GERMANTOWN, Tenn. - Jimmy McConnell and The Black Night Shade won their third consecutive championship stake at the prestigious Germantown Charity Horse Show, one of the largest and oldest shows for multi-breeds in the nation.
The Germantown Charity Horse Show, held June 8-12, 2004, has been established since 1948 and has a wealth of tradition. In its 56th year, Germantown provided its usual excellent horse show, tough competition, festivities, entertainment and profit for both the community and the horse industry.
Jimmy Chancellor, president of the Germantown Charity Horse Show, said, “Our new show managers are working hard to make the show more exhibitor friendly. We are continuing to make improvements to the show grounds such as reworking the footing on all our rings and adding new states.”
This year’s show managers were Charlie Byron and Kent Moeller. The show was friendly to the exhibitors with a welcome reception on Monday, wine and cheese on Tuesday and Thursday, an ice cream party on Friday and a fish fry on Friday. In addition to this, many groups had picnics on the grounds.
White Oak Farms, owned by Robert and Lisa Marbry, always has an excellent dinner on Thursday evening before the show. Guests scattered whenever the traditional rain in Germantown showered down on the food. However, when the rain stopped, everyone returned to the festivities. Lisa Marbry said this was the first time it had rained on their feast for the walking horse exhibitors.
In addition, Friday noon Bill and Joyce Brady held another fish fry at their home in Byhalia, Miss. Attendees enjoyed lovely decks on the lake, Southern hospitality with lots of food, and relating old times and new horses.
Both saddlebred and walking horses were not pleased with the sandy, soft footing instead of the traditional firm track to which they were used to. Show management worked on it continuously during the week and by Saturday it was partially to their liking.
The Budweiser Clydesdales were a welcome addition to the show and exhibited each night to the enthusiastic response of the crowd. They were given a standing applause each night and the Saturday night crowd was especially large, due in part to the Clydesdales and also to the $25,000 Lincoln Grand Prix of Germantown which began the Saturday evening performance.
About 600 horses attended this event which was founded by the Germantown Civic Club and the Oak Grove Hunt Show.
Gene Carswell of Morehead, Ky., was on hand to judge the walking and spotted divisions. Mark Farrar was announcer for the evening shows. Each class was called to the ring by a red-coated huntsmen blowing his long brass horn.
The bowl-shaped arena was decorated festively and a gala mood was in the air despite the temperatures in the 90s.
The $5000 grand championship is always the highlight of the Saturday evening performances at Germantown. Jimmy McConnell and The Black Night Shade returned to defend their title and to win their third consecutive Germantown Championship Stake class. This makes McConnell’s fourth consecutive grand championship title at Germantown. In 2001 McConnell won the stake on Cut The Smoke. In 2002, 2003 and 2004 The Black Night Shade and McConnell won this with loud applause for their outstanding performances. This made six blues in three years for this current world champion stallion owned by Tom and Judy Waite. This team was crowned World Champion Stallion and Reserve World Grand Champion. This season their undefeated campaign consists of stakes at the Trainers’ Show and the Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show.
At this show another world grand champion contender stepped into the limelight. Jackie McConnell and Santini were in top form to make the stallion and stake classes very interesting as the two brothers rode hard against each other with fans screaming for their favorite. Last year at Germantown, this team won the tricolor in the competitive Junior MASCUP stake. The Bobby East family were extremely pleased with the performances of their high headed stallion.
Keeping the top spots in the family, son-in-law Knox Blackburn claimed third position with Figgy Puddin’, owned by Moore and Littell. In her best year yet, this mare held her own against the stallions, first by winning the Open Specialty class and then third in the championship. This was in addition to Alex Blackburn capturing the blue in the Youth Walking Pony class on Friday evening. The previous week Suzanne Littell and Figgy Puddin’ claimed the Walking to Make a Difference 15.2 Amateur Mare and Gelding championship. T
he Germantown competition was tough this year as it is traditionally. The team from Whitter Stables of Collierville, Tenn., dominated the competition capturing 11 blues, which included five Germantown tricolors. Formac Stables of Union City, Tenn., had a great weekend in Germantown as well, capturing 10 blues including three tricolors. Ray Gilmer Stables proudly earned six blues, including one tricolor. Backward S Ranch and Knox Blackburn Stables returned home with five blues apiece. Backward S Ranch claimed two tricolors while Blackburn and Gilmer both included a tricolor victory.
