PULASKI, Tenn. - The 62nd Annual Red Carpet Show Of The South was held on Saturday, July 27th. The Honorable Rob Cornelius of Rogersville, Alabama was in charge of marking the cards for the 31 class event, five of which were MASCUP classes. The MASCUP classes continue to bring out large numbers of entries. In its first year with the Tennessee Walking Horse industry, the trainers tend to bring out their top stock to collect additional MASCUP money and points toward the year end monetary awards. And believe you me, the MASCUP classes were loaded with talent at Pulaski.

The crowd was huge and they thoroughly enjoyed the top horses that the trainers had brought. Statements were heard throughout the show that you don’t see better classes than these anywhere! The depth of quality was outstanding. Pulaski certainly had rolled out the red carpet in 2002!

Show manager was Meade Hopkins; Bobby Sands, announcer; organist, Brian Peery; and farrier, Jeff Shaw. Photographer Jack Greene was on hand to capture this exciting night on film.

The show was opened with World Champion Pusher’s Black Hawk and Brock Tillman carrying the flag, which started the show off with a bang and a tense air all evening as people wondered who would be the next great horse. Many left the show feeling they had seen some of the 2002 world grand champions that evening.

The conclusion to this thrilling show was the Championship Stake. Bill Bobo had Formal Affair in top form and took the tri-colored ribbon and roses home for owner Jack Mitchell after a superb show. Making an impressive reserve tie was Generator’s Champion with Joe Cotten in the irons for High Steppin Farm, Rusty Hyneman, and Caresse Mills. Brock Tillman directed Little N’ Bad to the third position for Black Hawk Farms.

Knox Blackburn Stables, Bill Bobo Stables, Ramsey Bullington Stables, Steve Dunn Stables, and Dick Peebles Stables tied for the blue ribbon tally with two blues each. The following took home one blue each: Manuel Rodriquez of Golden West, Don Brown, Bill Beech, Bobby Richards of The Colt Center, Chad Way Stables, Stan Thomas, Wendell Kirkpatrick, Kovalick Stables, Jeff Willis Stables, Rodney Dick of Finish Line Farm, Rollie Beard Stables, Jason Day of Stoneridge Farm, Zahnd Stables, Frankie Raby of Backward S Ranch, Justin Jenne’ of Black Hawk Stables, Marvin North of Landrum Stables, Lee Upton of Webb Stables, Joel Weaver of Rising Star, and Robby Black of Derickson Stables.

Ten top contenders entered the ring for the Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class. Knox Blackburn won the first of his blues with Spring Loaded Santana for W. E. Boughton. Reserve went to the team of Kurt Kovalick and Vengence Hour for Virginia Grimes.

Knox Blackburn’s second blue of the evening was in the ten entry Show Pleasure class. The crowd really got into this class that was talent laden. Trainers were riding hard and the crowd really got behind their favorites. Multi-titled World Grand Champion Coin Maker and Knox Blackburn rode hard and put on one of their best shows this season to earn the right to make the victory pass. Bud Moore and Suzanne Littell proudly own this legendary horse. Hot on their heels throughout the show was a new team this season, Storm Threat Too and Kurt Kovalick. They received the reserve placing for Dr. and Mrs. R. Rigual. Both horses were given thunderous applause for their great performances at Pulaski which will be remembered for a long time by those in attendance.

Bill Bobo’s two blues included the afore mentioned stake. His first blue of the night came with Bill directing The Whole Nine Yards, Four-Year-Old Stallion champion, owned by Bob and Luanne Sigman. This popular, flax maned and tailed stallion, is always a crowd favorite and his fans cheered for him as they fanned with fans passed out touting The Whole Nine Yards, Out On Parole, and Portrait Of Art in the 90 degree plus heat. Reserve went to Pride’s Touch Tone and Jerry Collier for Brenda Fann.

Ramsey Bullington Stables took home two blues as well. It was 2001 Pulaski Fine Harness champion, Genius Gold Spirit with Ramsey Bullington at the whip, that claimed this blue again for the Robert Keenan Family. Six fine entries made this an enjoyable class and was a bit unusual with both a pony, Buford Pusher and a two-year-old holding their own against aged open horses. The two-year-old was reserve, Lynn Womack and Dangerous Medusa, for Womack Stables. Susie Johnson directed her son’s, Joel Johnson’s, pony to a top ribbon also in this very colorful class with a good performance.

Aaron Bertrand and Extra Ebony, hot off their McMinnville win, topped an outstanding 12 entry Juvenile 12-17 Specialty class for the Bob Parks Family from Bullington Stables. No one rode harder than the youth did in the hot weather and hot competition. Eb’s Cloud Nine and Lauren Clayton won reserve for the Mark Clayton Family.

Steve Dunn Stables’ first blue came in the ten entry Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding with Delight Of Dumas for Jim Flack. Reserve went to Silver At The Ritz and Chad Way for Linda Crowley. Dunn’s second blue was claimed by Toby Scarbrough and Motown Motion in the Amateur Championship for Wood and Scarbrough. This world championship team also won the Amateur Championship in 2001 at Pulaski. Reserve in the class was awarded to Keith Johnson directing Pusher’s Return for owner John Manning and trainer Casey Mutter of Mickey McCormick Stables.

