by Ashlea Wheelon

PETERSBURG, Tenn. - On May 16, 2008, the Petersburg Lions Club held its third annual horse show at the Lions Pride Park. Howard Atkinson of Franklin, Tenn., called 28 classes with almost 200 entries, ending with Knox Blackburn and The Pusher’s Renaissance as the Walking Stake Champions for the Don Beatty family of Franklin, Tenn.

The unseasonable cool weather kept everyone on their toes and the near 40-degree weather felt like the low 20s on a May night. Blackburn Stables rounded out the night with a total of four blue ribbons with Blackburn claiming the Two-Year-Old, Three-Year-Old, Open Specialty and Walking Stake.

Friday night was also a night for firsts. Mary Beals won her first blue ribbon ever with the colt I Be Locked And Loaded. Maria Perry rode in her first amateur class as a juvenile and Brooks Depierro claimed her first blue ribbons on her newly purchased Champ’s First Round.

Many barns won multiple blues, including Knox Blackburn Stables, Derickson Training Facility, Latham Stables and Rising Star Ranch.

Complete results can be seen by clicking here.