by Stephanie Rose

            WHITE PINE, Tenn. - The 38^th annual East Tennessee Walking and Racking Horse Classic had a grand turnout with 480 impressive entries. The two-day event was held on June 15-16, 2007, at the Smoky Mountain Expo Center in White Pine, Tenn. Mike House, Mark West and Jerry Collier marked the cards for the 58 classes. The show was sponsored by the Cherokee Lions Club of Morristown, Tenn.

Friday Evening

            The night started off with the Amateur English Lite-Shod Specialty class. South Fork Jazz and Brandon Givens won their first blue this year for Beulah Essary. Zapata and Tracie Barron were reserve for Barron of Kingsport, Tenn.

            After winning dual blues at Chunn’s Cove and a blue at the NCWHA Spring Show, Olympic Pusher and Lindsey Henry won their fourth blue of the year in the Youth 12-17 division for Henry of Cullowhee, N.C. Pay It Forward and Madison Holloway were reserve for Teresa Kincaid of Kannapolis, N.C.

            Fantasmic Cash and Vickie Hughes Grindstaff won their first blue of the show in the ETWHA Ladies Auxiliary Members Only class for the Farrell Hughes family of Burnsville, N.C. Ritzy and Julia Livingston were reserve for Livingston of Church Hill, Tenn.

            The New York Yankee and Chad Baucom made their debut together in the Riders’ Cup Two-Year-Old Stallion class and came out with the blue for Lee Mills of Mt. Airy, N.C. Attache and John Puckett were reserve for Thomas and Gayle Brandon of Shelbvyille, Tenn.

            The dynamic duo of Double Overtime and Wade Huntley kept on with their undefeated season after winning the Amateur 50 and Over class for Huntley of Rutherfordton, N.C. A Self Made Man and Hugh Griffin were reserve for Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Griffin of Knoxville, Tenn.

            Coming off a win at the Smoky Mountain Classic, Vapor and K.C. Griffin took the honors again in the Amateur 15.2 and Under Specialty class for Griffin of Telford, Tenn.  The Raffle and Kurt Wilkerson were reserve for the Jim Wilkerson family of Maryville, Tenn.

            Doc Ty and Clay Mills earned their second blue of the year in the NCWHA Members Only division for Lee Mills of Mt. Airy, N.C. Bustin Out and Brad Spivey were reserve for Jake Spivey of Morristown, Tenn.

            Jose’s Dulce and Link Webb claimed top honors in the Riders’ Cup Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class for the Clinch River Ranch, Bob and Linda Ramsbottom of Norris, Tenn. Jose Magic and Charlie Green took home the red ribbon for Sister Milligan of Panama City Beach, Fla.

            Bright Star’s Rocket and Christina Adams won the Lite-Shod Western Open Specialty class for Adams of Morristown, Tenn.

            A Touch Of Hope and Steven Daniel won their first blue ribbon together in the Open Show Pleasure Specialty division for Sarah Keenan of Brentwood, Tenn. Extra Expense and Brandon Stout were second for CT Investments of Mount Juliet, Tenn.

            Alecia Cooper made a winning ride aboard JFK’s Ten High for the first time this season in the Open Park Performance class for CT Investments of Mt. Juliet, Tenn. Cash’s Hard Rain and Lucas Frye were reserve for Frye of Taylorsville, N.C.

            The world grand championship team of Muddy Buddy and Alicia Perry-McDaniel claimed top honors in the Amateur Four-Year-Old Stallion class for the David Perry family of Gaffney, S.C. Twice’s Perfection and Donna Skelly were reserve for Skelly of Timberville, Va.

            After winning dual blues at the Gulf Coast Charity and a blue at the Shelbyville Band Boosters show, the team of I’m Austin Powers and Courtney Hicks received another blue in the Youth Trail Pleasure class for the Jeff Hicks family of Shelbyville, Tenn. The Razz Man and Madison Holloway were reserve for Holloway of Kannapolis, N.C.

