by Debbie Graham

CORINTH, Miss. - The 19^th annual Magnolia Classic Walking Horse Show was held on July 20 and 21, 2007. The historic city of Corinth, Miss., hosted the legendary show. The event was held in the Crossroads Arena, a beautiful indoor facility complete with air-conditioning. The Corinth Rotary Club sponsors the show. Proceeds from the event benefit the Rotary Club’s support of the educational system in Alcorn County. The club promotes excellence in education and provides community service to the youth in the area.

The Rotary Club and the Crossroads Arena once again worked collectively to produce a successful show. John McCarter coordinated the event as show manager and served as ringmaster. Chip Walters was master of ceremonies. Justin Jenne’ judged the 46 classes. Larry Bright entertained the crowd with his organ music and performed all of his favorite horse show tunes. Sid Abernathy was the official photographer. Angel’s White Cloud and Julia Platt presented the colors.

Friday Evening

Winning the first Magnolia Classic title of the evening in the Walking Mares and Geldings Over 15.2 Open Canter class was Hey Hey Ole and Jimmy McConnell for Bob Medina. Next on the agenda was the Two-Year-Old Walking Mares and Geldings Extravaganza Riders’ Cup class. McConnell returned to claim this title for Leon and Clara Jean Forrester riding A Major In Business.

All American Ritz and Howard Hamilton made the familiar ride to the winner’s circle in the Park Performance Open Specialty division for Cynthia Wright. No strangers to the winner’s circle were An All Mighty Dollar and Pat Cecil in the Spotted Saddle Horse Heavy-Shod Open class. Patrick Thomas directed Celine Neon to top honors in the Park Pleasure Heavy-Shod Specialty class for Buster and Brenda McAdory. Armed And Trigger Happy and Jim Nichols collected the blue in the Western Park Pleasure Specialty class for Jim and Debbie Nichols earning Southern Serenity Ranch their fourth Magnolia Classic title for the evening.

Escalade and Wilsene Moody were rewarded with a Magnolia Classic title following their performance in the Elite Amateur 50 and Over Stallions, Mares and Geldings Specialty class for Opal Moody. Jazz On Bourbon claimed the Walking Stallions Over 15.2, Five Years and Over Specialty class for Danny and Lisa Palmer with Jackie McConnell directing.

Circle T Stables enjoyed two Magnolia Classic wins. Red Sunday’s Best and Laurie Toone were winners in the Plantation Pleasure Lite-Shod Specialty class for Laurie Toone and Jared Carrier. Victoria’s Got A Secret and Darren Gray led the Amateur Trail Pleasure Specialty division for Dee Dee Sale and Darren Gray.

Gen’s Star Of David and Dr. John Lay were in the spotlight in the Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class under the direction of Creekside Stables trainer Donald Shubert.

Winning the highly competitive Amateur 18 and Over Walking Ponies Specialty class were Watch Delight and Dr. Tommy Vinson for Dr. Tommy and Pat Vinson. Abernathy Stables prepared this team for show ring competition.

Webb Stables had two Magnolia Classic champions at the Friday night performance. Immortal Jose’ and Sara Moersch made the victory pass in the Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions class for Rolling Hills Farm. Tony Montana and Lisa Baum earned blue ribbon recognition in the Amateur Riders on Four-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class.

Dumas and Miller Carlton were the recipients of the Amateur Youth Riders 11 and Under on Mares and Geldings Specialty class for the Keith Carlton family under the watchful eye of Steve Dunn.

Firey Generator and Paula Sensing claimed the victory in the Amateur Riders on Show Pleasure Walking Horses Specialty division for Bill and Paula Sensing. Campbell Stables directed this popular team.

Larry and Farrah McAlexander enjoyed two Magnolia Classic honors with their show ring contenders. Busting Special and Farrah McAlexander were something special when they claimed the Amateur Riders On Walking Stallions Over 15.2 Specialty division. McAlexander and Jimmy McConnell added another Pro-Am Riders on Walking Stallions, Mares and Geldings Specialty title to their resume of accomplishments in this division with He’s Dr. Cash.

Silky’s Silhouette and Paula Sanders walked away with the Amateur Riders on Walking Stallions, Mares and Geldings 15.2 and Under Specialty title for Taylor Sanders riding under the Falcon Ridge Farm banner.

Cadillac’s Bum and Pam Betts have quickly made their presence known this season when they added another blue to their growing list of accomplishments. The Magnolia Classic honor came in the Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions division.

Padron and Michael Wright won the Walking Mares and Geldings 15.2 and Under, Five Years and Over class for Clyde and Grace Robertson. Jazz’s Steppin Wulff and James Nichols turned in a winning performance to claim the Amateur Owned and Trained Specialty title.

