By Linda Scrivner

HARRODSBURG, Ky. - The annual Derby Classic was held April 30-May 1 at the Mercer County Fairgrounds in Harrodsburg, Ky. The 480-entry, 66-class event was judged by Charlie Brown of Princeton, Ky., and Howard Roberts of Louisville, Ky., who alternated the judging duties. Proceeds from the show went to further the cause of the Central Kentucky Riding For The Handicapped program, which relies solely on donated funds. The show was sponsored by the Kentucky Walking and Racking Horse Trainers’ Association.

The Friday show went well into the morning ending a few minutes before 1:00 a.m. Saturday evening torrents of rain arrived before the conclusion of the show leaving water and slush for the remaining classes. The show, however, went on and another great Derby Classic was concluded.

The Championship Stake followed shortly after the deluge and those competing were soon covered with mud. The team of The Outlaw Josey Wales and Billy Gray returned to Harrodsburg to carry home the roses just as they did last fall when they won the stake at the Kentucky Celebration. Larry and Carol McLaughlin of Florence, S.C., proudly own the champion. The crowd loudly supported the judge’s selection. The reserve award went to Jubilee’s Time and Billy Joe Hays for the Todd Haden family of Elizabethtown, Ky.

Eight barns won a trio of blues including Mike Anasis Stables, Scott Beaty Stables, Jerry Goodman, Billy Gray of Southern Comfort, Highland Stables, J & H Stables, Buford Martin of Martin Stables and Mike Owner of Sweet Revenge Stables. Several stables returned home with dual blues including Scotty Brooks Stables, Carswell’s Seventh Heaven Stables, Jerry Goodman, Greg Haley, Roberts Stables and Shannon Stables.

Mike Anasis Stables' victories included the Two-Year-Old Plantation class with He’s Lynnard Skynnard and Mike Anasis; the Amateur Plantation Pleasure Lite-Shod Specialty class with Fiddlin’ At Sunrise and Christa Ellis; and the Plantation Pleasure Amateur Specialty class with Wham! and Austin Gillentine.

Scott Beaty Stables also claimed three victories. They captured wins in the KWHA Ladies Auxiliary class with Stormin Through Dixie and Kim Butler; the 15.2 and Under class with Ritz Jr. and Scott Beaty; and the Amateur Walking Stake with Command’s Wild Card and Abby Fox.

Terry Goodman received a trio of blues as well. His first win was in the Tennessee Performance Horse with Chains-Amateur class with One Bad Dude. The second blue was in the 11-entry Performance Pleasure Specialty class with Color Of Cash. Finally, the Tennessee Performance Horse with Chains class win went to One Bad Dude.

Billy Gray of Southern Comfort Stables, located in Shelbyville, Tenn., made their trip to Kentucky well worth their while also capturing three blues. In addition to the championship stake, their victories included the Three-Year-Old Amateur Mares and Geldings class with She’s Martha Stewart and David Ransom and the 12-entry Three-Year-Old Stallions class with It’s San Jose and Billy Gray.

Highland Stables won triple blues. The first victory they received was in the 12-entry Juvenile 17 and Under Specialty class with Pegasus’s Magma Man and Justin Mosley. Favorite’s Maverick won both the 12-entry Amateur Mare and Gelding Specialty class with Betty Mosley and the 10-entry Novice Amateur Specialty class with Ryan Blackburn.

J & H Stables also claimed three blues. Alie Napier claimed the Amateur 15.2 and Under class with her well-known champion I’m The Intimidator. The competitive Aged Mare and Gelding class was received by Dollar Bell and Larry George, while Danny Hughes claimed a victory in the Two-Year-Old Stallion class with Forces Of Evil.

Entries from Buford Martin Stables were pleased with their triple wins. Haley Allen Dauer first captured the Plantation 17 and Under Specialty class with Pattern’s Gen. Billy Ford later rode to the winner's circle with The Grand Buccaneer in the Two-Year-Old Amateur class. Darrell Smoot won their final ribbon in the Grooms class aboard Delight’s Gold Bum.

The final barn to receive three blues was Sweet Revenge Stables. Motown’s Good Timing and Lisa Patton were the first champions crowned from Sweet Revenge Stables in the Ladies Amateur Walking (Canter) class. Hold On Loosely and Mike Owney received the blue in the Four-Year-Old Open class. Owney also received top honors with Ultra Prime Mover in the 11-entry Show Pleasure Specialty class. This team also won two weeks ago at the Ladies Auxiliary Show in Harrodsburg.

