SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The final evening performance of preliminary classes got underway promptly at 6:30p.m. with the traditional white flag horse, Counterfeit Dollar and Bud Seaton heading down hill and into the Celebration oval. While the temperature was still rather warm, there was a nice breeze. Taking their spots in center ring as the judges of the 76th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration were Rollie Beard, Jennifer Bingham, David Landrum, Paul Robbins and David Sisk.

The first class on the evening’s schedule was the Fine Harness class. The crowd enjoyed two divisions of the class and both came as unanimous decisions from the judging panel. Gin And Juice and Mickey McCormick cruised down victory lane in the A Division for Rick and Marla Lovett. Gin And Juice was a 2009 World Champion in the Fine Harness class and has made four show ring appearances this season. Second went to He’s The Whole Shabang and Greg Bryant for Beth Beasley. He’s The Whole Shabang has been shown twice in 2014. Third went to Johnny Ritz and Michael Wright for Jane Eakes. Johnny Ritz was the 2013 Fine Harness World Champion.

Rolling straight to the winner’s circle in the B Division of the Fine Harness class was the team of Lined Royal Cash and Bobby Hugh for Dr. Jack Kwok. Lined Royal Cash has had three earlier season fine harness wins and topped the Gentleman’s Fine Harness earlier in the week with Dr. Jack Kwok at the whip. Paroled From San Quenton and Dr. Ann Rea drove to the red award. This was the sixth outing for Paroled From San Quenton this year. The yellow award went to Gold Sky MC and Randy Young for the Luna family.

Taking the blue ribbon back to Kentucky was Within The Line and Kenny Smith for the Harr & Ragland ownership in the A Division of Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings. This was a debut performance for the team. Within The Line is sired by Lined With Cash and is out of Generator’s Honor mare. Reserve went to Cash’s Good Wife and Mary Medina. Cash’s Good Wife carried trainer Jimmy McConnell to the winner’s circle earlier in the show. Full Back and Bob Lawrence rounded out the top three. Together this team had three wins prior to the Celebration. Gary Edwards directed the gelding to a World Championship on Thursday evening.

The B Division of the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings invited 11 entries to the ring. Emerging from the lineup and down victory lane was Miss Mexico and Jordan Dean, carrying their blue ribbon back to North Carolina. The team enjoyed a win in the spring at the Columbia Spring Jubilee. Miss Mexico earned a reserve world title earlier in the show with Chad Baucom in the irons. Second was Jose’s Beyonce and Jackie Whatley. Coming to the ring, Jose’s Beyonce had two wins to her credit this season and was a 2013 World Champion, Reserve World Champion and Reserve World Grand Champion Two-Year-Old. Closing out the top three was Jose’s Corner Market and Dr. David Brown.



Claiming the World Championship with the approval of all five judges in the Walking Geldings, Five Years & Over, Over 15.2, Canter class for the second year in a row was PGA and John Allan Callaway for Lisa Baum. With their second win in the class, the team retired the Jerome B. and Francis Ryan Memorial Challenge Trophy. Taking home the red streamer was Street Jazz and Jimmy McConnell for Elizabeth Whitney. Street Jazz was a Reserve World Champion in 2012.



Seven competitors took the track for the Experienced Trainers, 35 & Older on Walking Horses. Making the victory pass was Nino’s Category Five and John Allan Callaway for Dr. Barbara Moersch. The duo won the same class at the Spring Fun Show in May. Second was I’m Judge Roy Bean and Gary Edwards for Scott and Joe Cooper. This was the third show for I’m Judge Roy Bean in 2014. The Coach’s Son and Charlie Green picked up the yellow ribbon for Don and Sharon Broome.

Nine entries made the gate call in the class for Amateur Owned & Trained Walking Horses, No Professional Training Within 90 Days. Don Julio and Alie Napier won the World Championship in the class with a unanimous decision from the judge’s panel. Reserve was High Jacked and Dr. Jim Baum. Third went to A Major Flair and Stephanie Cagle.



The Young Trainers, 35 Years & Under on Walking Mares or Geldings World Championship went to the unanimous choice of the judges, Miss Midnight Rider and Philip Trimble for Phyllis Heppenstall. Miss Midnight Rider won earlier in the year at the Alabama Ladies Auxiliary show and was a World Champion in 2010 and again in 2012. Reserve went to Gangster’s Hit Man and Blaise Broccard for the Abernathy family. Gangster’s Hit Man and Cohen Abernathy topped the Novice 11 & Under class earlier in the show. Third went to Silver Shiraz and Josh Watts for Carol Canerday.

Next to take the track and show off their three gaited skills was the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Stallions, Five Years & Over, Canter. Pulling from the line up to claim the unanimous honors in the class was I’m Copperfield and Kenny Compton for Rick Compton. The duo also won the class in 2013 and with the second win in a row, retired the Carol and Ellen Lawrence Memorial Challenge Trophy. Former World Grand Champion The Who carried Taylor Walters to the red award. The Who had three wins leading up to the Celebration. Third went to former World and World Grand Champions in the division, On The Line and Suzanne Moore.

The Walking Mares & Geldings with the professional riders entered the ring next. Trouble On The Line and Gary Edwards walked out with the blue for Hannah McCurdy. This talented contender carried Dr. Tom Morgan to a reserve title earlier in the week. Reserve went to She’s Limitless and Jimmy McConnell for the Molly Walters family. Rounding out the top three was Conga Line and John Allan Callaway for Linton Griffith.



Earning his third World Championship at this Year’s Celebration was B.B. King’s Jazz, this time with Mickey McCormick in the irons for Stephens & Womack. Reserve went to Lined Up At The Ritz and Patrick Thomas for Rowan & Nichols. Lined Up At The Ritz and Jim Nichols earned themselves a World Championship on Friday night. Third went to Disturbia and Joe Lester for Maureen Kesselring.

The A Division of the Walking Horses, Stallion was next to perform for the judges. A Home Run By Ted and Charlie Green rode to the top honor for Double B Farms. The duo won earlier in the season at the Arab Park and Recreation Horse Show. Reserve honors went to Palm Beach Ritz and Tim Smith for the Terry Dotson family. They topped the competition at the National Trainers’ Show in March.



The final call of the night was for the B Division of the Walking Horses Stallions class. Four entries made the call and walking to top honors was He’s Unleashed and Larry Edwards for Herb Murrath. He’s Unleased won the class unanimously and was the 2013 Experienced Trainers World Champion as well. Reserve went to Link Webb and The Crimson Sky for Judy Case. Closing out the top three was Pusher’s Redemption and Bill Cantrell. A classic horse, Pusher’s Redemption is owned by Dee Cantrell.

With the final night of preliminary classes in the books, tomorrow evening will begin the Championship classes. Competition will once again begin at 6:30p.m. tomorrow night and The Celebration is looking forward to honoring the Veteran’s. Thursday will also be the first night for the Celebration to draw for the guest judging panel.