WARTRACE, Tenn. - The 96th Annual Wartrace Horse Show was held on August 3rd. With a huge crowd in attendance, the 307 entries that entered the gate were well prepared to entertain.

Judging this 31 class event was Donnie May. Brian Perry entertained on the organ and Bobby Sands kept the show moving right along as announcer.

The show ended with two good entries making the gate call. When the card was marked Stride’s Touch Of Pride and Bill Bobo were called to receive the floral horseshoe and tricolored ribbon for owners Ford and Jane Gates. Reserve honors went to Pusher’s Force and John Puckett for the Burl Compton family.

Kicking off the show this year were the Weanling Fillies. Another Hard Texas Cash baby graced the winner’s circle with Keith Reed at the lead for Bob and Carolyn Wehling. Walking away with the red ribbon was I’m The Lady In Command and Lisa Teel. Teel owns the entry.

Eight entries made the call next for the Country Pleasure class. Peacock’s Mr. Delight and Lynn Marchetti were victors in the class. Marchetti owns the entry. Reserve in the class was Over-All and owner/exhibitor Stevie Liddell.

In an outstanding performance, Stephanie Gordon and Olympic Power carried out the blue in the Walking Pony Specialty. Stephanie Gordon owns the champion. Second in the class was Ace’s Zorro and Megan Stuckey for Edd Stuckey. Weanling Horse Colts were next on the list. Making the victory pass was Bill Beech leading Hey Hey Jose’ for Ray Beech. Reserve in the class went to Final Watch and Chris Richards for L.E. Broughton.

Fifteen entries made the call for the Amateur 17 and Under Specialty. Adding another blue to their resume’ were Jamie Waddell and Almost Indecent for Charles Mims and Jamie Waddell. The red ribbon in the class went to Collector’s Mr. Twister and Lindsey Cate for Nancy Cate. Puttin’ On The Ritz in the Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class was Chad Way and Ritzy Woman, taking home the blue for Dan Poole. Reserve honors went to Major Desire and Knox Blackburn for James Sigmon.

Yearling Fillies entered next. A Wind Storm, becoming a winner’s circle regular, was called to the blue with Robert Nelms at the lead for Dr. Roger Richards. Second in the class was Alias and Steven Wright for George Wright. Eight good entries made the call for the 11 and Under class. Amy Ann McCormick and Collector’s Mindy claimed their second blue of the year. Amy Ann McCormick owns the champion. Reserve honors went to My Midnight Caller and Cecilynn Fielder, riding for Cecil Fielder.

Twelve entries entered the gate for the Amateur Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class. The team of Savannah and Carol Lackey were victorious in the big class. Jimmy and Carol Lackey own the entry. Reserve honors went to Spring Loaded Santana and Julie Clayton for W.E. Broughton. Twenty entries made the call for the Amateur Two-Year-Old Stallion class. Stealing the blue was the familiar winning combination of Highway Robbery and Betty Corlew for James and Betty Corlew’s Bowtie Stables. Rainbow Of Colors and Jamie “Red” Etheredge were reserve. Etheredge owns the entry.

The Two-Year-Old Stallion class held sixteen entries. Watchout and Jimmy McConnell made the victory pass for Mr. and Mrs. Bob Culbreath. Reserve went to Thief’s Delightful Man and Dick Peebles for Troy Richards. Benny Johnson found his way to the winner’s circle once again in the Yearling Horse Colt class for Sue Irby. The red ribbon went to Joy’s Royal Master and Robert Nelms for Paul and Louise Nelms. In their debut performance the homegrown entry, Big Score’s Spirit and Billy Payne made the blue ribbon ride in the Plantation Pleasure Two and Three-Year-Old Specialty class for Billy and Sherry Payne. Reserve went to Armed Bank Robber and Michael Daniel for David Daniel.

Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings honors went to Shane Vaughn and William Faulkner for the John and Meg Faulkner DuChaine. Second place went to Push Your Fortune and Blake Sims for Mike Chiappari. Twelve entries made the call for the Three-Year-Old Amateur Mares and Geldings class. Julie Grider made the blue ribbon performance in the class aboard The Sky Patrol for Gibson and Grider. The red ribbon in the class went to Skywatcher’s Voo Doo and Jason Myatt Judd and Judy.

