateur Western Trail Pleasure, Adult Riders (Canter).  Judge Stephen Brown served as call judge in the division.  Walking their way to the winner's circle was the hometown team of Pitcher Of Gold and Dr. Judy Moore riding for Moore-Foust Farms of Shelbyville, Tenn.  This makes the second World Championship for this outstanding duo.  Doc's Takin' Charge and Victoria Martocci were a strong reserve for Rhonda Martocci of Franklin, Tenn.  Mr. Jessie James and Ann Jamison were third for Dr. Kent & Ann Jamison of Union, WV.
   The final class of the evening, Class 113, Owner Amateur Riders on Park Pleasure Walking Horses, Four Years Old, brought 10 of the 18 with reservations to the ring to work as Judge Mack Motes called the gaits.  Taking the World title back to Waynesville, Mo., was Another Jose' and Jay Laughlin up for 4-J Land and Cattle Co.  Jazz All Night and Bob Lawrence rode to the red streamer for Lane's End/Lawrence & Hutto of Thomasville, Ga.  Tijuana Tex and John Gladney carried the yellow streamer for Dr. John Gladney of Homer, La.
   And with one final pass by Another Jose' and Jay Laughlin, another dark, wet and stormy night of the 67th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration was in the record books.  Join us back in the big oval on Tuesday evening for the Aged Mares, Show Pleasure Walking Stallions and a number of other exciting classes.
   Remember, history will be made . . .don't miss it.