Motown Delight & Thompson Claim Open Championship Honors

Posted November 27, 2000

by Sharon Manning

RENO, Nev. - The Western States Celebration is traditionally the show season’s last hurrah for the Tennessee Walking Horse owners and exhibitors in that part of the country. The mid-October event found old friends and new acquaintances coming together to meet and greet one more time before winters’ onset. An early storm left considerable amounts of snow on the High Sierra mountaintops and kept the night-time temperatures in the 30-degree range, giving way to mid-60s daytime readings and clear skies punctuated with occasional flocks of wild geese wending their way to warmer surroundings.

The 13th annual Reno show was staged once again at the Livestock Events Center, with a format that offered 125 classes for all levels of walking and spotted horse competition in a three-day schedule. Saturday night is always dark to make time for the exhibitors party at the El Dorado Hotel (which was generously sponsored this year by Arthur and Susan Gordon), after which the city’s fine dining, showroom entertainment and gaming awaits the out-of -towners.

Chris Messick journeyed from his Bell Buckle, Tenn., home to evaluate the 493 entries that came through the in-gate. Show management was orchestrated by Mary K. Hartman, whose team included secretaries Donna West and Roseanne Allard, annoucer Bill Hartman, ring steward Paul Lukather, ring clerks Susan Collins and Nina Lovejoy, paddock stewards Chuck and Marilyn Herb, organist Don Thumel and farrier Don Beekman. Rick Osteen was on hand for the center ring still photography, with Action Video supplying the taped documentation.

The NHSC-affiliated event drew exhibitors and horses from California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Canada, Idaho, Montana, Tennessee, Oklahoma and, of course, Nevada. The show benefited the Children’s Miracle Network with proceeds from a well-stocked silent auction (coordinated once again by Linda Steves) and by the ticket sales for the Sunday afternoon raffle, which included a prize-winning hand-made quilt that went home with Judy Bryant.

Sunday afternoon was reserved for the crowning of the Western States champions, with the hard-charging 15.2 talent Motown Delight walking away with the Open Stake Grand Champion title under the direction of Russ Thompson. A previous Open Stallion and Gelding preliminary victory set the stage for their commanding show finale performance. Another show highlight was the West Coast debut appearance of proud owner Eva McClure and her Motown Delight, who teamed up for the Ladies Specialty honors following a letter-perfect ride. After far too many years away from the show ring, the response to Eva and the gifted sorrel stallion was heartwarming indeed.

Team Thompson closed out the season with another high score in the ribbon count, claiming 18 blues and eight tricolor sashes for the tack room wall. The Gordon family properties came through like the champions they are, with Susan Gordon at the helm for four big wins. WGC A Specialist made a world class show with his lovely rider for the Amateur Specialty Stallion and Gelding title. Amateur Three-Year-Old champ, Jazz In Dixie, upheld the family tradition of excellence in that event, with WC Lady Ann’s Magic and Susan besting the Plantation Open Two-Year-Old class to add emphasis to Danny Wooten’s winning Plantation Open Specialty tie aboard the newest Gordon property. Multi-titled Bad News Debut was ridden to the Plantation Western Specialty blue by Susan, with trainer Wooten taking charge of the divisional Western Open Preliminary and Championship events with the chestnut gelding.

The Plantation Amateur Specialty Stallion and Gelding qualifying class and Amateur Specialty Championship belonged to Carleen Redman and WGC Aspen Gold, who represented the Gary and Carleen Redman ownership in the Reno winner's circle. The ring debut of Sheila Kyle’s Most Wanted found the flashy young property topping the Three-Year-Old Stallion preliminary with Ray Reis in the irons; the pair came back strong on Sunday afternoon for the Open Three-Year-Old Championship title.

Trainer Reis was on the rail for the amateur preliminary and championship performances executed by his wife, Jonel, and Time To Glo for the Sargent and Reis ownership. The Show Pleasure Amateur Specialty qualifier and championship wins closed out a successful season for Million Dream and Sheila Bartlett, who accepted the honors for the Kascius and Bartlett alliance. The Four-Year-Old Amateur Specialty blue was collected by Ron Kascius for his ride on the McJunkin Farms property, I’m Well Armed. Becky Brooks and her Park Pleasure star, Mo’s Magic Diamond, prevailed in the division’s amateur preliminary and open championship classes, with a skillful equitation victory added to her resume´ for good measure.

Danny Wooten and the handsome Powder River were victorious in the plantation open qualifying event and open championship for the Walkers West/Areaux owners. The sporty Dragonfire teamed with owner Noel Williams to make the victory lane ride in the Plantation Four-and-Under Open Specialty, while Bobbie Parady was a happy lady after a big win in the Plantation Amateur Specialty Mares event with her See Me Do It.

