by Linda Fox

GAINESBORO, Tenn. - The 2008 edition of the Jackson County Walking Horse Show was held at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Gainesboro, Tenn., on Saturday, July 12. The event was sponsored by the Lady Blue Devils Championship Basketball Team.

Gene Batton traveled from Lexington, Ky., to evaluate the 31 classes of contenders. Gary Leverette stepped out of retirement for this show to capture all of the contenders on film.

For most of the day, intermittent rainstorms covered the Jackson County area until just before show time when the sky cleared and the sun came out. However, the rain did crank back up and proceeded to drench the riders and horses in the last eight or so classes of the evening.

Considering the approximately three inches of rain that fell, the track stayed in amazingly good shape. And, although lots of umbrellas and raingear was brought out, it seemed that most everyone stayed to the very end to see Bill Bilbrey and the handsome black stallion, Rio Grand Command claim the Walking Horse Stake class for the Ronnie Slagle family. Gen’s Drop Of Sun and Chris Pickel rode to the reserve tie for Fred Randolph and Buist Carr and his Warning I’m Armed got the third place nod.

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