Southern Serenity Ranch had four blues. Josh Coble of White Oak Farm was next in line with three blues, followed by Black Hawk Farms, Lane Paschall and Wade Crum earning two blues each.
The remaining single blues were won by Nicholas Hughes, Ross Campbell, Kayla Kail, Steve Hodgkins, Abernathy Stables, Laurie Toone, Derick Brown, Sarah Day, Robert Stivers and Teri Olinger.
Whitter Stables made their way to the winner’s circle 11 times at this year’s Show. Their first blue was won by Santa Monica Wednesday in the Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class with Jackie McConnell in direction. Brad East represented the East family well as he won both the Men’s Amateur and the Amateur Grand Championship. East won the Youth 12-17 class and the Youth 12-17 Specialty Championship in 2003. This world championship team moved out of the youth division and into the amateur division in style.
Another star from Whitter Stables, The Great Escape, was very impressive as he won the 14-entry Show Specialty on Thursday evening with Paula Sanders in the irons. This world championship team returned on Saturday evening to capture the Show Pleasure Championship.
In an excellent performance, Flashy Cash and Rachel Hyneman captured the Youth 11 and Under blue on Friday. They returned to claim the Youth 11 and Under Championship on Saturday. In 2003, in her first show season, Hyneman claimed dual blues, including the 11 and Under Championship and returned to enjoy the cheers of victory once again.
Whitter’s youth riders had a great show. I’m A Ritz carried Stephanie Carter to the blue in the Youth 12-17 Specialty Championship class on Saturday.
Wilsene Moody rode Escalade to win the tricolor in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Championship. Escalade returned to Germantown to win again following his 2003 Two-Year-Old Stallion and Two-Year-Old Championship victories with Jackie McConnell up. Her Foolish Dollar, new this season, claimed the Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding victory with McConnell up.
Randall and Gloria Dixon owned horses claimed five Germantown blues. Jackie McConnell directed their Armed & Waiting to the top of the 15.2 and Under class. Their other winners were in the plantation division.
The first blue for Formac Stables was won by the team of world grand champion Barracuda and Jimmy McConnell in the Aged Mare and Gelding class, which they also won in 2002 and 2003. Mary Medina and Barracuda also has a three-peat in the Amateur Mare and Gelding Specialty class. These wins follow a Fun Show victory with Jimmy McConnell in the same division and with Mary Medina directing Barracuda to the win at the Walking To Make A Difference Show in the Amateur Ladies Mare and Gelding class recently.
Bob and Mary Medina truly had a great show at Germantown. On Wednesday evening, Bob Medina repeated Mary’s 2003 win with his Walking All Over in the Amateur 15.2 and Under Amateur Stallion class. On Wednesday evening, Mary Medina captured the Ladies Amateur Mare and Gelding Specialty with They Call Me Sir. On Saturday evening, Medina returned to claim victory in the Amateur Specialty Championship. I
n 2003, Mary Medina took the reins of their home raised Orient Express to win the tough three-year-old amateur mare and gelding class. This year, Bob Medina was in the irons to capture first the Four-Year-Old Mare and Gelding Specialty title and then the Four-Year-Old Amateur Championship title, both of which were highly competitive.
On Wednesday Jimmy McConnell rode to the winner’s circle in the Two-Year-Old Stallion class on Card Trick. Along with the two blues won with The Black Night Shade, this completes the listing of Formac Stables’ Germantown blue ribbons.
Ray Gilmer Stables proudly claimed six Germantown blues this year. There was much talk about Mrs. Dudley Moore’s black three-year-old stallion, Pushin For Gen, that first claimed the Three-Year-Old Stallion class on Tuesday and then returned to win the Three-Year-Old Championship on Saturday evening. An excited Gilmer exclaimed, “It’s been four years since I’ve rode a horse as exciting as this one!” He then introduced me to owner Mrs. Dudley Moore which he proclaimed was “the world’s best horse owner.”
Eagle’s Lady Sue earned dual blues under Gilmer Stables banner. First Bart Gilmer claimed the Walking Country Pleasure Open class on Tuesday and Teri Olinger claimed the Country Pleasure Amateur title on Thursday. Ray Gilmer and Falcon’s Backdraft claimed the Junior Mare and Gelding title on Tuesday evening. Also under Gilmer Stables banner, Martha Gandy carried the talented Nothing But Power to victory in the 60 Years and Older Specialty class.
