It’s a HOT Friday night in Shelbyville! Yes, the weather is hot, as it should be in August, and the competition promises to be just as hot tonight as we get prepared for 15 classes on the evening schedule, 12 classes of championship action, two sections of Ladies Fine Harness and the Ladies Auxiliary class. Of course, the highlight of the evening was, as always, the final class of the evening, the Four-Year-Old World Grand Championship.
The judges for the 75th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration include Rollie Beard of Lewisburg, Tenn., Derek Bonner of Mooresboro, N.C., Jamie Bradshaw of Union Grove, Ala., Allen Forman of Thomson, Ga., and Leigh Stuart of Alvaton, Ky.
The invocation for the evening was given by Bro. Geoff Giesmann of Fairlane Church of Christ of Shelbyville, Tenn., followed by the singing of the National Anthem by the Bedford Express Quartet of Shelbyville, Tenn.
The first class of the evening session, class 154A, featured the Owner-Amateur Lady Drivers, Fine Harness with six of the nine expected making the call to work as Allen Forman called the gaits in the class. Riding to the winner circle was Bella Sera At The Ritz and Ashley Diamond Pollack at the whip for S & P Farms, LLC of Saratoga, Calif. DJ’s Jazzy Jeff and Dorothy Davenport were reserve driving the honors back to Clarksville, Tenn. Armed Assassin and Tamara Gavin Kasser were third for Charles and Carol Ann Gavin of Wartrace, Tenn.
Class 154B, Owner-Amateur Lady Drivers, Fine Harness, brought six more entries to the historic big oval to work for World Championship acclaim as Leigh Stuart served as call judge. Making the winning drive was Breakin Parole and owner/exhibitor Stephanie Elliott of Tuscumbia, Ala. My Diamonds And Pearls and Julia Livingston pulled into the second position for Brenda Sterner and Julia Livingston of Spring Grove, Pa., and Church Hill, Tenn. Clutch’s Power Play and Kathy Owen were third for Double Springs Farm of Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Western Lite-Shod Walking Horses World Grand Championship (Riders’ Cup), class 155,was up next with four entries working to the big oval to show for their chance at a set of roses tonight as Rollie Beard called the gaits. Making that ride with the roses was Lucky Daze and Patrick Thomas up for Lisa Shockey Kessel of Moorefield, W.Va. This made the fourth win for Lucky Daze at the 2013 Celebration, with two preliminary wins coming with trainer Patrick Thomas and one with owner Lisa Kessel. Vindicated and Hannah Pulvers were reserve for Jason Myatt, Jennifer Bingham and WhitLei Green of Bowling Green, Ky., and Shelbyville, Tenn. Tijuanna Jazz and owner/exhibitor Jimmy Laughlin of Waynesville, Mo., were third in the class.
Class 156 brought the Owner-Amateur Five-Year-Old Walking Horses World Grand Championship down to the historic big oval. Seven of the eight programmed entries made the gate call to work as Derek Bonner served as call judge. Making the ride under the spotlight in the class was Gin Toddy and owner/exhibitor Sue Irby of Shelbyville, Tenn. This team topped the Owner/Amateur Five-Year-Old Stallion preliminary on Monday Night. I’m Pushin’ N Line and Janice Fostek pulled in for the red streamers for Joe Fostek of Roanoke, Va. Ritz’s Big Dipper and Heidi McWilliams were third for McWilliams Farm/Jim and Heidi McWilliams of Cookeville, Tenn.
Owner-Amateur Riders on Park Pleasure Walking Horses World Grand Championship, class 157, was up next on the program. Twelve of the 14 with reservations made the call to work for World Grand Championship acclaim for Jamie Bradshaw and his panel. Making the memorable ride was Lined Up At The Ritz and Jim Nichols up for Rowan and Nichols of Bluemont, Va., and New Market, Tenn. This team qualified and captured the win in the 50 & Over Park Pleasure on Monday evening. BB King’s Jazz and Libby Stephens were reserve for Womack and Stephens of Grayson, Ky. Jazz On Line and owner/exhibitor Darrell Collins were third taking honors back to Mt. Vernon, Ky.
