SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The final Friday evening and second night of championship classes began right at the 6:30p.m. mark with Announcer Mark Farrar, Jr.’s call for the flag horse. Counterfeit Dollar, a white Tennessee Walking Horse, ridden by Hall of Famer Bud Seaton. He is owned by OK Walking Horse Farm, prepared for exhibition by Hugh Stables and serves as the flag bearer at each evening session of the 76th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.

The judging panel of Rollie Beard, Jennifer Bingham, David Landrum, Paul Robbins and David Sisk took their place in the Celebration Oval to welcome the competition.

The first class of the night was the A Division of the Ladies Fine Harness. Driving out with the World Championship was Cash’s Baby Girl and Donna Kay Head. This was the first outing of the season for the mare that is a staple in the Fine Harness and Amateur Owned & Trained competition. Reserve went to Titleist Grand Slam and Jean O’Brien. Titleist Grand Slam was reserve in the Fine Harness class at the Red Carpet Show of the South before making his way to the big oval. Third went to former World Champions in the class, Breakin’ Parole and Stephanie Elliott.

The B Division of the Ladies Fine Harness ended with a unanimous tie. Bingo Time and Rae Tysor cruised down victory lane. Bingo Time was a World and World Grand Champion in 2009 as a Two-Year-Old. Reserve went to My Diamonds And Pearls and Kathy Owen, who were reserve in the class last year. Rounding out the top three was Strong And Pushy with Jerri Ann Hill at the whip.



A new class at the Celebration was next on the schedule. Claiming the World Championship in the first Amateur-Amateur class offered at the Celebration was Kid Callahan with Ed and Whitney Breedlove sharing the reins. Reserve went to I’m Moonlighting with Nick Rippy and Kayla Baucom. Third was They Call Me Samson with Karen Bean and Candy Green.

The three scheduled entries answered the call to compete for the Western Lite-Shod World Grand Championship. Lucky Daze and Patrick Thomas repeated their 2013 win and carried out the roses and tricolor ribbon for Lisa Shockey-Kessel. The team also won their preliminary class earlier in the show. Reserve went to MP-1 and Chris Helton for Forest Jones. Third was Candy Crush and Jeff Laughlin for Dr. Jack Kwok.

The Five-Year-Old Amateur World Grand Championship went to Memphis Mafia and Gail Walling. The duo won their preliminary last Saturday and add this set of roses and tricolor ribbon to their undefeated season. The Reserve World Grand Championship went to The American Patriot and Ashley Joseph Mezrano. Third was Command On Parole and Sheryl Crawford, also World Champions earlier in the show.

Returning to the winner’s circle once again was B.B. King’s Jazz with Mikki Eldridge aboard to claim the Owner-Amateur Riders on Park Pleasure Walking Horses World Grand Championship. This marked the second set of roses for the champion and the retirement of two more challenge trophies. Reserve went to Miss Cheyenne and Gordon Ezzell. Lime-A-Rita and Tamara Hader carried out the yellow streamer.

Earning back-to-back World Grand Championships was the team of A Bruce Pearl and Lee McGartland. They topped the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Horses World Grand Championship with a unanimous vote of the judging panel. The team also won at the Spring Fun Show in May. Reserve went to Sky Miles and Beth Sims who were reserve in their preliminary and had two prior wins this season. Third went to More Of The Dollar and Louis Judd.



Five entries answered the gate call for the Walking Horse Trainers’ Auxiliary Members on Walking Horses Championship. Emerging from the lineup and to the winner’s circle was Kelly Mills and Jazz’s Master. Reserve was Magic’s Pure Ritz and Erica Way. Third went to Jail Time and Stephanie Cagle. The Walking Horse Trainers’ Auxiliary is a great group of hard working ladies. They put on the Money Tree Classic, the Celebration Dog Show, award youth scholarships and support therapeutic riding programs throughout the southeast.

