STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Third Annual Alpha Gamma Rho Spring Sensation was once again a success with a larger crowd than ever. Held on March 7th & 8th, 2003 at the Mississippi Horse Park and Agricenter in Starkville, Miss., this year’s show had lovely weather following a rainy spring and winter.
This show was expertly put on again by Show Manager Paul Boals and the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, America’s only national agriculture fraternity.
Judging this year’s 44 class event was Joe Fleming. Sandra Hall captured the event on film while Organist Brian Perry entertained all in attendance. Billy Walton and Randy Loper, once again took the microphone as master of ceremonies for the occasion. The event concluded with an exhibitor’s reception following the show with plenty of good barbecue and all that goes with it.
In the Walking Grand Championship and following their 2002 season’s end victory at Oak Grove Community Show, the team of Dick Peebles and John F.K.’s Pusher were selected to exit with the tricolor and championship cooler. This chestnut stallion, newly acquired by Bruce and Robin MacDonald, came on strong and made a tremendous showing. Generally Pushy and Robert Stivers walked out with the reserve while Brock Tillman and Elvis Pusher was selected for the third position in a strong field of championship contenders.
The Racking Grand Championship had seven top entries with Major Pushover and Casey Roberts being selected by Judge Fleming. Reserve was the team of Le Reginelli and Souvenir Coin while third went to Pusher’s Winning Colors and Larry Taylor.
Dick Peebles Stables of Shelbyville, Tennessee led the blue ribbon tally with five blues. Roberts Stables enjoyed four blues while Black Hawk Farms earned three. Dual blues were won by Circle C Stables, Southern Serenity Ranch, Karla Massey, Tim Smith, Summer Crest Farm, Stephen Tidwell, Webb Stables, and Whitter Stables.
Dick Peebles Stables first blue came in the Ladies Amateur Specialty Class of ten top entries. Gen’s All Colors and Carol Smith wore the blue from the ring. This colorful blaze faced horse won the Four-Year-Old Class in 2002 with Dick Peebles in the irons.
Dick Peebles directed the next Peebles’ Stables entry, Silver’s Sassy Sally to the top of the Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding Class in a tremendous showing. Silver’s Sally Sassy returned on Saturday evening to also win the Three-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding title with Frank Mosely in the saddle.
Debbie Williams rode to the top in the Two-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding on Taboo in a very competitive division under Dick Peebles Stables’ banner.
Casey Roberts of Roberts Stables of Ripley, Mississippi, directed not only the Racking Grand Champion but two other mounts to Spring Sensation honors. In the Style Racking he won on Major Pushover, followed by Action’s Main Event in the Speed Racking which drew shouts and cheers from everyone as he racked rapidly around the ring.
The fourth Roberts Stables title was won by Justin Christian and Mo’s Hakuna Matata in the Youth Racking Class.
The team of Brock Tillman and Overdrawn won the first of three blues for Black Hawk Farms in the Mare and Gelding Class with an excellent performance. Black Hawk Stables continued their winning streak in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallion Class. The flashy, powerful General MacArthur and Jaclyn Smith-Tillman entertained the crowd when they earned this blue.
On Saturday evening the Four-Year-Old Amateur Specialty was divided into Four-Year-Old Amateur Stallion and Four-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding Classes. Lauren Hamilton catch rode for Black Hawk Farms and trainer Justin Harris to earn the Four-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding title aboard Silver Dollar Duchess.
Shea Levitan and Incredible Cash claimed the first blue for Circle C Stables of Eads, Tennessee in the tough and loaded Juvenile 11 and Under Class. Cindy Sartin directed Shock’s Black April to the top of the Amateur Racking to earn their second blue of the show.
From Southern Serenity Ranch, Gem Sweep and Pamela Schoenster came in stroking and left the same way to make the victory pass in the Country Pleasure Specialty of eleven entries. On Saturday night Vanessa Flanagan was in the saddle in the Park Pleasure Class taking the victory pass aboard Law And Order.