by Sarah Smith

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – On Thursday, Sept. 2, 2016, the second of three Championship Nights at the 78^th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration got underway at 7 p.m. It was Veteran Appreciation Night and festivities got underway with a Salute to Veterans led by Celebration Flag Horse, Ranger T. Walker. Judges for the 11-day event have been Chris Bobo, Nathan Clark, Ray Gilmer, Sam Sorrell and Leigh Stuart.

The first class if the evening was the Owner-Amateur Lady Drivers, Fine Harness. Making their way down victory lane was Masati with Danielle Ricker at the reins. This was the team’s third outing of the season and their first with the buggy. Reserve went to Lined Royal Cash and Wilsene Moody-Kwok. Lined Royal Cash also pulled Dr. Jack Kwok to the reserve title on Monday night in the Gentleman’s Fine Harness. Rounding out the top three was My Diamonds And Pearls and Kathy Owen, who is no stranger to the fine harness division.

Up next was the ever-popular Amateur-Amateur Riders on Walking Horses. The title of world champion went to Country And Famous, the Rick and Marla Lovett owned entry with Miles Irby and Dalia Smith-Harr sharing the reins. Reserve went to the mother-daughter team of Stacy and Alex Blackburn and their multi-titled champion, The Royal Dollar. Third in the large class went to Wicked Walking Witch with Nathan Oliver and Courtney Luttrell.

The first world grand championship class of the night brought eight entries to the track to vie for top honors in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Five-Year-Old Walking Horses. Making the spotlight ride was Mr. Country Gentleman and Robert Deutsch. The team was victorious in their qualifying class and were the Amateur Three-Year-Old World Grand Champions in 2014 and Amateur Four-Year-Old World Grand Champions last year. Reserve in the class went to Popcorn Sutton and Brittany Baum. Third in the class went to Five Star’s Jazzman and Henry Metcalf.

Repeating their win from 2015, Lined Up At The Ritz and Lisa Baum earned the Owner-Amateur Riders on Park Pleasure Walking Horses World Grand Championship. In their show seasons together, the duo is undefeated and with this win being lucky number 13 they retired the Royals Good Times Memorial Challenge Trophy. With three world titles added to his credit at this year’s Celebration, BB King’s Jazz and Mikki Eldridge, picked up the red streamer. Also a 2016 World Champion, Top Recruit and Darlene Harris were third in the talent packed class.



Returning to the show ring and riding to top honors in the very next class, also for the second year in a row, was Lisa Baum and A Bruce Pearl in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Horses World Grand Championship. They were victorious in their qualifying class on Sunday night. Riding to the reserve title was A Lone Star Legend and Karen Beam. Third in the class went to Epic and Meghan Davis.

The Walking Horse Trainers’ Auxiliary World Championship invited four entries to the ring. Riding to the winner’s circle with the approval of all five judges was Mr. Heisman and Kelly Mills for Randall and Sadie Baskin. Brandye Mills directed the talent to the 15.2 & Under Stallions win on Monday night. This was a repeat win for the team from 2015. Mills also won the class in 2014 aboard her beloved Jazz’s Master and with this win retired all three challenge trophies. Candy Green rode They Call Me Samson to the reserve title for Bill and Karen Bean. Third in the class went to Jose’s Cartel and Erica Way for Maria Derickson Bobo.

After earning a world championship earlier in the week, a dream came true as Tamara Hader rode Cazadores to the world grand championship in the class for Owner-Amateur Riders on Western Trail Pleasure Walking Horses. This was the seventh win for the duo this season. Reserve acclaim went to Habanero and Jason Myatt. Third went to the team of The Great Sensation and Bob Lawrence.



The Trainer Ride For The Roses was next on the schedule. Riding under the spotlight and to the world grand championship was Absolute Proof and Bryan Barnhill for Greg Kiser. Absolute Proof carried Bill Callaway to the Young Trainers, 35 Years & Under, on Walking Stallions World Championship on Tuesday night. Absolute Proof is a multi-titled world champion, but this was he and Barnhill’s first set of roses. Reserve in the class went to Master’s Razzel And Jazz and Brad Beard for Roger and Laura Mauney. Third went to Siege and Scott Beaty.