            The winning duo of Jesse James At The Ritz and Alicia Perry-McDaniel kept on their winning streak after claiming the Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallion class for the David Perry family of Gaffney, S.C. Stop This and Mike Thomas were reserve for Thomas of Knoxville, Tenn.

            After winning at the South Carolina Ladies Auxiliary and  the Gaston County Shriners, the team of I’m Game and Yvonna Matthis added another honor to their resume in the Amateur Ladies Specialty class for Matthis and Weihl of Kings Mtn, N.C. Spring Loaded Santana and Shea Sproles were reserve for Angie Nicholson of Sylvia, N.C.

            Extra Ebony and Clay Mills won their sixth blue in their undefeated season by winning the Amateur Owned and Trained Specialty class for Lee Mills of Mt. Airy, N.C. Battle Command and Greg Barnett were reserve for Tammy Barnett.

            Ms. Jose Walks had quite the winning weekend. Her first honor was with Charlie Green in the Riders’ Cup Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class for Tommy and Sister Milligan of Panama City Beach, Fla. Jose Caliente and Link Webb were second for Bob Ramsbottom of Norris, Tenn.

            After wins at the South Carolina Ladies Auxiliary and the NCWHLA Walking For the Children, the team of Olympic Encore and Paul Robbins took home the honors again for Robbins of Forrest City, N.C. Red Wine And Chocolate and Mike Thomas were reserve for Lane Thomas of Knoxville, Tenn.

            The night ended with JFK’s Veto Power winning his first blue of the show in the Open Stallions and Geldings class with Allen Abee for Mary Ann Mitchell of Shelbyville, Tenn. Sweep Over and Chris Pickel were reserve for Johnson and Koger.

Saturday Evening

            With wins at the South Carolina Ladies Auxiliary and the Smoky Mountain Classic, the world championship team of Miss Annika and Holly Puckett made another trip to the winner’s circle in the Yearling Filly class for Bradford and Mesimer of Concord, N.C. An Impressive Score and Vickie Hughes Grindstaff were reserve for Hughes and Grindstaff of Burnsville, N.C.

            Command’s Motown Magic and Tyler Baucom made a great debut performance to win the blue in the Amateur Two-Year-Old class for Matthis and Weihl of Kings Mtn., N.C. Ritzy Rascal and Wesley Williams were reserve for Donnie and Charlotte Taylor of Rock Island, Tenn.

            London Rain and Megan Mozeley won the Youth Pony division and claimed their second blue together this year for owner Phyllis Mozeley of Charlotte, N.C. Cash’s Delight Of Pride and Austin Bonner were reserve for Mooresboro, N.C.

            Coming off their wins at the Oak Mountain Classic and Reeltown, the duo of Hal’s Long Shot and Bobby Berry won the Yearling Colt class for Mike Floyd of Columbia, Tenn. Cut The Storm and David Davis were reserve for What A Blessing Farm of Bristol, Tenn.

            Royal Fortune and Lisa Anderson made a winning debut performance in the Amateur Four-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class for Mark Croxall of Old Hickory, Tenn. Lucky Sadie and Freida Widner were reserve for Sherry Hodge of Rutledge, Tenn.

            After a win at the NCWHA Spring Show, Nightfall At The Ritz and Chad Baucom made another trip to the winner’s circle in the Open Specialty class for Matthis and Weihl of Kings Mtn, N.C. A Command For Cash and John Puckett were reserve for Mitchell and Moore of Tullahoma, Tenn.

            After a win at the Kingsport Civitan Show, Marching Orders and Buffy Ailshie came back to earn top honors again in the Park Pleasure Open Specialty class for RPC Farms. Blinded By The Sky and Robert Kirkpatrick were reserve for Robert and Tina Kirkpatrick of Greeneville, Tenn.

            The winning duo of Heart Attack’s Fast Beat and Danielle Ricker had the crowd cheering as they received the title and trophy in the Youth 11 and Under division for Ricker of Greeneville, Tenn. The popular team of Bold Stroke’s Attraction and Hailey Puckett were reserve for Puckett of Wartrace, Tenn.

