The stallion sponsor of the next class burst through the gate with rider and trainer Dick Peebles. It was none other than the always entertaining Pride’s Winning Edge. Bud Thomas is the owner of the three time World Champion. The impressive stallion has had an exciting career. He is sired by Pride’s Genius and truly possesses many of the same great attributes of his sire. Pride’s Winning Edge stands at Dick Peebles Stables in Shelbyville, Tennessee.
Judge Milligan called the next class of fourteen entries. The Two-Year-Old Lite Shod Stallions gave quite a performance at the Futurity. Claiming the title in the class was the team of First Classic and Jim Potter for Lynne Wenger of Ohio. Placing second in the class was A Classic Heart Throb for Mark and Debra Matson. Third place honors were received by Wishing For Cash for Kathy Owen.
The solid gray stallion, Gray’s Elegy was the next sponsor on display. Gray’s Elegy is named after the trainer that started him and led his sire, Pride’s Secret Threat to a World Grand Championship, veteran horseman Billy Gray. Gray directed the skilled stallion to the Two-Year-Old World Championship and Reserve in the World Grand Championship. At that time the stallion was jet black with just a few sprinkles of gray. As he got older he became more gray. Jeanne Harrison is the new owner and Darcy Newman continues to manage his breeding program at 10 Tucky Breeding Facility in Lewisburg, Tennessee.
An entertaining class of Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings answered the gate call next. With a dozen entries to choose from, Whitehead called the class. Owner Cyndi McConnell was thrilled when the announcement came across that her husband Jackie and horse, A White Rose, had placed first in the class. Second place honors went to Link Webb and Going To The Ritz for James Vernon. The yellow ribbon was presented to Splotched and Joe Cotton for Black Hawk Farms.
Mighty Maxx was the next sponsor on display. Mighty Maxx is by Pride’s Beam and is a two-time world champion and a Four-Year-Old Amateur World Grand Champion. Mrs. Jo Ann Dowell is the owner from Canton, Ohio. Her daughter Sue Ann Schott showed the mighty black stallion until he suffered a tragic and untimely injury. The show ring’s loss was the breeding barn’s gain as the decision was made for Mighty Maxx to stand at Sand Creek Farm in Shelbyville.
The Weanling Colts were exhibited next. An astounding twenty-seven entries responded to the gait call. Judge Beard was the call judge. First place honors in the large class were awarded to Hey Hey Jose and handler Bill Beech. This was the third first place entry of the night out of My Jackie O. My Jackie O was also the dam of the Weanling Filly Champion. The owner is Margaret Anne Beech of Belfast, Tennessee. Second went to Mucho Grande’ for Lindy Holt of Bell Buckle, Tennessee. Receiving the third tie in the class was Final Watch for W.E. Broughton.
One of the few gray offspring of the late Coin’s Hard Cash was the talented show ring star, Lined With Cash. Lined With Cash sponsored the Three-Year-Old Stallions, Mares, and Geldings class at the 64th Annual Futurity. The list of accomplishments made by Lined With Cash includes two futurity championships, the two and three-year-old championships, and reserve three and four year-old world grand championships. He was started and trained by Larry Edwards of Carl Edwards and Sons Stables in Georgia. Lined With Cash stands at the beautiful Waterfall Farms in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Owners William and Sandra Johnson are looking forward to his first group of get under saddle this fall.
With twelve entries and Judge Gilmer calling the class, the Three-Year-Old Lite-Shod Stallions, Mares, and Geldings got underway. The first place winner in the class was Revved So High. Kathy Owen’s Double Spring Farm owns the entry. Red ribbon honors were presented to The Elite Lady for for Mark and Debra Matson. Third place went to Bad News Royal Lady.
Sponsoring the Two-Year-Old Colts class was the reigning World Grand Champion, Pride’s Jubilee Encore. Encore captured the title of Aged Stallion with Bill Bobo, the Amateur World Championship with Kay Dennis, and finally the 2001 World Grand Championship with Allan Callaway during his illustrious career. Sired by a World Grand Champion, Pride’s Jubilee Star, Encore had the bloodlines to back him during his time in the show ring. Encore now stands at Lytle Creek Farm in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
The anxiously awaited Two-Year-Old Stallions was next on the schedule. Judge Ty Irby was given the task of selecting the finest of the competitive class of fourteen entries. After the final running walk and the dust had settled the crowd could be heard shouting the back numbers of their favorites. In the end the coveted award belonged to the entry of and Steve Dunn. Reserve in the popular class went to You Better Watchout and Jackie McConnell. A crowd favorite, Prime Poison and Herbert Derickson received third.
Generator’s Fame was next to parade around the Calsonic Arena. Fame was the sponsor of the Yearling Colt class at the Futurity. Fame is by Pride’s Generator and out of the legendary mare, Lady Fame. With parents like that Fame has made a great sire for the industry. In 2001, one of Fame’s offspring, Fame’s Houdini, captured the Weanling World Grand Championship. Fame is currently under new ownership and stands at Kevin Luttrell Stables. For mare owners, the selection of this stallion is a sure claim to fame.
Twenty-Eight entries spanned the ring in the Yearling Colts class. Judge Milligan called the class. After each had taken their place in the lineup and the judges finalized their decisions, the top honors were awarded to Olympic Titan and Bobby Richards. This win follows several others obtained by the two throughout the season including a win at the International. Reserve honors were received by All American Ritz. The yellow ribbon went to Dark Spirit’s Shaman.
The last stallion sponsor displayed was Pusher’s Black Hawk. The nine year old stallion was sired by The Pusher and owned by Jaclyn Smith Tillman. Steve Hankins, David Landrum, and currently Brock Tillman have trained the fine horse. Black Hawk has achieved first place ties at every major show including Land O’ Sky, Belfast, and the National Trainers’ Show. The talented stallion has also received several world and reserve world grand championship honors at the Celebration. Black Hawk has only been bred to a select group of fifty mares.
The final class of the 2002 Futurity was the Three-Year-Old Colts. Whitehead called the class of twenty two entries. Following an exciting running walk, the lineup was called and it was decision time. The winner of the thrilling class, Armed And Waiting. Rodney Dick was the rider of the gifted three-year-old for Randall and Gloria Dixon of Dacula, Georgia. Reserve honors went to the 2002 Fun Show Three-Year-Old Stallion champion, I'm Mr. Threat. John Allen Callaway directed him to the reserve win for Hoyte Eakes. McMinnville's Three-Year-Old champion, Julio Julio was third with Link Webb for Donnie Taylor.
The 2002 Futurity showcased some of the finest talent the Tennessee Walking Horse industry can boast. The future is looking bright for these contenders and the industry as a whole.