With judge Martin in charge, 19 of 20 Owner-Amateur Youth Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings, Specialty Riders 12-17 Years, World Grand Championship entered
the big oval. The young riders skillfully maneuvered their horses, demonstrating that each one was a force to be reckoned with. No wonder, many of the horses had top ties at the Celebration.
Taking that tri color ribbon ride for the second time in this class was Gen’s Fire & Ice and Stephanie Gordon for Arthur and Susan Gordon of Orange, Calif. In winning this class, they retire all three challenge
trophies. Gen’s Fire and Ice’s Celebration wins are remarkable and too lengthy to mention once you have passed thirty ribbons. Another memorable ride was made by Lauren Clayton on Eb’s Cloud Nine. This Georgia entry is owned by the Mark Clayton family. They made the reserve red ribbon ride. Bill Callaway and Tennessee Gen went straight to the third place tie for Moore, Littell & Callaway.
Twelve entries of 13 listed, answered the gate call for the Western Park Pleasure Walking Horses, World Grand Championship. Cowboy hats, colorful attire and smooth gaited horses earmarked the only western class of the night.
Repeating that world grand championship win this year was Strike It Rich and Joe Dixon for Randall & Gloria Dixon. They retire the Lorraine Martinez Memorial Challenge trophy and the Strike It Rich Challenge trophy. Gliding in for the reserve honors was Bad
News’ Gold Hard Cash and Trish Wooten; that’s four ribbons for the horse and owners Nadea Watt of Scottsdale, Az. Taking the third place honors by storm was Cash Storm and Wayne Westbrook for Robert Westbrook of Flower Mound, Texas.
There is always a sense of anticipation when the young two-year-olds come to visit the big oval. The earlier qualifiers were exciting and the crowds expected the same from this class. Seventeen of 20 entries were ready to show what they had. Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Horses, World Grand Championship was set to crown a winner. The talent displayed in this class rivaled the older horses.
Roanoke, Va. resident Janice Fostek and I’m Willie Wonka were the newly crowned champions. Carrying the roses, they made that special spotlight ride with the tri color waving. They rode to the blue ribbon at Bethesda and Moore County horse show. Joe and Janice Fostek own the entry. Darwin Oordt and The Total Score were totally thrilled with their reserve title and red ribbon. McDonald and Oordt own the entry. A golden
moment was had by Jeanine Gullett and The Golden Soverign for Jim Gullett of Duluth, Ga.
Tradition ruled again as the announcer called for a third inning stretch. Everyone to your feet! The four-year-olds were closing out the night. Somewhere in the field of 11 horses, would be the next junior world grand champion. Junior horses are first introduced to the canter in their four-year-old year;
this class is the big test. Most top contenders will go on to vie for the Stake next year. “Now take that deep seat and show the running walk.” Nothing gets the crowd going like a group of big walking stallions. The crowd roared their approval as the riders headed for
the line up.
The junior world grand champion title went to Out On Parole and Steve Dunn, making his daddy proud. Owner, Autumn Crest Farm, and 21,831 fans watched the entry win. Larry Edwards rode Private Charter to a strong
reserve for R. Bud Moore of Al. Ex Dividend and Allan Callaway captured the third place title for George & Beverly Greenup.
It all comes down to this. Saturday night. Big Stake. Battle royal. That’s what this Celebration is all about. Stats people take notice: total entries, 5056 (old record was 4,613 in 1995), total horses entered,
2,457 (the old record was 2,226). A great year for the Tennessee Walking horse!