Backward S Ranch’s string of five blues began Wednesday night with Witch’s Jazz’s victory in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding class. This current world champion has carried Beverly Sherman to many victories including the Dixie Jubilee last fall. Their next blue came with the exciting Miss Match in the Two-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding class on Thursday evening with Kelly Sherman Garrett directing. This team returned on Saturday to win the Two-Year-Old Amateur Stake.
Garrett directed Texas Dinero to make the victory pass in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallion class in a superb performance. Backward S’s final blue came with Papa’s Smokin Pusher and Garrett’s victory in the Open Amateur class on Friday evening.
Knox Blackburn Stables five Germantown blues began with Tipsy and Alex Blackburn winning the Spotted Saddle Horse, Lite-Shod class. Alex Blackburn also claimed two academy classes at Germantown under the guidance of her saddlebred riding instructor. These lessons and dad’s training seem to be paying off because Alex Blackburn made an excellent ride aboard Figgy Puddin’ to win the Walking Pony class. This talented mare also carried Knox Blackburn to the aforementioned victory in the Aged Mare and Gelding class. Push Too’s Cowboy and Knox Blackburn claimed the Junior Championship tricolor. Later in the evening Command On Que and Blackburn made the tricolor victor pass in the Three-Year-Old Championship. This was on the heels of their victories at the Moneytree Classic and Winchester.
Randall and Gloria Dixon’s horses won four blues for Southern Serenity Ranch. Joe Dixon rode three Germantown winners. Dixon first claimed the win in the Lite-Shod Specialty class on Tuesday evening with the talented Starstruck By JFK. Dixon then claimed the victory in the Park Pleasure Three and Under class with Twenty Four Kt. Cash. He followed that by winning the Park Pleasure Specialty with Fully Armed. On Wednesday night, trainer Howard Hamilton directed their C’mon Turn Me Loose to the Four and Under Lite-Shod Specialty class victory. Josh Coble of White Oak Farm claimed triple blues. Coble directed Stemwinder to the top of the Four-Year-Old Stallion class on Tuesday. Susan Davis and Strawman won the Spotted Saddle Horse, Open Shod title for White Oak Farm as well. Josh Coble and Ck’s Msytery captured a Germantown blue in the Western Lite-Shod Canter class.
Jaclyn Tillman won dual blues for Black Hawk Farm. The exciting team of Splotched and Tillman was victorious in the WHTA Auxiliary class on Tuesday. Tillman and The Key To My Heart made an exceptional ride in the 11-entry Amateur Mare and Gelding 15.2 and Under Specialty class to earn their second victory.
Allen’s Double Agent won dual blues for Lane Paschall. They won the Spotted Saddle Horse Trail Pleasure and the Trail Pleasure Specialty titles.
Wade Crum Stables earned dual blues. Chelsea East and Dr. Diamond captured the Youth 12-17 Specialty blue on Thursday. Wade directed Dangerous Mudslide to victory in the Limited Performance class.
On Tuesday evening Storm By Early Dawn and Nicholas Hughes were victorious in the Yearling class at Germantown. Twelve entries answered the gate call in the Show Pleasure Specialty Trainers class. Ross Campbell directed Firey Generator to win this title at Germantown.
Gayla Kail directed the Owner Amateur Trained champion, MG’s General Cut on Wednesday evening. Gen’s Painted Apache won a blue in the Spotted Saddle Horse class with Steve Hodgkins in the irons. In 2002 they won dual Germantown blues.
Dane Calahan and Pushover’s Gold Standard took the win in the Stallion Amateur Specialty class. Wayne Gregg and Edgar Abernathy of Abernathy Stables train Pushover’s Gold Standard.
Stacey Avery and Mr. Jessie James took the win in the Trail Pleasure English and Western Specialty title Thursday evening. Derrick Brown and The Perfect Crime claimed the Four-Year-Old Amateur Stallion Specialty class with an exceptional performance.
Sarah Day and Cabin Creek Special won the Spotted Saddle Horse Lite-Shod blue on Thursday. Under trainer Robert Stivers’ guidance, Lynn Barham and Kodachrome’s Choice Cut claimed the Two-Year-Old Amateur Stallion title. Complete results follow and can also be viewed at www.walkinghorsereport.com.