The Golden West team posted 14 blues and six tricolor sashes at the Reno showcase. A pair of Shiloh Walkers properties carried the day in their respective divisions: Res. WGC Pusher’s Delightful Star was directed to the Amateur Specialty Mares preliminary and Amateur Specialty Championship by Meg Chiappari, while Pusher’s American Patriot and Greg Bryant marched to the Open Four-Year-Old Stallions title to pave the way for their Sunday afternoon divisional championship performance.

Bryant was also the trainer of record for Mike and Marilee Moran’s Money And Power, who starred in the Open Two-Year-Old Championship, for owners John and Bobbie Parady. Along with their Show Pleaure Open Specialty winner, Gold's First Paige, Bobbie Parady and Double Your Money scored a pair of Plantation Western Specialty blues prior to earning that division's Amateur Specialty Championship. The Harriet and Adrienne Cappuccio mother-daughter team shared the Park Pleasure Specialty qualifier and championship honors with their good rides aboard Captain Joe’s Reward. Also sharing the reins for a pair of blues were Gerre Mann and Greg Bryant, who directed Classic Score to the Novice Amateur Specialty and Open Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings titles, respectively. Mort and Gerre Mann back the talented young mare.

Scott Benham was in the irons for two victory lane rides with Aged Mares champion, Twilight Generator, who is sponsored by Nevada B Ranch, and with Open Four-Year-Old Mares and Geldings winner, Apocalypse, who showed under the Hofstee and Hughes banner. That alliance also sponsors the Lite Shod Spotted Saddle Horse Specialty Champion, Battle Cry, who was ridden to the honors by Karen DeGroot.

Cesar and Deena Gasca backed a pair of Reno champions in the form of Coin’s Night Flight, who claimed the Gentlemen’s Open Specialty blue directed by trainer Bryant, and Plantation Novice winner, The Warren Commission, who was guided to a debut blue by Cesar Gasca. Charles Wharton and Walking On Thin Ice proved to be the winning combination in the Amateur Two-Year-Old event, where they represented the Crowley Farms ownership. Tom Steves was back on familiar ground as he teamed Gen’s Copa De Oro to the Pleasure Driving blue in one of his authentic buggies. Tom and Linda Steves are justifiably proud of their home-grown young property.

Wendy Shaw and the Bouquet Creek family had another remarkable show with 10 blues and three tricolor sashes. Bill and Betsy Marzinzik promote the lite shod western talent, Hit And Run, who collected three preliminary wins and a championship with Wendy and Bill sharing the duties. Their other Reno star, Pay At The Pump, weighed in with a pair of trail pleasure preliminaries and the divisional Amateur Specialty Champion award under the ringmanship of Bill Marzinzik.

Mike and Janis Brown’s lite shod pleasure youngster, See Dumas Walker, forged out a record of three qualifying blues and a tricolor tie with an assortment of riders. Trainer Shaw engineered the divisional Open Specialty tie, Mike Brown directed the Western Novice Specialty win, and J. Brown topped the English Novice and Amateur Specialty Championship with the talented two-year-old property. The Browns were also on hand to cheer for Shayna Shaw and Mama’s Hands as they parked in for the Lite Shod Juvenile recognition. The genial roan gelding did double duty as a blue Eeyore to Shayna’s Winnie The Pooh and Britini Bardin’s Tigger for the top Costume class honors.

The entries from Pollack’s Silver Spur Ranch accounted for nine blues and a pair of tricolor awards at the season-ending show. The multi-titled Stripper’s Finale and Sherri Pollack dominated the lite shod English division with wins in Amateur, Open and Amateur Specialty Stallions and Geldings qualifiers and the Open Championship event for a three-and-one record. She also costarred with the world class Pusharama for the Show Pleasure Stallions and Geldings Specialty recognition and made yet another winner's circle ride with Gen’s Magic Coin for the Plantation Open Three-Year-Old tie. Patti Pollack teamed with her favorite Sugar And Ice for the Spotted Horse English and Western Open Specialty blues along with the Open Specialty Championship. Trainer Jimmy Norris was pleased with first-timer Wanda Schroeder and her Go Boy’s Black Cloud as they rode to the Lite Shod Spotted Saddle Horse English and Western Open Specialty ties.

