By Mark Davis
 
It’s hard to believe that it’s already Tuesday night at the 73rd Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. That means there’s only one more night of preliminary competition on tomorrow (Wednesday) night, then it’s time for the Championship competition to get underway on Thursday evening.

Thirteen classes of competition make up the Tuesday evening schedule highlighted by the Owner/Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Mares or Geldings, the Owner/Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions & Four-Year-Old Walking Mares. It promises to be another great night of competition in Shelbyville.

The judges for the 73rd Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration include Jennifer Bingham of Shelbyville, Tenn., Jamie Bradshaw of Union Grove, Ala., Jamie Hankins of Paris, Ky., Ronnie Spears of Tullahoma, Tenn., & Jeff Willis of Shelbyville, Tenn.

The invocation for the evening was given by Rev. Kevin Minchey of First Baptist Church, Shelbyville, Tenn., followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Kacey Smith of Shelbyville, Tenn.

The professional trainers were up first on the evening’s schedule in class 116, Four-Year-Old Walking Mares (Canter) (Riders’ Cup). Judge Jennifer Bingham served as Call Judge in the class that featured eight of the 11 programmed entries taking the rail. Walking down the winning line in the division were the team of One Fine Line and Jimmy McConnell riding for Kimble & Madeline Tew of Waynesboro, Miss. Main Sweetie and Philip Trimble were reserve riding for James Vernon of Booneville, Miss. Dance All Night and Tim Smith were third for Rita Hudgens of Franklin, Tenn.

Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings, Five Years and Over (Canter) featured 13 of the 18 on the official Lions Club program working their way down from Calsonic Arena to show off all three gaits for Judge Jamie Bradshaw and his cohorts. Riding away with the win was He’s Wild Eyed & Wicked and Mike Walden riding for the Mike Walden family of Chattanooga, Tenn. I’m Redeemed and Kenny Compton pulled into the second position for Della Compton of North Tazewell, Va. Busted At Bonnaroo and owner/exhibitor Linda Scrivner of Bell Buckle, Tenn., rounded out the top three in the class.

Eighteen of the 34 with reservations made the gate call for class 118A, Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings. Judge Jamie Hankins served as Call Judge for the class. Making the outstanding show to take all the honors back to the Bluegrass with the approval of all five judges was I’m Plum Pretty and Julie Grider Tucker up for the Tommy Grider family of Columbia, Ky. Strong Seduction and Betty Corlew were reserve riding for James & Betty Corlew of Adams, Tenn. She’s Pimpin and Kenny Compton was third for Rick Compton of North Tazewell, Va.

Class 118B brought 17 of 33 expected down the chute to the historic Celebration Arena to work for their chance at World Championship acclaim in Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings. Judge Ronnie Spears served as Call Judge in this section. We had a Kentucky winner in the A division and a Kentucky winner in this division as well as Lindsay Lohan and Kim Butler made the ride to the winner’s circle for Bruce & Kim Butler of Morehead, Ky. Headed back Georgia way, Generating The Command and owner/exhibitor Florence Edwards were reserve taking honors home to Dawson, Ga. She’s Pushin Gin and Dalia Smith was third riding for Ronnie Corey & Molly Smith of Manchester, Ky.

Class 119 brought the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Ponies, Mares or Geldings to the track with 13 of the 29 teams registered coming to work for Judge Jeff Willis and his panel. Making the sentimental journey down victory lane in the class was The Royal Dollar and Lee McGartland riding for Mike & Lee McGartland of Ft. Worth, Texas. The Royal Dollar already has one 2011 World Championship under his belt after winning the 15.2 and Under Gelding class with trainer Jimmy McConnell. Miss Keeneland and Dalia Smith were reserve riding for Molly Smith of Manchester, Ky. Tony Montana and owner/exhibitor Lisa Baum of Shelbyville, Tenn., rounded out the top three in the class.

Six of 16 made the call to work in class 120, Show Pleasure Walking Stallions (Riders’ Cup). Judge Jennifer Bingham led the panel in the class for the professional trainers. Putting the chill on the competition and impressing all five judges was the team of Chillin The Most and Link Webb riding for Steve Mozeley of Charlotte, N.C. This marked this team’s sixth win of the 2011 season. Jubilee’s Awesome Dream and Michael Wright pulled into the second position for Ed & Shannon Cotter of Rossville, Tenn. Rare Coin Ritz and Philip Trimble were third for Chris & Cynthia Bush of Boaz, Ala.