The Owner-Amateur Riders on Western Trail Pleasure Walking Horses World Grand Championship was next to hit the ring. This was the first class to be judged by the guest judges alongside the Celebration judging panel. Making the spotlight ride for the second year in a row was Line Item Veto and Rachel Teague. The duo retired the challenge trophy and added this win to their preliminary earlier this week. This was the third set of roses for Line Item Veto. Reserve was Suiza and Allison Thorson. Jose’s Firecracker and Wayne Westbrook carried out the yellow streamer.

 

More guest judges were brought to the ring for the next class. Following their World Championship in the Young Trainers on Stallions class, Lester H. Burns and Ryan Blackburn earned the approval of the entire judging panel to claim the World Grand Championship in the Trainers “Ride For The Roses”. Lester H. Burns is owned by Martin Cox. Reserve honors went to The Coach’s Son and Jeff Green for Don and Sharon Broome. Third was Jose’s Star Attraction and Josh Watts for Lee and Carol Baxter.

The final class that featured guest judge sure did have their hands full. From a field of 13, He’s Made In The USA and Sheryl Jordan topped the Novice Riders on Novice Walking Horses World Grand Championship. This was the first trip to the Celebration winner’s circle for Sheryl Jordan and she did that with the tricolor ribbon and roses. Reserve in the big class went to Knock ‘Em Ted and Jannie Chapman who won a Novice World Championship earlier in the show. Rounding out the top three was Lined’s Lady MG and Kim Bailey.



Next to take the track was the Four & Under Lite-Shod World Grand Championship. Riding under the spotlight and to the winner’s circle was Roscoe Jenkins and Jeff Laughlin for Susan Coleman. Roscoe Jenkins is now three-for-three at the Celebration winning his preliminary class with Jeff Laughlin and the Amateur class with Susan Coleman. Reserve went to Just Borrowed Cash and Patrick Thomas for Jim Roberts. Just Borrowed Cash is a two-time World Champion at this year’s Celebration as well. Third went to Rockytop Rowdy and Jimmy Laughlin.



The youth riders took the track next in the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 12-17 Years on Mares or Geldings World Grand Championship. Making a unanimous ride under the spotlight was Jose’ Caliente and Chris Elliott. The team topped their preliminary class earlier in the show and remain undefeated this season seven previous wins. Second went to Jose’s Delightful Pusher and Lilly Riddley. Picking up the yellow streamer was Heza War Horse and Robert Cortner.



Next to the ring was the Walking Horse Specialty World Grand Championship. Winning the class and claiming all the loot in the new class was A Strong Need For Cash and Michael Wright for Jim and Jeanne Roberts. This was a unanimous tie by the judges giving the duo their third set of roses. Reserve honors went to Palm Beach Ritz and Tim Smith for the Terry Dotson family. Carrying out the yellow award was Ozone’s Cut Above All and John Allan Callaway for George-Ann Pratt.

The young stars of the industry and their amateur riders took to the track next in hopes of riding under the spotlight to the Owner-Amateur Two-Year-Old World Grand Championship. Emerging from the lineup of nine talented entries was Sonny Steele and Clay Mills. The team earned a World Championship the first Thursday evening in the A Division of Amateur Two-Year-Old Stallions. Also World Champions in their preliminary and claiming the title of Reserve World Grand Champion was The Land Shark and Benjamin Bowen. This Is Jazz and Lisa Baum rounded out the top three with a powerful performance.



The final class of the evening was the Four-Year-Old World Grand Championship. The Flat Walk Boogie written and played by Mr. Larry Bright welcomed three top contenders to the ring. The crowd showed their support for their favorite entry. Making the ride down victory lane was Jimmer Fredette and Dale Watts for Lee and Carol Baxter. Reserve went to Border Run and John Allan Callaway for Robert Moore. Bill Callaway and Willie Twilight took home the third award for Keith and Lorraine Rosbury.

With just one more night of competition to go, the competition is great! The final performance of the Celebration will begin tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. If you haven’t had time to visit the trade fair or the venders set up in the barn area, don’t miss out.