Laurie Toone’s stock posted a nine-and-two tally for their Reno trip. WC Jasmin Magic owned the lite shod western competition with victories in the Open Specialty and Amateur Specialty Mares events with Rebecca Carroll, and in the Open Three-Gait preliminary and championship competition with trainer Toone representing the Jim and Marlo Richert interest. Fashion’s Cover Girl and her trainer were called for the Lite Shod Open Two-Year-Old and Western Four and Under performance recognition, as well as the Halter Mares and Halter Grand Championship awards. Pat Carpinito proudly promotes the talented black roan filly. Red Sun Rising is the newest Toone property, and made his mark with Model Stallion and Halter Stallion Two and Over titles with his owner/trainer at the lead. Darwin and Linda James’ lovely bay lady, A Style File, captured the Yearling Filly blue, also with Toone doing the showing.

Diane Gueck’s Cheveaux Stables and owner Sanni Mathews joined forces to earn eight blues and a tricolor at the fall showcase. A Beam Come True excelled in lite shod and model classes with Sharon Gueck DeFord, Diane Gueck and Kara Bentley sharing the reins for four preliminary blues and a championship. Gen’s Miracle Lady and Megan Kindree scored both English and western juvenile victories in the plantation ranks, with trainer Gueck in charge of the Lite Shod Three- and Four-Year-Old wins with Miss Magic Money, whom she co-owns with Ms. Mathews.

Allison Smart and her Smart Strides team had five blues as reminders of their Reno experience. Jim and Della Bentley’s uniquely named trail pleasure mount, Sleeper, was ridden to the division’s novice and juvenile titles by daughters Alex and Brandy, respectively. Ken Porter and his versatile Jus’ Touch-N-Go prevailed in both Basic and Free Style Reining classes for a pair of blues, while Michelle Hodne and her true-walking plantation mount, The Wicked North, were called to center ring for the Western Novice recognition.

Demonstrating real dedication to her horse and trainer, Virginia Hoffman was in town from her Alaska home to root for Deliverance By Man and Leslie Mach Hutson as they walked to the Show Pleasure Open qualifier and championship ribbons. Frank White and company traveled from their central Oregon base to support the Reno show, and posted wins with the Moore and White property Pride Of Skywatch in the Open Two-Year-Old Stallions class with trainer White in direction, and with Weanling Colt champion, Bustin’ The Lights Out, with owner White at the lead.

The Nevada B team was pleased with a successful outing that featured their home-grown stars in the good ribbons. Double Pride’s Smokin’ Joe topped a large Lite Shod Novice class with Nelgene Bourne accepting the honors, while Weanling Filly winner, Triple Play’s Coin Of Gold, was shown by Justino Gonzales for owners/breeders Stephen and Nelgene Bourne.

A pair of Chevalle Ranch entries were front and center for the winner's circle presentation: Costa Colors Cappuccino was led to the Spotted Weanlings recognition by Terry Naugle for the Jennifer Hackney ownership, with the Spotted Horse Two and Over Halter blue going to Play With Colors under Jim Naugle’s direction for owner Anne Frank Reicke.

Single blues were awarded to the Linda Arnold-trained JFK’s Fast Cash in the Show Pleasure Novice category with Susie Bray riding for Elmer and Bobbie Jones, as well as the Courtesy Stables Yearling Colt champion, Predator’s Affirmed, who was shown to the title by Raul Puentes for owner/breeder Eva McClure.

Making a big splash among the owner-trained contenders were the RD and Connie Waldo entries: Flaming Finale landed three Lite Shod Pleasure preliminaries and two championships, and their plantation mare, Money Talks, topped the English and western amateur classes under Connie’s direction. These Montana residents certainly do log the miles to pursue their horse show hobby. Doug Toone had a winning record with a pair of owner-trained mounts. The tried-and-true Common Denominator starred in the lite shod western and trail events for four blues and a championship sash, with his newest lite shod contender, On Easy Street, claiming the novice award.

Dual blues were collected by Heather Ososke and her Even The Score for Water Glass and Trail Pleasure Amateur Trained Specialty performances. Also in the two-blues department were Barbie Grand riding Howland’s Beaucoup Outlaw, who prevailed in the Barrels and Pole Bending classes for owner Ron Witt.

Jana Anderson and her Res. WC Plantation star, Wicked Gold, topped the amateur trained class, with a Sunday afternoon reprise that netted an Amateur Specialty Reserve Champion tie. Don and Kathy Frank also had a good win with Beam’s Best Bette, who aced the Lite Shod Juvenile blue under Michelle Mercier’s capable direction. The Lite Shod Amateur Specialty class award was accepted by Judy Knavells-Hoffaman for the Phill and Margaret Joffe sponsorship.