Brooks Stables claimed their first blue in the 11-entry Amateur Show Pleasure class with Melanie Brooks aboard Confederate Money. Scotty Brooks topped off the 10-entry Open Specialty class winning the blue with Master Miracle.

The team of Delightful George and Lakita Lykins received dual blues for Seventh Heaven Farm and trainer Gene Carswell. Friday, they walked away with the Equitation title, followed Saturday by a win in the juvenile 12-17 division.

Trainer Greg Haley received two blues. The first victory came in the Racking Horse Stake with Jubilee’s Voo Doo Star and LaMar DePoyster. Then Sunczar and DePoyster made a victory pass in the Amateur Stallion Specialty class.

Roberts Stables claimed their two blues in the Amateur Racking class with The Performance Edge and Brandon Grubb and in the Flat-Shod Racking class with Block Buster and Aleisha Roberts.

The 13-entry Four-Year-Old Amateur class blue went home to Xenia, Ohio, with Color Of Carbon with Michelle Lamb aboard. While in Harrodsburg, Sandra Shannon captured a blue ribbon ride aboard Jose’s Cayenne Pepper in the Four-Year-Old Plantation Specialty class.

Tyra Stables enjoyed two victories. In the Youth 17 and Under Racking class The Perfect One and Nellie Buckles were just that to win. Bojangles On The Edge and Teresa Tyra rose to the top of the Ladies Racking class to earn the blue.

Several barns won single blues in Kentucky as well. In the 12-entry Juvenile Country Pleasure class Chance For Sun and Randy Stillwell made the winning ride. Howard Stables claimed the blue in the Two-Year-Old Racking class with Delightful Simone and Cliff Sullivan.

Bruner Stables received the blue in the Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class with Pushover’s Spring Fashion and Molly Bruner. In the Three-Year-Old Plantation class Kentucky Joe received the top honors with Jimmy Cotton in the irons.

Robert Dupree claimed a blue in the Four-Year-Old Racking class with Twist Of Pride.

Prescription For Blue recently won the Ladies Auxiliary Show and returned to win another blue in the KSOA Yearling class with Jamie Lee Derickson at the lead.

The Amateur Country Pleasure class was divided into two sections. Eleven entries answered the gate call for section A. Taking Care Of Cash and Greta Potter were welcomed into the winner’s circle just as they were in the earlier Harrodsburg show.

Maggie May Of Grassland and Brenda Durham claimed the blue in the Three-Year-Old Performance Pleasure class under the guidance of Ray Burton.

In the Men’s Racking class, it was U.C. I’m Perfect and Larry George claiming the blue.

The Lady Doctor and Ella Kline claimed the Open Yearling class for trainer Mike Janeway.

Earl Reynolds received the blue in the 17-entry Trail Pleasure Racking class with Ravishing Ruby Jane.

Rick O’Neal and Confidential claimed the KSOA Three-Year-Old class blue.

Another class that was split in Harrodsburg was the Amateur Mare and Gelding class. Dark Spirit’s Special and Harold Edwards carried the Amateur Mares and Geldings, Division B blue back to McQuerry Stables.

Doug Stephens directed the talented Maxwell to the KSOA Two-Year-Old title. The two-year-old mare and gelding division saw Michael Logue and Beam’s Tribute To Pusher take home the blue for Michael Logue Stables.

No strangers to the winner’s circle, the team of A Flash Threat and Derek Morgan were named the winners of the 15.2 and under racking division for Morgan Stables.

The Juvenile 11 and Under class found Pushover’s Primetime and Andrew LaSure wearing the blue for trainer Rick Tillett.

Barry Isham directed Color’s All Lit Up to the blue in the Amateur Spotted Horse class for Choate Stables.

JoAnne Zeller directed the Tanglewood Stables trained entry Mister Blockbuster to the 11-entry Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallions and Geldings class.

The KSOA Open class found Brandye Mills and Charger’s Back In Black making the victory pass for Brandye Mills Stables.

Derek Morgan directed Bo’s Diamond to the Show Pleasure Racking blue for Morgan Stables.

Buffy Ailshie took the title in the style racking division aboard Dangerously Sassy.

Shawn Cook directed I’m Turning Lose to the top in the speed racking division amidst thunderous cheers from the audience.

In the Walking Pony competition, Dalia Smith directed Cover Charge to the blue for trainer Dale Burnes.

Lonnie Sloan and Ollie B were at it again. They took the country pleasure racking division by storm.

Kenny Smith directed Sweep The Floor to the Amateur Owned and Trained title. Next, the talented rider Allen Turner directed Clutch’s Little Threat to the Plantation Pleasure Stake for trainer Tony Tally.

This concludes our coverage of the Derby Classic.