by Mark Davis

            Celebration fans had a little extra free time on their hands on this Tuesday. As normal, the morning classes wrapped up on Monday morning and the sales don’t get back underway until later in the week, so Tuesday normally makes a pretty good day to rest, relax and get ready for the rest of the week ahead (unless you were like this reporter who had to return to his day job today!). So, horse show fans should enter the big oval tonight ready for the great action that lies ahead.

            Thirteen classes made up the Tuesday evening schedule highlighted by the Four-Year-Old Walking Mares, the Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Mares & Geldings and the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions.

            The judges for the 72nd Annual Celebration include Spencer Benedict of Glasgow, Ky., Jennifer Bingham of Shelbyville, Tenn., Mike Carpenter, of Franklin, Tenn., Nathan Clark of Arab, Ala. & Tommy Loid of Bowling Green, Ky.

            The invocation for the evening was given by Bro. Geoff Geisemann, pastor of the Fairlane Church of Christ, Shelbyville, Tenn., followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Deborah Quarles of Fayetteville, Tenn.

            The professional trainers got the evening underway with class 124, Four-Year-Old Walking Mares (Canter) (Riders’ Cup). Seven of the 16 on the official Lions Club program worked down to the historic big oval to work for that coveted Celebration blue. Judge Spencer Benedict served as Call Judge for the class. Riding to the win in the event was Here’s Your Change and Michael Wright riding for Diana Cruse of Morganton, Ga. This duo preceded this win with 2010 wins at the National Trainers’ Show and the Spring Fun Show. Paroled In Texas and John Allan Callaway pulled into the second position for Gerald Coggin and Merv Whittenburg families of Murfreesboro, Tenn. Mega Cash For Deion and Jimmy McConnell were third for Louise Lyons of Obion, Tenn.

            Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings, Five Years & Over (canter), class 125 on the program, was up next with 10 of 16 making the gate call to work as Judge Jennifer Bingham called the gaits in the class. Capturing the good win in the strong class was the classic horse, Matador and Tim Brooks, champions at the Gulf Coast Charity Celebration and Fayetteville, Tenn.’s Blue Ribbon Horse Show, riding for Mr. and Mrs. Tim Brooks of Hot Springs, Ark. The Family Jewels and Kim Leonard were reserve riding for Scott Leonard of Greendale, Wi. Black Cash Delight and Gail Walling rounded out the top three in the class riding for Judy McDonald of Tullahoma, Tenn.

            Class 126A, Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings featured 18 of the 28 expected making the gate call and taking the rail to work for top honors as Judge Mike Carpenter served as Call Judge for the section. Riding to the top of the section was She’s A Shady Sister and Lee McGartland, 2010 winners at the Mississippi State Charity Horse Show and the Germantown, Tenn. Horse Show, riding for Mike and Lee McGartland of Ft. Worth, Texas. Headed back to the Bluegrass, True Platinum and Mandie Napier were a popular reserve riding for Taylor Oliver of Bowling Green, Ky. Justin Credible and owner/exhibitor Justin Parks of Asheboro, N.C. were third.

            Seventeen of the 28 on the books for class 126B,Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings made their way down the hill to work as Judge Nathan Clark called the gaits. Riding to the winner’s circle was Powerstroke’s Evening Star and Pam Ingraham riding for McGee and Ingraham of Lenoir, N.C. and Shelbyville, Tenn. This outstanding young mare topped her section of the Two-Year-Old Mare class with Ronnie Spears earlier in the week. It’s interesting to note that Ingraham won the B division of this same class 10 years ago with her great mare, Summer Passion. She’s Lady Antebellum and Robert Deutsch were reserve riding for Robert and Anne Deutsch of Greensboro, N.C. I’m Little Red Riding Hood and Lee McGartland were third riding for Mike and Lee McGartland of Ft. Worth, Texas.

            Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Ponies, Mares or Geldings, class 127 on the program, brought 14 of the 25 expected to the big oval to show their stuff for the good Tuesday night crowd on hand. Judge Tommy Loid led the panel in the class. Riding to the win and taking honors home to Wartrace, Tenn., was Watch Delight and owner/exhibitor Maria Derickson, 2010 champions at Lynchburg, Tenn.’s Moore County Horse Show. A Savannah Delight and owner/exhibitor Jackie Whatley carried the red streamers back to their Sunshine State home of Tampa, Fla. Major G’s Hard Cash Girl and owner/exhibitor Heather Roberts of Brandon, Miss., rounded out the top three in the class.

            Class 128 featured the professional trainers once again in Show Pleasure Walking Stallions (Riders’ Cup) with 12 of the 16 on the official program making the call to work for Judge Spencer Benedict and his panel. Chillin’ The Most and Link Webb made an outstanding ride to capture the win in the good class for Steve Mozeley of Charlotte, N.C. All Cash On Demand and Mike Hooper were reserve riding for Hooper, Williamson, Bramlett and Dewitt of Loudon, Soddy Daisy and Shelbyville, Tenn. Sky Jam and Knox Blackburn were third riding for R. Bud Moore of Catherine, Ala.

            Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions, class 129A, was up next with 15 teams working to the track to ride for the right to make that memorable victory pass tonight as Judge Jennifer Bingham called the gaits. Shooting a hole in one in with a stellar performance that gained them the approval of all five judges was the team of He’s 3 Under Par and Barbara Kenehan riding for Jay and Barbara Kenehan of Shelbyville, Tenn. This win tops off an undefeated season with wins at Shelbyville, Tenn.’s Walking For Cancer Horse Show, the Columbia, Tenn. Spring Jubilee, the Money Tree Classic and Pulaski, Tenn.’s Red Carpet Horse Show of the South. Jose’s Knight and Pam Ingraham were reserve taking the honors home for Richard and Gail Greer and Pam Ingraham of Lenoir, N.C. and Shelbyville, Tenn. Headed back up to the Bluegrass with third place was Midnight Escape and Holly Parrish riding for Wally Parrish of Georgetown, Ky.

            Class 129B, brought another big section of Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Stallions to the big oval with 20 of the 30 on the books taking the rail to work for their moment in the spotlight as Judge Mike Carpenter served as Call Judge. Another outstanding horse making an outstanding performance with the approval of all five judges once again was the He’s Vida Blue and Kay Green up for Dr. Jim and Kay Green of Meridian, Miss. This duo also has had an undefeated 2010 show season with wins at the Mississippi State Charity Horse Show, the Gulf Coast Charity Celebration, the Spring Fun Show, the Woodbury, Tenn. Lions Club Horse Show and the Belfast, Tenn. Lions Club Horse Show. A Bruce Pearl and Lee McGartland pulled into the second position riding for Mike and Lee McGartland of Ft. Worth, Texas. Major Sky Command and Julie Grider Tucker took the yellow streamers for the Tommy Grider family of Columbia, Ky.

            Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings, 15.2 & Under, class 130, were up next with 15 of the 31 expected beating the time clock to work for World Championship acclaim in the class as Judge Nathan Clark led the panel. Breaking their way out of the pack and making a run for the winner’s circle was the team of Getting’ Out On Parole and Gail Walling riding for Judy McDonald of Tullahoma, Tenn. Jose’s Ritzy Doll and Ray Caughman were reserve in the class riding for C & C Stables, LLC/Dr. Ray Caughman and Nancy Cain of Lawrenceville, Ga. Bella Sera At The Ritz and Ashley Joseph–Mezrano were third riding for the Anthony Joseph family of Columbiana, Ala.

            Class 131 featured the Park Pleasure Walking Mares or Geldings, Five Years & Over with eight of the 18 programmed entries taking the rail to show for Judge Tommy Loid and his cohorts. Riding away with the win was 2x The Magic and Patrick Thomas riding for Marty Irby of Clarksville, Tenn. Priscilla Cash and Bruce Hankins pulled in for the red streamers for Kelly Sherman of Boulder, Co. Jeff Laughlin and Jose’s Baby Doll were third riding for Doris Penick of Walterboro, S.C.

            Young Trainers, 35 & Under, on Walking Stallions (Riders’ Cup), class 132, on the program, brought 11 of the 35 with reservations down the hill to work for the approval of the judges and the crowd as Judge Spencer Benedict led the panel. Playing the winning tune in the class was Jazz Country and Tim Smith riding for Beverly McNeill of Andalusia, Ala. Lethal Nightshade and Mac Benham were reserve riding for Western Sky Walking Horses/Phyllis Langley of Sandpoint, Idaho. All American Made and Casey Wright picked up the yellow ribbons riding for Glenn and Donna Shelton of Belden, Miss.

            Class 133 featured the Owner-Amateur English Trail Pleasure (Canter) with 10 of the 14 on the books making the call to show off all three gaits of our great Tennessee Walking Horse for Call Judge Jennifer Bingham and her panel. Dancing their way down victory lane was Cha Cha Cha SF and Jordan Howell riding for Howell and Irby of Murfreesboro, Tenn. The Wicked Master and Sheryl Volkman pulled into the second spot for John and Sheryl Volkman of Livermore, Calif. Miled Irby and She’s Designed To Push rounded out the top three for Kyle Elliott and Miles Irby of Enumclaw, Wash. and Clarksville, Tenn.

            The final class of the evening featured the Novice horse and riders in class 134, Owner-Amateur Novice Gentlemen Riders on Novice Walking Mares or Geldings with 16 of the 22 on the official Lions Club program making their way down from the warm up ring to work for their very first, very coveted Celebration blue. Judge Mike Carpenter served as Call Judge in the class. Riding out of the Novice class tonight was Dollar’s Big & Rich and Wes Hendricks riding for Kenny Hendrick of Bowling Green, Ky. Lady Of Cash and Tom Ware stay novices for another day riding to reserve for Rebecca Huff of Liberty Township, Ohio. West Point and David Bullock were third for David and Vanessa Bullock of Mount Vernon, Ky.