HORSE SHOW ANNOUNCES JUDGES AND PARTICULARS
Todd Fisher, Executive Director of The Gulf Coast Charity Celebration is pleased to announce the judges and for the 9th annual Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show and Music Festival to be held April 26th – 28th, 2007 at Frank Brown Park, Panama City Beach, Bay County, Florida.
 
The judges are:
                        Chris Bobo from Shelbyville, Tennessee
Jamie Hankins from Paris, Kentucky
                        Ty Irby from Mobile, Alabama

This year the show will host the Walking Horse Trainers Association Riders Cup in seven classes:  2 Yr. Old Mares and Geldings; 2 Yr. Old Stallions 4 Yr. Old Stallions Canter; Stallions, 15.2 & Under, 5 Yrs Old & Over, Canter; 4 Yr. Old Mares or Geldings, Canter; 3 Yr. Old Stallions; and Walking Horse Championship Open.  We have made some very exciting changes this year.  The show will start everyday at 5:00 p.m. and the gates open at 3:00 pm daily with entertainment before and after the show.  We have eliminated some classes, changed the day and order of some classes and added more classes and more prize money that we hope will prove not only to be “a hit” but will help expose potential horse buyers to the desirability of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed and its versatility.  .
We will try the Amateur Padded Draw & Swap again (this ought to be great fun and is similar to the Pro-AM), The Amateur Padded Draw or Swap is a performance class with any age horse or amateur rider; a rider can prearrange their swap with another horse and rider entered or may have another rider accompany them in the ring to ride the 2nd way and for those not having a ride prearranged for the 2nd way that rider will be subject to drawing for 2nd way from one already entered or another horseless rider in the ring or elsewhere.  At entry one must designate and pre-enter the 2nd way riders name if it is a prearranged swap.   No amateur card or particular attire is required in this new class.  The class is meant to encourage non-owners to experience an opportunity to show.  Even though no particular attire is required, bikinis are allowed but not recommended.  A blue ribbon will be given to the rider with the most “unique” attire in the class. The New Classes are Park Performance Open, Country Pleasure, Amateur Park Performance, 3 Yr. Old Amateur Championship, Trail Pleasure, Amateur 4 Yr Old Championship Specialty, Speed Racking classes every night (Thursday, 4 yrs and under, Speed racking open on Friday and Speed Racking flat shod class on Saturday) with more prize money than any speed racking class in any Horse show in the entire United States.  Gaited mules will also be a new addition to this years event with style racking mules and gaited trail pleasure mules on Friday night and walking trail pleasure mules and speed racking mules on Saturday night.  All mule classes will be AGMA sanctioned and designated as State of Florida Championship Classes.  The show will continue its invention of  “The Field Trial Tack & Attire” class (class 44 on Saturday night) which will be judged on its own set of rules.  The same criteria will be used to judge the Field Trial Class as last year and  the rules and criteria can be sent to anyone upon request. 
The prize money is $250-$150-$100-$75-$50-$30, for all preliminary classes EXCEPT THE WALKING HORSE CHAMPIONSHIP OPEN (last class) and the SPEED RACKING CLASSES and stick class. The Walking Horse Championship Open prize money is $3,000 (+saddle& floral horseshoe) $2000 –1000-750-500-350 (no qualification necessary) and $750.00 is the first prize for Racking Classes, if all Speed Racking Classes (all three nights) have 10 or more entries in the ring and $500.00, first prize to speed racking classes with 4 or more horses in class (all three nights) otherwise the racking classes will have the same preliminary class prize money.
Fisher says, “It is Important for everyone to order and pay or have their blank check in  for stalls and shavings on or before Tuesday, April 3rd , 2007.   This gives the trainers an opportunity to talk to their customers the week of the Trainer’s Show.  Due to the enormous amount of expense that the show incurs in ordering the temporary stalls and reserving the shavings supply the show will only be able to order stalls and shavings for those ordering and paying in advance or sending their blank checks.  Reservations are needed because we have limited stall space available; however, if paid by the deadline, there should not be any problems having a stall and shavings for everyone.”
New and exciting for this year is the “No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament” will be held Tuesday, April 24th, 2007.  The Ebro Greyhound Park will be the site of the tournament for owners, trainers and exhibitors as well as local sponsors and supporters of our event.  You will enjoy dinner, dog racing, and a tournament with a $100 per person buy in that pays out ten places the winner is paid $1500.00.  Those who wish to participate need to call our office and reserve a spot by April 3th because only 150 spaces are available!  For those who wish to attend and not participate in the tournament, it will be another “big time” with dog racing and dinner.  The food at the track is a wonderful buffet with some of the best seafood around.  All this only 18 minutes from the show grounds! 
The Owners, Trainers & Exhibitors Party will be held Wednesday night, April 25th, 2007 for our owners, trainers and exhibitors and sponsors actually participating in this show.  It is again at the Milligan home on beautiful St. Andrew Bay.  “Even though “Sister” is no longer on our Board, she and Tommy have graciously offered to continue the tradition.  Sister has worked so hard to start this show and to promote our breed throughout Northwest Florida
On Friday, April 27th and Saturday, April 28th, entertainment will be provided by “Pieces of Eight” who are known for their hit Lonely Drifter.  Northwest Florida’s own  “Ivey Brothers” will entertain before the show begins on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 3:00 PM and will also provide the after show entertainment on Thursday night.  The Gulf Coast Charity Celebration is sure everybody will enjoy all of the entertainment that they have lined up for this year’s event.   There will be food vendors, merchandise vendors and kiddie rides and amusements for the children and fun for the entire family.
The Board of Directors of The Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show would like to thank the walking horse industry for bestowing upon us the following awards for the 2005 show:
 
2006 Reserve Best Multi-Night Show of the Year by the Readers of The Walking Horse Report
2006 Best Horse Show Party by the Readers of The Voice Magazine
2006 Best Horse Show Food of the year by the Readers of The Voice Magazine
 
The Gulf Coast Charity Celebration Association has in the past donated over $600,000.00 to Northwest Florida area charities  such as Hospice of the Emerald Coast, Gulf Coast Community College, Teen Challenge, Habitat for Humanity Kiwanis, Lions, Beaches Senior Center, just to name a few.  We have helped to educate and provide housing to those in need, helping troubled teen and those terminally ill and their families.  In addition the Horse Show donated $50,000.00 to Panama City Beaches Frank Brown Park to erect new, permanent restroom facilities for those who use the park such as horse show guests,  soccer, baseball, softball and event enthusiasts.
 
Paddock Club table and box seating is still available but is going fast, so everyone is encouraged to place their table or box seat reservations now.  For more information on the new classes, show schedule, reserved tables, sponsorships, box seats and vendor space call Todd or Ginger at  (850) 914-9030 or for information about Panama City Beach call 1-800-PCBEACH.
 
For those of you that join us every year, welcome back.  For those of you that are first timers, we hope you are prepared for the red carpet treatment the Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show and Music Festival has in store for you.  For a teaser, visit our web site at www.gulfcoasthorseshow.com.  See you at the beachJ