Making a picture perfect performance in the Three-Year-Old Stallion class were Bill Bobo and Gold Picture for proud owners Drs. Cliff and Linda Garrard. Armed And Waiting with Rodney Dick in the irons were reserve for Randall and Gloria Dixon. The Amateur Lite-Shod Plantation Pleasure Specialty title went to Jimmy Civils and Trashadeous. Civils owns the entry. Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallions were next to enter the ring. Claiming the blue was a familiar face in the winner’s circle this season, Main Power and Kay Green for Dr. and Mrs. Jim Green. The red ribbon in the class went to The Raffle and Kurt Wilkerson for Jim Wilkerson.

Nineteen good entries made the gate call for the Amateur Mares and Geldings class. Kelly Sherman made another winning performance aboard Rankin County for Floyd Sherman. Reserve honors went to Flush With Spirit and Iris Schuman for Wayne and Iris Schuman. Sixteen entered the gate for the 15.2 and Under Amateur Specialty class. Dang My Time and Kasi Hensley made an impressive performance to claim the blue for Jeffcoat Stables. Second in the good class were Pushover & Lookout with Lucky Collins in the irons for Don and Lucky Collins.

Cash Is My Choice and Sharon Lessard were the judge’s choice for the blue in the Ladies Amateur Mares and Geldings Specialty class. Lessard owns the entry. Reserve in the class was Cash’s Luck Be A Lady and Carolyn Miller for C and E Farms. Thirteen Amateur Four-Year-Old Mares and Geldings Specialty entries made the gate call next. Sandra Johnson made the good ride to take home the blue aboard Miracle At The Ritz for Bill and Sandra Johnson. Reserve honors went to Gen’s All Colors and Carol Smith for George and Carol Smith.

In the Open Show Pleasure Specialty, Jeff Green and Cash's Masterpiece added another blue to their credit for the partnership of Riddle and Wilhelm. The Great Escape and Paula Sanders carried out the red ribbon. Sanders owns the entry. Seventeen good entries made the call for the Amateur Four-Year-Old Stallion Specialty class. Bill Johnson topped the class aboard John FK's Pusher for William B. and Sandra Johnson. Armed with the reserve title were Callie Stuckey and I'm Unarmed for Jonest Newman.

Walking their way the Amateur Specialty Stallion title was Silver Express and Lisa Marbry for Robert and Lisa Marbry. Generator's Aladdin and Sarah Moersch were reserve for Dr. Barbara Moersch. Cheatin' Danger added another win to his list in the Open Four-Year-Old Mares, Stallions, and Geldings class for proud owner Judith Burgess. Claiming the reserve spot was Jackie McConnell riding The Ritz for Terry and Sharon Avent.

They just keep winning! Beth Young continues to grace the winner's circle with He Keeps On Giving. They took home the blue in the WHTA Ladies Auxiliary class for James and Betty Corlew's Bowtie Stables. Score Card and Joyce Marie Green were the reserve choice in the class for Huckaby and Sadler. Pusher's American Patriot and Blake Sims were the judge's choice for first in the 15.2 and Under Open class for Mike Chiappari. The red ribbon in the class went to Juke Walking and Knox Blackburn for Autumn Crest Farm.

Making their way to the winner's circle in the Open Amateur Mares, Stallions and Geldings was Beth Sims aboard Gen's Major Motion for the Mike Chiappari family. Claiming the reserve title in the class was Command's Wild Card and Abby Fox for the Quentin Fox family. Twelve good entries were next through the gate for the Park Pleasure Specialty Championship. Making the victory pass, with the floral horseshoe, was Threat's Black Burn and Jeff Byrom for Kenny Browning. Judge's Order and Don Parner were the judge's choice for the reserve spot in the class. Don and Deb Parner own the entry.

The show was a tremendous success and everyone enjoyed the sneak preview of what's in store for the Celebration. This highlights the 96th Annual Wartrace Horse Show.