By Christie Miller

LOUISVILLE, Miss. - The ninth annual East Mississippi Fall Classic Walking and Racking Horse Show was held Oct. 10-11, 2003, at the Louisville Coliseum. This show was sponsored by Higg’s Enterprises with beneficiaries Grace Christian School , the Louisville Athletic Booster club and the Louisville Band Booster. Affiliates of the show included the Mississippi Walking Horse Association, the Heart Of Dixie Association and the Mid-South Horse Show Association.

Show chairman Robert Higginbottom was pleased with this year’s participation from trainers and exhibitor’s from across the state as well as Middle Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana. There were 285 total entries compared with last year’s 250 entries. For next year’s show, Higginbottom hopes to top 300 entries.

Link Webb of Lewisburg, Tenn., was the judge for this year’s event.

The highlight of the show came Saturday night as eight entries answered the gate call for the Walking Horse Stake. The crowd roared as the second running walk was called. Riding under the Woods Stables banner, the team of Rebel’s Black Star and Robert Stivers was called to wear the tricolor for Joel and Linda Stewart of Olive Branch, Miss.

Woods Stables of Hickory Valley, Tenn., Abernathy Stables of Olive Branch, Miss., and Dick Peebles Stables of Shelbyville, Tenn., all earned five blues each. Falcon Ridge Farm of Toone, Tenn., won three blues while Pioneer Stables of Summit, Miss., carried home dual blues. Those winning singles blues were Holley and Son Stables of Byhalia, miss., Stanfill Stables of Lexington, Tenn., Swingin’ Gates Stables of Trinity, Ala., Five-Way Farm of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Summer Crest Farms of Olive Branch, Miss.

Entries owned by Dr. and Mrs. Tommy Vinson earned four blues. A Little Bit Of Jazz claimed the victory in the Three-Year-Old Open Mares and Geldings class with Robert Stivers in the irons, only to return Saturday evening with Dr. Vinson aboard to clench the Amateur Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings title. Undercover Pusher carried Dane Callihan to the winner’s circle in the Youth Park Pleasure Specialty and returned in the Amateur Park Pleasure Specialty with Dr. Vinson for the win.

Entries owned by Bill Williams of Ripley, Tenn., earned two blues. Shea Woods directed Impressive Rising Sun for the win in the Open 15.2 and Under event. just So You’ll Know boasted a big win in a field of 12 with Williams in the irons.

Inside Track and Kristopher Osburn were on the blue ribbon track for the Youth 11 and Under win. On the heels of his Heart O’ Dixie Stake Championship. Pushover’s Gold Standard was no pushover at the East Mississippi show. He won the Pro-Am Specialty with Dane Callihan and Wayne Gregg. In the Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty event, Delight N Gold and Tami Tabb were delighted to be at the top of the judge’s card.

Horses owned by George and Carol Smith of Wiggins, Miss., were credited with five blues. Two of the five awards were owned by Gen’s All Colors. On Friday evening Dick Peebles ousted a field of 14 to capture the blue in the Open Specialty event. Carol Smith came back in the Ladies Amateur Specialty class on Saturday evening for the first place award. Owl’s Biloxi Blues with Chris Cain aboard finished first in the Amateur Two-Year-Old Stallions division. The Magnum GS and Miles Irby claimed the blue in the Amateur Spotted Saddle Horse class. JFK’s Pushy Lady and Carol Smith rode to the blue in the Amateur Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings event.

Mr. and Mrs. Dudley Moore of Byhalia, Miss., were extremely happy when their young stallion Pushing The Gen and Ray Gilmer topped a field of 11 in the Open Two-Year-Old Stallions class. Armed Soldier carried Elizabeth Rester to the winner’s circle in the Open Three-Year-Old Stallions division. A Shot In The Arm and Ray Gilmer shot down the competition in the Open Four-Year-old event for Alicia Scruggs of Memphis, Tenn.

The new team of Brett Jones and Summer Passion made their presence known in the 15.2 and Under Specialty class defeating 11 entries for the blue ribbon award. In the Amateur Gaited Pleasure event, Precious Hallelujah and Dr. John Dial claimed the blue ribbon.

Infared and Jamie Caine strolled down victory lane in the Amateur Four-Year-Old Mares and Geldings Specialty. A Black Market Pusher and Ronnie Stanfill rode to the blue in the Amateur Four-Year-Old Stallions Specialty. It’s My Watch and Chris Zahnd took home the blue in the Open Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class for James and Peggy Vernon. Moments Of Jazz and Jack Way claimed top honors in the Open Three-Year-Old Stallion division. I’m a Ritz and Stephanie Carter were victorious in the Youth 12-17 Specialty. Stormy’s Black Rain and Summer Sullivan continued their winning streak in the Amateur Owned and Trained Specialty class.

Three entries owned by Ann and Harlan Hatcher received blue ribbon acclaim. All Colored Up and Ann Hatcher were the winners in the Open Amateur event. Fire! and Harlan Hatcher gave another blue ribbon performance in the Favorite Gait Local Riders division. He returned Saturday evening on Cindy Power to win the Gaited Pleasure Championship tricolor.

Eagle’s Lady Sue and Ron Nichols were the recipients of the Lite-Shod Plantation Pleasure Specialty blue for the second consecutive year. Mississippi Country Gold and Ralph Pinner accepted top honors in Country Pleasure class. In the Leadline class Ebony’s Coin Dream and Austin Roebuck claimed the blue with grandmother Marilyn Scott at the lead. Gimme A Gen on The Rocks and Jim Hardy added another blue ribbon to their resume in the Colts Under Halter class.

This completes the highlights from the East Mississippi Fall Classic Walking and Racking Horse Show. Complete results follow and may also be found by visiting our web site at www.walkinghorsereport.com.