            Second Copy and Charlie Green won their first blue of the season in the Open 15.2 and Under division for Bronwyn Julian of Decatur, Tenn. Major Genius and Jackie Barron were reserve for Jill Davis.

            I’m A Evil Rebel and Yvonna Matthis received their third blue of the year in the Amateur Show Pleasure class for Matthis and Weihl of Kings Mtn, N.C. Coin’s Black Stroke and Jean O’Brien were second for Reginald Pimental of Bell Buckle, Tenn.

            Dumas Dandy and Link Webb took home top honors in the Riders’ Cup Three-Year-Old Stallion class for the Rolling Hills Farm of Jacksonville, Ala. Master Ritz and Chad Baucom were reserve for Matthis and Weihl of Kings Mtn, N.C.

            Beaming Around with Zachary Bunch and Link Webb took home the blue in the Pro-Am class for the Dennis Bunch family of Tazewell, Tenn. I’m Game with Yvonna Matthis and Chad Baucom were reserve for Matthis and Weihl of Kings Mtn, N.C.

            Zapata and Tracie Barron won their third blue of the season in the Lite-Shod English Open Specialty division for Barron of Kingsport, Tenn. South Fork Jazz and Brandon Givens were second for Beulah Essary.

            Holyfield and John Puckett’s first time out this season was a knockout in the Riders’ Cup Four-Year-Old Stallion class. They claimed the title unanimously for Bob and Judy Hill of Albemarle, N.C. Tony Montana and Link Webb were second for Lisa Baum of Shelbyville, Tenn.

            Ms. Jose Walks received her second blue streamer in the Amateur Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class with owner Sister Milligan of Panama City Beach, Fla. A Hail Storm and Patty Jones were second for Jones of Fall Branch, Tenn.

            I’m Just Jesse and Ruth Tudor won their first of two blues in the Amateur Trail Pleasure class for Larry and Ruth Tudor of Ten Mile, Tenn. Outback Express and Sarah Keenan were reserve for Keenan of Brentwood, Tenn.

            All Time Favorite Dude and Jacob Baum won their first blue ribbon of the year in the WHOA Youth Challenge class for Dr. Jim Baum of Shelbyville, Tenn. Magic’s Loose Change and Emily Tuttle were second for Ken Estes.

            Fantasmic Cash and Vickie Hughes Grindstaff won the second blue of the show in the ETWHA Members Only division for Farrell Hughes family of Burnsville, N.C. Jose Local Talent and Gail Justice were reserve for Jimmy Reece of Pikeville, Tenn.

            JFK’s Veto Power carried out the roses on his second blue of the show with Lamar Mitchell for Mary Ann Mitchell of Shelbyville, Tenn. Spirit’s Ramblin Man and Sarah Keenan were second for Keenan of Brentwood, Tenn.

            Aim For Danger and Billy Greene caused destruction in the Amateur Specialty Stake for owners Dale and Lesley Cody of Newport, Tenn. Royal Luck and Clay Mills were second for Lee Mills of Mt. Airy, N.C.

            I’m Just Jesse and Ruth Tudor carried out the roses in the Trail Pleasure Stake class after winning the Amateur Trail Pleasure class for Larry and Ruth Tudor of Ten Mile, Tenn. Outback Express and Sarah Keenan picked up a second reserve for the weekend for Keenan of Brentwood, Tenn.

            The finale for the East Tennessee Walking Horse Classic was the Riders’ Cup Championship Stake. A total of seven came through the entry gate. The walking and shaking team of Hydrostatic and Link Webb took home the top honors for Jim and Sharon Richmond of Crockett, Texas. Doc Ty and Chad Baucom carried out the red streamer for Lee Mills of Mt. Airy, N.C. Jazz Cash and Allen Abee were third for Steve and Lisa Howard of Denver, N.C. Mr. Hoo and Steve Hankins rounded out the top four for Linda Lee Harper.

            Complete results will follow or you can log onto www.walkinghorsereport.com.