Seven of the nine programmed entries made the walk down the hill for class 158, the Susan Gordon Memorial Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Horses World Grand Championship. Judge Allen Forman served as call judge for this class. Riding with the roses tonight after an outstanding performance, just as they did in the Amateur Stallions preliminary on Sunday night, that garnered them the approval of all five judges was Lee McGartland and A Bruce Pearl riding for Mike and Lee McGartland of Ft. Worth, Texas. I’m Wall Street and Clay Mills were in the second position for Corbin Mills of Mt. Airy, N.C. Arm’s Deal For Real and Debbie Eichler was third for Rising Star Ranch of Shelbyville, Tenn.
Walking Horse Trainers’ Auxiliary Members on Walking Horses, class 159, was up next with nine entries working the track as Leigh Stuart called the gaits. Making the winning ride toward the checkered flag was The Indy 500 and Susan Coleman up for Jo Ann Dowell of Powell, Ohio. He’s All Jacked Up and Alie Napier were reserve for Pleasant Valley Farm of Rutledge, Tenn. He’s Ritz N Cash and Jill Derickson was third for Rick Lovett of Mobile, Ala.
Class 160 featured the Owner-Amateur Riders on Western Trail Pleasure Walking Horses World Grand Championship with 10 entries making the gate call to work for Rollie Beard and his panel. There was no vetoing the decision of all five judges as they crowned the team of Line Item Veto and Rachel Jernigan Teague as World Grand Champions in the division riding for Bo Teague and Rachel Jernigan-Teague of Shelbyville, Tenn. Eye On The Title and owner/exhibitor Jennifer Bingham of Shelbyville, Tenn., claimed the reserve honors. Confederate Jazz and Kasey Kesselring were third for the Kesselring family of Montverde, Fla.
Class 161 brought the Trainers “Ride For The Roses” World Grand Championship to the big oval. This class was established several years ago for trainers and horses who have never won a World Grand Championship class. Fifteen of the 19 on the program made the way to the ring to work for that coveted first set of roses as Derek Bonner served as call judge. Making that first ever winning ride under the spotlight with their first ever set of roses was Tyler Baucom and Prime Country riding for John Callicut of Seagrove, N.C. Siege and Scott Beaty were reserve in the large, competitive class riding for Fred Allred of Jamestown, Tenn. The Titlebout and Derek Monahan were third for Rom Folger of Dobson, N.C.
During a break in the action, the back number, number 30, of the winning horse ever at The Celebration, Gen’s Fire & Ice. During his show career, Gen’s Fire & Ice collected 42 Celebration wins under the direction of Russ Thompson Stables and ownership of the Arthur Gordon family.
After just seeing the trainers that have never won a set of roses competing for their first World Grand Championship, now we have the amateur riders doing the very same thing in class 162, Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Walking Horses World Grand Championship. Eighteen of the 20 expected came to work for that coveted first set of roses as Jamie Bradshaw served as lead official in the class. Making that first ever spotlight ride was Jose’s High Society and owner/exhibitor Reilly Miller taking all of the honors back to Knoxville, Tenn. This team was reserve in the Owner-Amateur Novice Lady Rider on Novice Walking Stallion preliminary on Sunday night. Jose Miss Dolly and Lorie Riddley was reserve riding for Alan Riddley of Shelby, N.C. Just Bet The Line and Libby Doub were third for David and Libby Doub of Estill Springs, Tenn.
After that winning ride, it was time for 2002 World Grand Champion Out On Parole and trainer Steve Dunn to head down the hill and make their final ride in the big oval as Out On Parole was formally retired tonight in the big oval. The crowd cheered loudly as he made his way around the ring under the spotlight. As announcer Bobby Sands read all of OOPS many accolades, Steve Dunn and OOPS continued to show their stuff and the crowd around the ring continued to cheer. Finally, it was time to remove the saddle and replace it with the retirement blanket. Then, Steve and OOPS made one final walk in the spotlight with “Simply The Best” playing in the background. A great retirement ceremony for a great horse indeed.