It was George W. Push and Robin McDonald in the Two-Year-Old Amateur Mares and Geldings that won the first blue for Dick Peebles Stables and owners Bruce and Robin McDonald. Sheila Groover made a good ride to claim the red streamer with Dumas’ Little Darling for Winky and Sheila Groover.

Twelve Four-Year-Old Amateur Stallion teams answered the gate call and at the conclusion of the class, it was Ashley Joseph and The Snowatch that made the victory pass. The Snowatch is owned by the Anthony Joseph family and prepared by Peebles Stables. Rain At Midnight and Kevin Parton claimed reserve in the class from Rising Star Ranch.

The first class of the evening was the largest of the show with 17 entries. I’m A Wrangler and Maggie Moore traveled from California to claim the Country Pleasure for Harvey and Maggie Moore and trainer Manuel Rodriquez. Red Boys Star carried Laurin Roberson to the reserve spot.

The Lead Line classes get very competitive as the Celebration draws near. I’m A Dandy Too and Mackenzie Gaidos, led by Debbie Gaidos earned another blue in this class for owner/trainer Don Brown. Ace and Tyler Bailey were a proud reserve for Tyler and Kyla Bailey and trainer James “Beetle” Bailey.

Hey Hey Jose and Bill Beech captured the Weanling title for the Ray Beech Family. This blaze-faced colt is by Jose’ Jose’ and the Beech’s My Jackie O. Reserve went to High Altitude and Robert Nelms for James Washburn.

In the Yearling Fillies class, Bobby Richards and Grand Liza Jane took to the winner’s circle once again for Julie Shifman. Bonith Sunrise and Adam Pickle claimed reserve for Paul Bryant.

The 11 and Under Youth class was very competitive with young and hard riding equestrians working for the blue. The judge’s choice was the team of Keely Sale and Design’s Masterpiece for McJunkin Farms from Chad Way Stables. This Is It and Lindsey Landrum were the reserve team for Bill and Betty Landrum and trainer Brock Tillman.

Stan Thomas led 2 Tuff 4 U to top honors in the Yearling Colts in a class of top contenders for Faye Lynn Murray. Robert Nelms led The Sky Pilot to second for the James Washburn Family.

Plantation Lite Shod Specialty champion Commanding Dakota and Wendell Kirkpatrick made an outstanding performance. Emily Lewis claimed reserve aboard Majestic Colors for the Ted Lewis Family and trainer Jimmy Norris.

Elegant Time and Gail Walling made the victory pass in the thirteen horse Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding under the Kovalick Stables banner for Judy McDonald. Ginger Young and Your In Command won reserve from Steve Dunn Stables for Mike Young.

Jeff Willis Stables’ entry Ace’s Zorro and Megan Stuckey picked up the blue ribbon honors for Edd Stuckey in a class full of top Ponies. Titan Up and Daniel Potter received the red streamer for trainer Cliff Wilson and owner Tom Potter.

Pose For Hard Cash and Rodney Dick topped ten entries in the Two-Year-Old Stallion class for Doyle Wayne and Anita George. Secretive and Joel Weaver picked up reserve in this very competitive class for the Keith Baker Family.

Kodachrome was on the money in the Trainers Wives and Children’s Specialty class to make the victory pass with Thomas Beard in the irons for Cathy Baird. Sheila Groover claimed the red with I’m A Dandy Dumas for Mr. and Mrs. John Carter.

The gate was opened for the Three-Year-Old Stallion class and closed after 15 top entries had made the gate call. Jason Day and Black Cash Delight strolled their way to the blue for Larry and Loretta Goforth while Dark Express and Jerry Collier were the reserve team for David Ridgeway.

Zahnd Stables claimed a blue in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallion with Greg Cass and Stargazer. Can’t Hardly Wait and Barbara Kenehan won reserve for Jay and Barbara Kenehan under Webb Stables’ banner.

Beverly Sherman made an outstanding show aboard Papa’s Smokin’ Pusher to win the competitive Amateur Stallion Specialty. Floyd Sherman owns this talented stallion. The reserve spot went to Michelle Stuckey and Pusher’s Royal Flush for the Edd Stuckey Family from Ramsey Bullington Stables.

Look Who’s In Command and Justin Jenne’ rode to the winner’s circle in the 15.2 and Under class for Carl E. Smith, Inc. from Black Hawk Farms.

Steve Aymett and London Rain were selected reserve champions for Mr. and Mrs. Charles Clark.

Curtis McCloy’s entry A Strong Dollar and Allison Lafferty took home the blue in the Two-Year-Old Amateur Stallion class of 12 top entries from Landrum Stables. Another Dumas and Sheila Groover claimed another reserve for Winky and Sheila Groover.

The 11 entry Four-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding division was taken by storm by Pam Ingraham and Summer Passion riding away with the blue for Ingraham Management from Rising Star Ranch. Sarah Dunn and Pushin That Jazz claimed the reserve spot for trainer Mike Hilley of White Oaks.

It was Cut The Smoke and Brenda Carlon in the 15.2 and Under Amateur Specialty class carrying home the blue for Dr. Harv Carlon under the Derickson Stables banner. Ginger Hartlein and Taking Command claimed the red ribbon for Gingerbread Farms from Chad Way Stables.

Steve Beam and I’ve Been Skyjacked claimed the blue in the Park Pleasure Specialty for Wendy Young while second was awarded to Another Skywatch and Daryl Hughes for Elsie Tabor.