As always, the Wednesday night performance means the final night of preliminary competition of the 75th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, as starting tomorrow, the roses will be plentiful as championship competition gets underway.  The evening’s schedule featured 13 classes highlighted by the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Mares & Geldings, Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Stallions (Canter) and the Open Specialty Stallions.

The judges for the Diamond Anniversary Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration include Rollie Beard of Lewisburg, Tenn., Derek Bonner of Mooresboro, N.C., Jamie Bradshaw of Union Grove, Ala., Allen Foreman of Thomson, Ga., and Leigh Stuart of Alvaton, Ky.

The invocation for the evening was given by Rev. Lloyd Doyle of First United Methodist Church of Shelbyville, Tenn., followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Pamela Greenway Hanes of Shelbyville, Tenn. Bobby Sands noted that this made Rev. Doyle’s 11th year to give the invocation at The Celebration.

Up first on the evening schedule was class 130, Fine Harness, with nine of the 12 expected making the first gate call of the night as Jamie Bradshaw served as call judge. Making the winning drive with a unanimous decision of the panel was a very familiar exhibitor, long-time World Grand Champion trainer Billy Gray was at the whip of Johnny Ritz driving for the Hoyte Eakes Estate of Nashville, Tenn. Breakin Parole and Bill Callaway were reserve for Stephanie Elliott of Tuscumbia, Ala. He’s The Whole Shebang and Greg Bryant was third for Beth Beasley of Venice, Calif.

Class 131A featured the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings with 18 of the 27 programmed entries working to the track to show for Allen Forman and his panel. Riding to the title was Seeking The Title and Harold Malone up for Malone and Irby of Tuscumbia, Ala. and Shelbyville, Tenn. This duo had already had a successful 2013 with blues at Fayetteville, Tenn., the Tony Rice Horse Show and Pulaski, Tenn. Lipstick And Lead and owner/exhibitor Lisa Baum pulled into the reserve position taking honors home to Shelbyville, Tenn. Conga Line and Courtney Luttrell were third for Stone Manor Farm of Alvaton, Ky.

Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings, Class 131B, featured 19 entries working for World Championship acclaim in the division as Leigh Stuart called the gaits. Walking to the winner’s circle was Ruby On Parole and Betty Alvarez, winners at the Spring Fun Show, riding for Joe and Betty Alvarez of Olympia, Wa. Jazz Bedazz and Jason Myatt were reserve for Jerry Myatt of Alvaton, Ky. Cry Baby Cry and David Ranson rounded out the top three in the large section for Dr. David Ranson of Charleston, W.V.



The professional trainers were on the track for class 132, Walking Geldings, Five-Years and Over, Over 15.2 (Canter) (Riders Cup) with six of the 13 with reservations making the call to work for Rollie Beard and his panel.  Making the winning pass was John Allan Callaway and PGA riding for Lisa Baum of Shelbyville, Tenn. He’s My Main Man and Winky Groover was reserve for Rising Star Ranch of Shelbyville, Tenn. Country And Famous and Mickey McCormick were third for Rick and Marla Lovett of Mobile, Ala.

Class 133A featured the Experienced Trainers, 36 Years and Older, on Walking Horses (Riders Cup) with six of the 16 on the program making the call to work as Derek Bonner called the gaits. Breaking loose with a unanimous decision of the panel to make the winning performance was Unleashed and Larry Edwards up for Herb Murrath of Stone Mountain, Ga. This made this team’s fourth blue ribbon win of the 2013 season. One More Dollar and Travis Wiley were reserve for Robert Wiley of Danville, Ky. Zhivago and Steve Beam collected the yellow streamers for Lawson and Beam of Guntersville, Ala.



Experienced Trainers, 36 Years and Older, on Walking Horses (Riders Cup), class 133B, brought 10 of the 15 expected down the hill to work as Jamie Bradshaw served as call judge. Ninth Symphony and Brent Coburn made the winning ride in the class for Glen and Denise Parrett of Union, Ky. I’m Judge Roy Bean and Gary Edwards were reserve for Scott and Joe Cooper of Goodwater, Ala. He’s Ritz N Cash and Herbert Derickson was third for Rick Lovett of Mobile, Ala.