Class 163 brought the Lite-Shod Walking Horses, Four-Years & Under World Grand Championship (Optional Tack) brought nine entries to the track to work as Allen Forman served as call judge. It certainly has been a great day for Lucky Daze and Patrick Thomas as they picked up their second set of roses on the night, with a unanimous decision of the panel, riding for Lisa Shockey Kessel of Moorefield, W.Va. They scored top honors earlier in the evening in the Western Lite-Shod Walking Horses World Grand Championship (Riders’ Cup). Simple Lee Dangerous and Chris Helton were reserve in the class for the Graham family of Niota, Tenn. No Way Jose’ and Hannah Pulvers were third for the Allen family of Pleasanton, Calif.
Class 164 featured the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 12-17 Years on Walking Mares or Geldings World Grand Championship with 12 of the 14 on the official Lions Club program making the call to work as Leigh Stuart called the gaits in the class. Making that spotlight ride in the division was the classic horse (one 15 years or over) Pushin’ That Jazz and owner/exhibitor Robert Cortner of Winchester, Tenn. This team was champions in the 15-17 preliminary. A High Dollar Charge and owner/exhibitor Lily Catherine Holland were reserve taking honors back to Decatur, Ala. Powerstroke’s Evening Star and Meghan Davis were third for Shamrock Farms/Mike and Beth Davis of Cincinnati, Ohio and Shelbyville, Tenn.
The 15.2 & Under Walking Horse World Grand Championship (Canter) (Riders’ Cup) was up next with four entries making the call to work for Rollie Beard and his panel. The class may have been one of the smaller ones of the night, but was a four-horse workout from start to finish and it certainly got the crowd as excited as any class did all night. However, only one of these four excellent teams could walk away with the roses and that would be the 15.2 & Under Stallion preliminary winner, A Strong Need For Cash and Michael Wright riding for Jim and Jeanne Roberts of Wildersville, Tenn. This team captured this title with a unanimous decision of the panel and the approval of the Friday Night crowd. BeeBee King and Jimmy McConnell were reserve for Mary Medina of Skillman, N.J. I’m Breakin’ Bad and Winky Groover was third for Dr. John and Amanda Odom of Rincon, Ga.
Class 166 featured the Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Horses World Grand Championship. Twelve of the 14 entered in the class made their way down from Calsonic Arena to work for their spotlight moment in the class as Derek Bonner served as call judge. Making the victory ride in the class with a unanimous decision of the panel was the team of Popcorn Sutton and David Sisk riding for Linda Sisk of Columbia, Tenn. This team topped the Owner-Amateur Two-Year-Old Walking Stallion, Div. B World Championship on last Thursday night. Beyonce’ and owner/exhibitor Jackie Whatley of Tampa, Fla., were reserve in the class. Cash’s Good Wife and Alex Blackburn were third for Jimmy McConnell of Union City, Tenn.
The final class of the evening, class 167, featured the Four-Year-Old Walking Horses World Grand Championship. Of course, by this time, we know that the winner of the Four-Year-Old Stallion preliminary on Sunday evening, I Am Jose’ and Casey Wright will be showing back in the World Grand Championship on Saturday night and will not be showing tonight, but we still had an outstanding class of horses awaiting us and organist Larry Bright had the “Flat Walk Boogie” going strong and the crowd on their feet clapping as the entries made their way to the ring. Six entries made their way to the big oval to work as Jamie Bradshaw served as the final call judge of the night. Making that final spotlight ride tonight was I’m Coach Cal and John Allan Callaway up for George-Ann Pratt of Shawnee Mission, Kansas. Blue’s Master and Jimmy McConnell were reserve for Mike and Lee McGartland of Ft. Worth, Texas. Master’s Razzel And Jazz and Herbert Derickson were third for Alan Riddley of Kings Mountain, N.C.
With one final victory pass by I’m Coach Cal and John Allan Callaway, Championship Friday was in the record books. Now, only one night remains and it will be the night that we find out who will be our 2013 Tennessee Walking Horse World Grand Championship. With the nine entries that will be expected, it promises to be an exciting class that is not to be missed, be in Shelbyville to celebrate the final night of the 75th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.