The 75th World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse will be crowned Saturday night from a field full of previous World Grand Champions. In the traditional first Saturday night aged stallion qualifying classes He’s Vida Blue and Lampshade left the ring victorious. The 2008 World Grand Champion Santana’s El Nino and trainer Link Webb have entered utilizing the Celebration’s exemption from qualifying for past World Grand Champions.
“We are extremely happy with the quality of entries in our stake class and look forward to the excitement it will bring our fans as we crown our 75th Anniversary champion,” said Celebration CEO Mike Inman.
He’s Vida Blue and owner Kay Green have won Amateur World Grand Championships in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Chad Williams has taken over in 2013 and after winning Wartrace claimed the preliminary World Championship last Saturday.
The current Four-Year-Old World Champion, I Am Jose and Casey Wright have decided to skip the Junior World Grand Championship and attempt to win the World Grand Championship at the age of four. I Am Jose won the Two-Year-Old World Grand Championship in 2011.
The popular Mr. Heisman and Brandye Mills qualified in the 15.2 & Under division but also decided to skip its championship class to ride for the ultimate prize on Saturday night. Mr. Heisman was last year’s 15.2 & Under World Grand Champion.
Both runner-ups in the aged stallion qualifying classes will also return. Finishing an exciting reserve in the A division was Swing Batter Batter Swing and Danny Hughes. Finishing reserve in the B division were The Thug and Dick Peebles. Rounding out the nine entries are More Horsepower and He’s My Main Man.