In the final class of the evening Watch My Jewels and Jimmy McConnell claimed Formac Stables’s sixth Magnolia Classic title in the Four-Year-Old Walking Riders’ Cup class for Larry Carney and Cindy Hammons.

Following the Friday night performance, an exhibitors’ party was held featuring a barbecue with all the trimmings.

Saturday Evening

The first Magnolia Classic title of the evening was awarded to Rare Cash and Lindsey Wall who won their second blue in a row in the Amateur Youth Riders 12-17 Specialty division for the Mike Wall family.

The Lead Line Riders 6 and Under champions were I’m A Dandy Too and Bailey Gaidos with Debbie Gadios at the lead for Don Brown. This duo was the 2006 champions in this division.

Smith Stables claimed both Yearling Halter classes at Corinth with David Smith at the lead for both wins. Touch Of Heart won the Yearling Fillies title for Jimmy and Debbie Graham. Jeazibel’s Black Gen topped the Yearling Stallion title for Dr. John Lay.

Webb Stables had three top honors on Saturday night. Designed By Special and Link Webb won the Three-Year-Old Walking Mares and Geldings Riders’ Cup class for James and Peggy Vernon. Webb returned to claim the Four-Year-Old Walking Mares and Geldings Riders’ Cup title aboard Tony Montana following a Friday night win with owner Lisa Baum in the irons. Sarah Moersch received her second title with a winning performance riding Ecstatic in the Amateur Riders on Four-Year-Old Walking Stallions Specialty division for Rolling Hills Farm.

Off Duty and Shea Woods claimed the Two-Year-Old Stallions Extravaganza Riders’ Cup class for Great Oaks Farm. Rebel’s Black Star and Joel Stewart accepted the blue in the Amateur Walking Open Canter class for Joel and Linda Stewart. Woods Stables is credited with the training of these contenders.

For The Good Times and Arvolle Brown were in top form to win the Amateur Two-Year-Old Walking Mares and Geldings title.

Generator’s Code Blue and Rebecca Reynolds added another blue to their growing list of accomplishments in the Country Pleasure Saddle Horses Lite-Shod division this season for Jill and Rebecca Reynolds. Kid Wolf and Patrick Thomas won the Spotted Saddle Horse Lite-Shod class for the second year in a row for Terry Thomas. I’m A Big Bad John and Jim Nichols were in the limelight in the Amateur Park Pleasure Heavy-Shod Specialty class for Marty Irby. High Fashion Statement and Jamie Gardner were victorious in the Amateur Park Performance Specialty class for Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Gardner bringing the blue ribbon tally to four for Southern Serenity Ranch.

Sweet Kennedy and Billie Pace were thrilled to accept top honors in the Amateur Lady Riders Specialty class for Hashe Stables.

Whitter Stables had three Friday night champions. A Formula One and Jackie McConnell were in victory lane at the conclusion of the Walking Stallions 15.2 and Under, Five Years and Over Riders’ Cup class for Stan Wilcoxen. McConnell returned to earn blue ribbon recognition in the Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions Riders’ Cup division riding All American Made for Beverly Sherman. Wilsene Moody accepted her second blue at the Corinth show in the Amateur Riders on Walking Mares and Geldings, Five Years and Over Specialty division aboard Foolish Dollar for O. and W. Moody, Ltd.

The Magnolia Classic extended an invitation to 2006 Four-Year-Old World Grand Champion Star and Jackie McConnell to travel to Corinth for an exhibition. The performance had the crowd cheering when the duo left the ring. Opal and Wilsene Moody were in center ring while their champion displayed his talents.

My Pops The Man and Honey Stivers were winners in the Trainers’ Family and Auxiliary Members Walking Specialty title for Lora Lawrence under the direction of Magnolia Stables.

A Fairy Tale and Karla Massey accepted the blue in the Owned and Trained Plantation Pleasure Lite-Shod Specialty class for James Nichols. Stewart Little and Jimmy McConnell won the Show Pleasure Open Specialty title for Red and Dot Strickland.

A very excited young lady, Ashlyn Crowson was delighted to accept the title of Amateur Youth 17 and Under Walking Ponies Specialty aboard Pushin Tunica for Larry and Pat Doyle.

In the final class of the evening, Master Of Jazz and Jimmy McConnell turned in an impressive performance to claim the cherished Dark Spirit’s Rebel Walking Stake Riders’ Cup tricolor for Lee Wall and Mike McGartland, who were ringside while their champion made the victory pass to the cheers of the crowd.

Complete results from the Magnolia Classic follow and can be viewed at www.walkinghorsereport.com.