POMONA, Calif. - The California Celebration Horse Show observed a milestone when the 40th annual edition was held at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds June 8th and 9th. The Southwestern Regional Futurity was once again incorporated in the 80 class format for all levels of Walking Horse competition.

The show was sponsored by the California association and affiliated with the National Horse Show Commission. Billy Dean of Shelbyville, Tennessee, was selected to judge the four-performance, two day event, with the Mary K. Hartman management team filling the key positions that keep a horse show on schedule.

A five member USDA team was in attendance at the Fairplex event, with an unusually low key persona. Of particular note was the presence of still and video cameras in constant use to monitor the DQP inspections as well as the warm up and show rings.

In keeping with a typical California format, the show concluded on Sunday afternoon with the Open Stake class. The high gear Russ Thompson/Motown Delight team blazed another tricolor trail to the winner’s circle to extend their already lengthy show record. Dedicated owner Eva McClure was glad to be railside once again to see her “boys” in action, as were her many friends who have missed Eva’s enthusiastic presence this year.

Team Thompson displayed 25 blues and eight tricolors on their tack room wall to lead the ribbon count. The Gordon family stock found the winner’s circle to their liking, what with Amateur Three-Year-Old stars Ritz’s Perfect Touch and Susan Gordon claiming that award, and Open Three-Year-old, Simply Thrilling, making a good show with Ray Reis aboard for the recognition.

Sheila Kyle was on hand to see her WGC Genius’ Dixie Chick collect the Lite Shod Amateur Three Gait and Amateur Specialty Stake ties with Dawn Bransfield, as well as the divisional Western Open and Open Stake with trainer Trish Wooten. Kyle’s response to seeing her Miss Spectacular in a blue ribbon debut for the Futurity Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings honors was pure pride; Danny Pacheco was in the irons for the impressive ride.

Gary and Carleen Redman proudly sponsor a pair of winners in Open and Amateur divisions. WC Joltin’ Joe Dimaggio topped the Futurity Park Pleasure Three-Year-Old class with trainer Wooten and returned with Carleen Redman to earn the top divisional Amateur Three-Year-Old ribbon. The Futurity Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class belonged to Mo’s Trick Or Treat with Ray Reis directing; she also teamed with Carleen Redman for the Amateur Three-Year-Old recognition.

Arizona resident Nadea Watt also backed a pair of Pomona winners in the form of Bad News Gold Hard Cash, who bested the Park Pleasure Western Open class with Trish Wooten and paid Western Amateur Specialty dividends under the owner’s direction. Watt’s lovely Gen’s Lady Fair landed the Park Pleasure Open Four and Under blue with trainer Jamey Thompson and three big amateur titles teamed with Kelly Gordon, who purchased the little blonde mare soon after the show.

Dawn Bransfield did the Trail Pleasure honors with Sleeper, who is new on the Southern California scene, but certainly not new to the winner’s circle. The Western Amateur and Amateur Specialty preliminaries led to the Amateur Three Gait Stake tie for the Thompson Stables ownership. Sleeper was also acquired post-show by the Gordon family for Susan to show.

Magical Illusionist was called for a pair of Lite Shod blues with Dawn Bransfield in direction and the Open Four and Under with Trish Wooten. Cheryl Reidy is the proud owner of the former world champion Countdown's Cordell Walker cleaned up in the Park Pleasure Amateur Specialty Stake event with owner Guylene Ozlanski and in the divisions Open Stake ridden to the title by Jamey Thompson. Another successful Trail Pleasure team, Papa's Queen Lady and Summer Shamma, nailed down the Amateur Specialty preliminary and stake with a pair of solid performances.

Time To Glo and Kylee Sargenti prevailed in the Amateur Specialty qualifier and Amateur Stake events to extend their lengthy resume for the Sargent and Reis ownership. Will Carter enjoyed a good Amateur Specialty Stake ride aboard Coin's Night Flight for the Carter and Carter alliance, as well as claiming the Show Pleasure Novice blue with Ultra Threat Charmer, who belongs to Andrea Young-Carter. The Junior Rider blue was accepted by Ashley Munson Child and her sporty Ask Not. The DJB LLC ownership backs the talented team.

The Golden West team accounted for 19 blues and four tricolor awards. The Legacy Walkers entries scored triple blues with the talented Open Two-Year-Old Stallions champion, He's Pushin' The Ritz teamed with Scott Benham, Futurity Three-Year-Old Stallion My Double Pride and Joy shown to the tie by Greg Bryant, and in the Amateur Specialty Four-Year-Old competition with Walking On Thin Ice and Pat Harrington marching to the coveted title.