Class 121A brought the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions down the hill with 15 of the 27 expected beating the clock to work for Judge Jamie Bradshaw and his staff. Making that good victory ride in the deep class was I’m Pushin’ N Line and Janice Fostek riding for Joe Fostek of Roanoke, Va. This win was preceded with wins at the FAST Showcase and the Marshall County Horse Show. Sox Appeal and Debbie Eichler picked up the red streamers for Rising Star Ranch, LLC of Shelbyville, Tenn. The Shut Out and Molly Walters secured the third award for the Molly Walters family of Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions, class 121B, featured 14 of the 25 on the books taking the rail to show off for Judge Jamie Hankins and his cohorts. Making the winning ride in the division while official organist Larry Bright played “Nothing Could Be Finer Than To Be In Carolina In The Morning” was Poker Face and Clay Mills riding with a unanimous decision of the panel for Corbin Mills of Mt. Airy, N.C. This marked this team’s sixth blue ribbon ride of 2011. Gin Toddy and owner/exhibitor Sue Irby of Shelbyville, Tenn., were reserve in the class, while Rev’s Flashback and owner/exhibitor Kris York of Crocker, Mo., picked up the third award.

Staying in the Amateur division, class 122 featured the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings, 15.2 and Under with 13 entries making the call to work in the class for Judge Ronnie Spears and his team. Miss Hosanna and owner/exhibitor Deborah Williams made an outstanding show to top the division and take the World Championship honors home to Argyle, Texas. This team had picked up 2011 wins at the Spring Fun Show & the Warren County Horse Show in route to this win. A Dangerous Man and Donna Hill were reserve riding for Dr. Gary & Donna Hill of Troy, Mo. Bella Sera At The Ritz and Ashley Joseph Mezrano rounded out the top three for the Anthony Joseph family of Columbiana, Ala.

The pleasure horses made a Tuesday Evening appearance in the big oval for class 123, Park Pleasure Walking Mares or Geldings, Four Years and Over. Ten of the 17 expected took the rail to work for Judge Jeff Willis and his panel in the class. Riding away with the win in the class with a unanimous decision of the panel was BB King’s Jazz and Brock Tillman riding for Jeannae Patterson of Gulf Hammock, Fla. Silver Ghost and Jamey Thompson were in the second position for Dr. Charles Jones & Sue Brassy of Chino Hills, Calif. & Sioux City, Iowa. 2X The Magic and Howard Hamilton were third for Jeff Duke of Bon Aqua, Tenn.

The professional trainers were back for class 124, Young Trainers, 35 and Under, on Walking Stallions (Riders’ Cup). Thirteen of the 28 with reservations beat the clock to work for World Championship acclaim under the watchful eyes of Judge Jennifer Bingham and her panel. Bill Callaway and Absolute Proof made the winning ride in the division for Ricky Young of Boaz, Ala. With this win, coupled with a win in the same division in 2009, this team retired the Carl & Etta Edwards Memorial Challenge Trophy. Walkin’ Dollar and Rico Bravo were reserve for Darrell W. Frazier of Jamestown, Tenn. Jose’s High Society and Justin Harris rounded out the top of the class riding for Larry Ross of Tucker, Ga.

The Trail Pleasure entries were ready to take the track for class 125, Owner-Amateur English Trail Pleasure Walking Horses (Canter). Five of the nine entries with reservations beat the clock to walk the “happy trail” for Judge Jamie Bradshaw and his panel. The Wicked Master and Sheryl Volkman made the good performance to work their way to the winner’s circle for John & Sheryl Volkman of Livermore, Calif. Rolling Commander and Patti Pollack pulled into the second spot for Pollack’s Silver Spur Ranch of Saratoga, Calif. & Shelbyville, Tenn. I’m Benny Two and owner/exhibitor Tim Brooks picked up the yellow streamers taking honors home to Hot Springs, Ark.

The final class of the evening, class 126, brought the Owner-Amateur Novice Gentleman Riders on Novice Walking Mares or Geldings to the track with 18 of the 26 programmed entries working down the hill for the final time of the evening to work for Judge Jamie Hankins and his staff in hopes of gaining their approval and riding away with their very first Celebration win. Proving to be trouble for the competition was Trouble On The Line and Tom Morgan riding for Hannah McCurdy of Piedmont, Ala. Jose’s Centerfold and Bill Williams were reserve for Great Oaks Farms of Ripley, Tenn. Owner/exhibitor Joe Estes and My Ritzy Lady were third taking honors home to Smiths Grove, Ky.

With the Tuesday night competition complete, there remains only one more evening of preliminary competition for the 73rd Annual Celebration before we start handing out roses on Thursday night. The excitement is building! Make plans to be where history’s being made – The Celebration!