PRESS RELEASE
Todd Fisher, Executive Director of The Gulf Coast Charity Celebration is pleased to announce the judges and for the 11th annual Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show and Music Festival to be held April 22nd – 25th, 2009; THAT’S RIGHT; STILL A FUN FILLED 4 DAY SHOW at Frank Brown Park, Panama City Beach, Bay County, Florida.
The judges are:
Jennifer Bingham from Shelbyville, Tennessee
Ty Irby from Mobile, Alabama
Joel Weaver from Shelbyville, Tennessee
Click here for tentative class schedule.
This year the show will host the Walking Horse Trainers Association Riders Cup in nine classes: 2 Yr. Old Mares and Geldings; 2 Yr. Old Stallions; 3 Yr. Old Mares and Geldings; 3 Yr. Old Stallions; 4 Yr. Old Stallions, Canter; 4 Yr. Old Mares or Geldings, Canter; Stallions, 15.2 & Under, 5 Yrs Old & Over, Canter; Mares or Geldings 15.2 & Under, 5 Yrs Old & Over, Canter and Walking Horse Championship Open. We have made some very exciting changes this year. The show will start everyday at 5:30 p.m. and the gates open at 3:30 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 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 have diversified our classes so you can bring more horses and enter them in more classes.
Specialty Acts and back by popular demand is Tim Leper and “Wild Thang”, yes it is the monkey’s, riding dogs, herding sheep. Also, straight out of Texas, Blake Goode will perform trick riding & roman riding his 2000 pound Brahma Bulls…wait till you see them jump through the Ring of Fire. IT’S MAGNIFICENT! Now where can you get more bang for your buck, doing what you love, supporting a great cause!
The New Classes this year are the All In The Family Class; it should be great fun and is similar to the Pro-Am, except the All In The Family Rider Swap is a performance class with any age horse and Professional or Amateur rider that must be related in some way, shape or form. A rider can prearrange their swap with another rider entered and must have another rider accompany them in the ring to ride the 2nd way. No amateur card or particular attire is required in this new class. Also, the Young Trainers class is a performance class for all Professional Trainers aged 39 and under. The Pro/Pro class is back that is similar to the Pro/Am but a different professional will ride both ways of the ring. These Pros can be from the same barn or not…it can be the Trainer and Assistant so long as they both have Professional Trainers Licenses. Also new this year is the Model Class, Amateur Ladies Specialty and Amateur Gentleman’s Specialty. We will have Speed Racking classes Friday and Saturday night with more prize money than any speed racking class in any Horse show in the entire United States. THE GROOMS CLASS IS BACK! The show will continue its invention of “The Field Trial Tack & Attire” class (class 65 on Saturday night) 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 $200-$125-$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 $2,000 (+ saddle & floral horseshoe) $1500–1000-600-400-300 (no qualification necessary) and for Racking Classes, $500.00 is the first prize if all Speed Racking Classes (both nights) have 10 or more entries in the ring and $350.00 is first prize to speed racking classes with 4 or more horses in classes (both nights) otherwise the racking classes will have the same preliminary class prize money.
Mr. Fisher says, “It is Important for everyone to order and pay or have their blank check in for stalls and shavings on or before Friday, April 3rd , 2009. 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.”
The Owners, Trainers & Exhibitors Party will be held Tuesday night, April 21st, 2009 for our owners, trainers and exhibitors and sponsors actually participating in this show. It will not be at Sister and Tommys house this year. We have decided to keep the party on the beach and in last years fashion it will be at The Grand Panama Beach Resort pool deck for Live entertainment , horse’ deouvers and refreshments. 11800 Front Beach Road (just west of Edgewater Beach Resort on the resort side, across street from Gulf) everyone meet after the OTE Party for great fun. Just say, “I’m with the Gulf Coast Horse Show”, When you get on the elevator, push 1 to start the fun!
On Wednesday, April 22nd entertainment will be provided by “The Rhythm Allstars”. A local group that currently have 3 songs topping the charts in the UK.
On Thursday, April 23rd, entertainment will be provided by “Entice”. Straight out of Nashville and as seen at the National Celebration in 2008, an R&B group that will leave you gasping for more.
On Friday, April 24th and Saturday, April 25th entertainment will be provided by “Legends of the Beach”. Formerly the Embers…these guys know how to perform and entertain!
Everyday, April 22nd-25th prior to the show each afternoon at 4:00pm, Northwest Florida’s own “Ivey Brothers” will entertain. 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 rides and amusements for the children (and adults who dare), bouncy houses and pony rides 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 award for the 2008 show:
2008 Best Multi-Night Horse Show of the Year by the National Walking Horse Trainers Association
Fisher reminds everyone that “The Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show can’t go on without the continued sponsorships and support” and encourages everyone to continue to support their great event.
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 Tina at (850) 914-9030 or for information about Panama City Beach call 1-800-PCBEACH. Tables will include food Thursday thru Saturday night and reserved seating every night.
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 beach.