Another ownership triple threat was the Show Pleasure Open champion, Gold's First Paige, teamed with trainer Bryant, Open Four-Year-Old star, Money and Power, also shown by Bryant and Park Pleasure Open Three-Year-Old winner, Flash Of Rain, who was ridden by Manuel Rodriquez. All are proudly sponsored by Mike and Marilee Moran.

The Poplar Creek Farms breeding program was represented by Open Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings star, JFK's Ingenue with Greg Bryant doing the showing and by Strictly A Lady, who walked to the Open Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings recognition under Scott Benham's direction. Melvin Parham owns another Wharton-bred talent, Strictly Sensational who cruised to his third Novice tie with Parham at the controls. Double Java also came out of the Poplar Creek program, and, under the Mark and Marcy Drummond ownership, claimed the Lite-Shod Open and Amateur Three-Year-Old honors with Manuel Rodriquez and Marcy Drummond respectively.

Maggie Moore and He's A Wrangler rounded up a pair of Lite-Shod Pleasure preliminary blues before moving on to the Amateur Specialty Stake win. They represent the Harvey and Maggie Moore ownership.

Owners and breeders Frank and Linda Woodbury were on hand to see their Chief Tierra top the Spotted Saddle Horse preliminary and Open Stake with Manuel Rodriquez engineering the good rides. Demara Nuzum also bred and raised her Park Pleasure Amateur Specialty Stake champion, Score Triple 7's, and was on the receiving end of sincere congratulations after their first tricolor ride.

Single blues were posted by Futurity Park Pleasure Two-Year-Old team, Triple Play's Coin of Gold and Erin Dean, representing Nevada B Ranch, by Art Tice's Kickin' Aspen, who was the Park Pleasure Open Two-Year-Old Champion with trainer Rodriquez in the irons, by Show Pleasure Preliminary Champion Score's Charm, ridden by Tim Schamber for Tom and Tammie Schamber, Amateur Two-Year-Old duo Lucky Silver dollar and Mike Erickson for the Erickson's and Brunke partnership, Open Specialty winners Tennessee Extra Cash and Scott Benham for Bob and Margaret Shearburn, and the dynamic Ladies Specialty team, Bart Starr and Gerre Mann riding for Mort and Gerre Mann.

The Pollack's Silver Spur Ranch team made the long trip from Northern California to earn a total of six blues and two tricolors for their effort. the big star of their show was the Lite-Shod Pleasure mount, Our Mr. Hollywood, who was ridden to four top ties and a championship by Patti Pollack. She also directed Pusharama to a dazzling Show Pleasure Specialty Stake victory, along with her cute little Spotted English Open Specialty winner, Sugar and Ice. A flawless Lite-Shod Amateur Specialty performance with the well known Stripper's Finale was sadly enough the last show for the talented property before his untimely passing in Tennessee.

Wendy Shaw's Bouquet Creek entries landed seven blues at the California Celebration. Janis Brown sponsored a pair of winners in the form of Near Dark, who earned Trail Pleasure Amateur and Junior Rider recognition with Shayna shaw, and with Mama's Hands, who was shown to the Lite-Shod Western Amateur Specialty blue by his proud owner and the Junior title by Shayna Shaw.

Bill and Betsy Marzinzik's newest Lite-Shod property Tried and True, posed in the winner's circle with Wendy Shaw for the divisional Open Two-Year-Old award, and was shown to the Amateur Two-Year-Old blue by Bill Marzinzik. Megan Rodriquez demonstrated her Equitation skills to earn the class blue.

Eva McClure's Courtesy Stables posted three Pomona blues presented to Predator's Satin Doll and Jenny Earhart in the Lite-Shod Pleasure Junior Rider category, to Futurity Yearling Filly champion, Memory's Twist About, and to Kathy Beard's Pleasure Driving winner, Delight's Midnight Threat, who was driven by Raul Puentes to the award.

Sue Wittick's riders were pleased with the Park Pleasure Junior Rider tie that was accepted by Patriot Score and Brianna Dotson for the More Family ownership, and by the Trail Pleasure Novice blue earned by Ericka Solomon and Pride's Little Princess in a large class. The Talbot Family sponsored the good little mare.

The owner-trained entries found winner's circle success also. Lynda Becraft led the Futurity Weanling Colt champion, Ebony's Made You Look, for the Sylvia and Lynda Becraft ownership. Tim Schamber did a dandy first time presentation with Futurity Yearling colt, Good As Elvis, for owner/breeders Tim and Tammie Schamber. The Model class blue was awarded to Annie's Walking Abigail and owner/handler Karen Sund, while the Lite-Shod Pleasure Novice tie found Nancy Baldock and Second Amendment posing for the presentation.