Class 134 brought the Amateur Owned and Trained Walking Horses, No Professional Training within 90 days to the track with nine of the 17 on the official Lions Club program to the ring as Allen Forman called the gaits in the class. Riding down victory lane with the approval of all five judges was Cash Lined and Kenny Smith up for Molly Smith of Manchester, Ky. Better Stand Back and owner/exhibitor Tam Brogdon of Panama City, Fla. garnered the reserve honors. The Major Flair and Stephanie Cagle were third for Jerrod and Stephanie Cagle of Lexington, Tenn.



Young Trainers, 35 and Under, on Walking Mares or Geldings (Riders Cup), class 135, was up next with 11 of the 17 entries making the call. Judge Leigh Stuart served as call judge for the class. Capturing the win in the class with a unanimous decision of the panel was Jose’s Centerfold and Casey Wright up for Bill Williams of Ripley, Tenn. This made Jose’s Centerfold’s second blue of the 2013 Celebration as owner Bill Williams rode to the blue in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Mares or Geldings class on Monday Night. She Has Status and John Allan Callaway were reserve for Joyce Meadows of Pleasant View, Tenn. Busted At Pebble Beach and Justin Harris were third for Bruce and Robin MacDonald of Atlanta, Ga. and Shelbyville, Tenn.



Class 136 brought the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Stallions, Five-Years and Over (canter) to the track. Judge Rollie Beard called the gaits for the nine entries made the call to work all three gaits in the class. Making the impressive ride to the winner’s circle was I’m Copperfield and Kenny Compton up for Rick Compton of North Tazewell, Va. This team recently topped the Walking Horse Stake at the Tazewell, Va. Horse Show. Folsom Prison Blues and Jimmy Smith, champions at the Money Tree Classic and Pulaski, Tenn.,  were the popular reserve in the class taking honors back to Oliver Springs, Tenn. On The Line and Suzanne Moore were third for Bud Moore of Catherine, Ala.

The babies and their mommas were up next for class 137, Mare & Foal, as all five of the duos made their way over from the quiet confines of Champions Arena to show off for Derek Bonner and his panel. Making the walk to the winner’s circle was Jose’s Starlette  & Starlette O'Hara led by Molly Vaughn & Beverly Lamp for Lorraine Rosbury of Bell Buckle, Tenn. A Rainey Day Woman & A Rain Delay were reserve with Karen McGee & Christen Lovvorn for Charles & Joy Gleghorn of Fayetteville, Tenn. Opp’s Dream Girl & Dream’s Little Dream were third with Carla Hurley & Alice Klein at the lead for Carla Hurley of Hendersonville, Tenn.

Class 138 featured the Walking Mares and Geldings (Riders Cup) with 11 of the 27 expected working to the track to show for Jamie Bradshaw and the Celebration judging panel. Making the victory pass in the class was The Lady’s Man and Gary Edwards up for Dan and Elaine McSwain of Gainesville, Ga. The Lady’s Man already picked up one World Championship last evening in the Pony division with Maisie McSwain. Escape From Alcatraz and Justin Harris were reserve for Larry and Pam Russell of Pontotoc, Miss. My First Dollar and John
Allan Callaway were third for George Ann Pratt of Shawnee Mission, Kansas.



The Park Pleasure entries were on the track for class 139, Park Pleasure Walking Horses, Five-Years and Over (Riders Cup). Nine of the 15 expected made the gate call to work as Allen Forman called the gaits in the next to the last class of the night. Riding to the blue was Lined Up At The Ritz and Patrick Thomas up for Rowan & Nichols of Bluemont, Va. and New Market, Tenn. BB King’s Jazz and Casey Mutter picked up the red streamers for Womack and Stephens of Grayson, Ky. Rev’s Flashback and Jeff Laughlin were third for Jo Laughlin of Waynesville, Mo.



Class 140, Walking Horses, Stallions (Riders Cup) was the final class on the Wednesday evening schedule and featured 11 entries coming to work for the final blue ribbon of the evening as Leigh Stuart called the gaits in the class. Securing the final preliminary win was Palm Beach Ritz and Brent Coburn garnering the top honors for The Terry Dotson Family of Kingston, Tenn. DiMaggio and Larry George were reserve for The Neal Holland Family of Decatur, Ala. Delano and Michael Wright were third for Darla Olive of Wildersville, Tenn.

With one final victory pass, the Wednesday night performance and the preliminary competition for the 75th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration was history and in the record books.  Starting tomorrow night, there will be roses to be won making for an exciting night leading up to the highlight of the evening, the Three-Year-Old World Grand Championship. It promises to be an exciting night that is not to be missed.