Professionals were next on the Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Four Years & Under, Riders’ Cup, Optional Tack World Grand Championship. With a unanimous vote from the judges, Etta James By TJB and Carrie Martin earned the ride under the spotlight for Steve Zeis. Etta James By TJB is a reigning world grand champion with Kathy Zeis and has earned three world championships this year. Reserve honors went to A Rain Delay and David Mast for Teel & Gleghorn. A Rain Delay is also a 2016 world champion. Third in the class went to Talkin Dirty To Me and Hannah Myatt for LaMar DePoyster.

Reigning World Grand Champion, I Am Jose’ and Casey Wright exhibited and entertained the crowd with their talent and beauty. I Am Jose’ made history when he became the World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse in 2013, 2014 and again in 2015. “The History Maker” is proudly owned by Billy Max and Debbie Woods.

The Owner-Amateur Riders on Novice Walking Horses World Grand Championship took the track next. After winning their preliminary on Friday night, Joe Pa and Tanya Strickland returned to the winner’s circle and rode right out of the Novice division with a floral horseshoe and the tri-color ribbon. Second went to All About That Jose’ and Harold Roberts. They also won their qualifying class earlier in the show. Third went to yet another team that rode out of the Novice division earlier in the week, Bacardi And Me and Nanette McInnes.

Earning the tri-color ribbon and roses and a trip under the spotlight in the Lite-Shod Walking Horses, Four Years & Under, a Riders’ Cup class was Moonshine At Midnight and Patrick Thomas for Sherry Roberts. The team was called to the winner’s circle on Wednesday morning and also carried Harold Roberts to a reserve world title earlier in the show. Second in the class went to I’m Majestic and Jeff Laughlin for Dr. Karen Baum. Dr. Baum earned her first world championship aboard I’m Majestic on Monday morning. Rounding out the top three was Big Time Bandit and Howard Hamilton for Scott and Kim Leonard. Big Time Bandit won his qualifying class with Patrick Thomas aboard.



After winning their preliminary classes in 2014, 2015 and again this year, Zeta and Lily Catherine Holland are now the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 12-17 Years on Walking Mares or Geldings World Grand Champions. Second went to Jose’s Delightful Pusher and Lilly Riddley. This team was also victorious in their qualifying class on Sunday night. Third was the team of A Cloudy Sky and Nathan Oliver.

Earning their second world grand championship of 2016 and defending their 2015 title, Designer Champagne and Kimberly Coult-Walden topped the competition in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Western Country Pleasure Walking Horses World Grand Championship. Earning the reserve world grand championship was Eye On The Title and Lisa Baum. This team rode to the winner’s circle on Sunday night. Third went to Out There And Lovin It and Caroline Sinden.

Herbert Derickson, Jeff Green and Allison Thorson brought the crowd to their feet with a fabulous and touching tribute to our country, our Nations Colors and our beautiful Tennessee Walking Horse.

The Callaway brothers delivered a one-two punch in the Open Specialty Walking Horses World Grand Championship. Bill Callaway directed Samsung to the ultimate title for George-Ann Pratt. The team was also victorious in the Young Trainers on Walking Horses 15.2 & Under earlier in the week. Reserve went to John Allan Callaway and Nino’s Category Five for Dr. Barbara Moersch. Rounding out the top three was I’m Pushin’ N Line and Casey Wright for Joe Fostek.

Knock Down Drag Out and Jason Myatt made the trip under the spotlight in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Horses World Grand Championship. Knock Down Drag Out had early season wins at the Gulf Coast Trainers’ Show, Columbia Spring Jubilee and Money Tree Classic. Reserve went to 2016 World Champions, A Classic Action and David Sisk. Molly Lou Melon and Diana Cruse rounded out the top three and the large class of young talents.



The final class of the evening entered the ring to Larry Bright’s “Flat Walk Boogie”. The Four-Year-Old World Grand Championship acclaim went to Marty McFly and Casey Wright for Joe Fostek. Marty McFly was victorious at the Marshall County Horseman’s Association Horse Show before heading to the Celebration. The reserve title went to Jose’s Red Rock and Herbert Derickson for the Alan Riddley family. This team had early season wins at the National Trainers’ Show and Red Carpet Show of the South. Third in the class went to Jose’ Cold Chills and John Allan Callaway for LaRue McWaters.

The final performance of the 78^th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration will begin at 7 p.m. tomorrow night.