By Melissa R. Stevens

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - Tuesday night at the 65th annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration boasted another night of record setting attendance. The paid attendance was 22,638, the second highest in history for Tuesday evening performances. Actual attendance was 10,116, an all-time record for this night.

The first class of the evening was the Four-Year-Old Walking Mares Canter class. Fourteen of the 18 entries listed in the program chose to compete for the blue in this class, which is a preliminary to several championship classes including the Tennessee Walking Horse World Grand Championship. Laura Brandon was the call judge. Dangerously Dazzling was the winner with Jackie McConnell up for John Alford of Buffalo, Mo. Dangerously Dazzling has won blues this year at Jackson, Miss., and Somerville, Tenn. Liz Claiborne and Allan Callaway were reserve for owner Don Collins of Ft. Myers, Fla. Poncho Impact and Rodney Dick took the third place ribbon for Billy Fields of Mt. Juliet, Tenn.

The first unanimous win of the evening came in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares and Geldings Canter class for horses five years old and over. Mike Carpenter was the call judge. Jubilee's Star Wars, a classic horse, and owner/exhibitor Daniel Groover took the blue home to Brentwood, Tenn. This entry won a blue at the Pulaski show this year and was reserve in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares and Geldings class last night. Backfield In Motion and Caresse Mills finished reserve in the class for Rusty Hyneman, Caresse Mills and Hy Steppin' Farm of Germantown, Tenn. Down Under was ridden to the third place tie by Patti Pollack for Pollack's Silver Spur Ranch of Saratoga, Calif.

The Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Mares and Geldings class was split into two divisions. Gene Carswell was the call judge for the first division, which featured 30 entries. An additional workout was called for 14 of the entries. FDR was the unanimous winner of Section A. Marty Irby was in the irons for Irby Stables of Mobile, Ala., and Shelbyville, Tenn. FDR has had a busy schedule this year taking the blue home from the Children's Classic, Money Tree Classic, Columbia Spring Jubilee, Bethesda and Lewisburg. Dangerous Command and Julie Grider were reserve for Grider & McConnell of Columbia, Ky., and Union City, Tenn. Third in Section A was Wallerin' N Dollars with Tamara Kasser up for Charles and Carol Ann Gavin of Dalton, Ga., and Wartrace, Tenn.

Section B of the Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Mares and Geldings class brought 31 entries to the ring. Jamie Hankins was the call judge. Maggie Mae Of Grassland and William Russell had to be excused after the horse jumped the rail. After the class resumed, a work out was called for 14 of the entries with all others being excused. Witches Jazz took the first place tie with Ed Breedlove in the irons for Melissa Breedlove of Buford, Ga. Witches Jazz has wins this year from the Trainers Show, the Spring Fun Show and Woodbury. Reserve in this section of the class went to Groovy Chick ridden by owner/exhibitor Kathy Potter of Shelbyville, Tenn. Groovy Chick has blues from the Liberty Lions Club Show, Asheville, N.C., and Belfast. Third in the class went to Blue's Que and Dee Dee Sale for owners Mr. and Mrs. Larry Few and Dee Dee Sale of Six Miles, N.C., and Lewisburg, Tenn.

The Amateur English Trail Pleasure World Grand Championship was up next with 27 entries choosing to show back. Paul Watlington was the call judge. All the riders worked hard, but only 14 were chosen to remain for additional rail work. She's Legal Tender was called from the lineup to make the spotlight ride. Charlene Cook was the rider for Central Georgia Equine Services, Inc., of Ft. Valley, Ga. She's Legal Tender was also placed first on Saturday morning in the Amateur Owned and Trained English Trail Pleasure class for entries with no professional training in the past 90 days. He's A Wrangler and Maggie Moore were reserve for Harvey and Maggie Moore of Orange, Calif. He's A Wrangler has won blues this year at the Carousel Horse Show, West Coast Trainers Show and the California Celebration.This talented horse was also awarded the third place honors in last night's Amateur Western Trail Pleasure World Grand Championship. The third place tie went to Doc's Taking Charge and Sherry Bilbo for Bob and Sherry Bilbo of Seymour, Tenn. This entry placed first in the Novice Amateur English Trail Pleasure class for riders on novice walking horses on Monday morning.

Laura Brandon was the call judge for the Owner-Amateur Novice Gentlemen Riders on Novice Walking Mares and Geldings class. Twelve entries were called to remain for a workout. An American Outlaw and Blake Cammack rode to the blue ribbon honors in this class for Maxwell and Derickson of Longview, Texas, and Wartrace, Tenn. An American Outlaw also took the blue ribbon honors Sunday evening in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Four-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class. Handover The Cash and Marty Irby were reserve for Sue and Ty Irby of Mobile, Ala., and Shelbyville, Tenn. Third in the class was awarded to You're In Command and Bruce MacDonald for Bruce and Robin MacDonald of Atlanta, Ga., and Shelbyville, Tenn.

Twenty-six entries took to the ring for the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares, 15.2 and Under class. Mike Carpenter was selected to be the call judge for this class. Fifteen entries remained for further rail work. Pushin Miss Jenny and Brent Jones were called to make the victory pass for the Edward Jones family of Russell Springs, Ky. Figgy Puddin and Suzanne Littell were reserve for Moore & Littell of Catherine, Ala. Third in the class was Sunrise At Midnight with Susie Harmon up for Harmon & Kidd of Wartrace, Tenn.

A large class of 28 Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Geldings, 15.2 and under made their way down the chute and through the gate for competition. Gene Carswell was selected as the call judge. Sixteen of the entries were asked to remain for further workout in the class. The winner of the class, Gen's Color Me In, also won in 2001 and retired the Clifford L. Frates Memorial Challenge Trophy with this win. This talented horse was ridden to the unanimous win by Kim Trumble for the G.R. Trumble family of Walton, Ky. Reserve honors in the class went to The Prime Suspect and Mike Hooper for Terry, Terry, Connors & Hooper of Morristown, Tenn., Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and Loudon, Tenn. He's Wired took the third place ribbon with Jaclyn Tillman in the irons for Black Hawk Farm of Shelbyville, Tenn.

Only nine entries took to the ring for competition in the Park Pleasure Walking Horse Canter class for riders 18 and over. Jamie Hankins was the call judge. Senor Generator was the announced as the winner with Doug Barnes up for Stuart & Pam Gibbs of Broken Arrow, Okla. Gen's Sundancer and Jeff Givens were the reserve choice for Shane and Sarah Hastings of Murfreesboro, Tenn. The third place award went to General Bradley and David Latham for owner Cheryl Beam of Arab, Ala.

Even after splitting the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions class into two sections, an enormous group of 36 entries made the gate call for the first section. Paul Watlington was asked to call the class. The class was narrowed down to 16 entries, which were then asked to perform an additional work out. I'm Silver Too and owner/exhibitor David Ranson of Charleston, W. Va., was called to receive the blue ribbon for Section A. Bill Johnson and Jazz's Master went home with the reserve ribbon for William B. and Sandra Johnson of Atlanta, Ga., and Shelbyville, Tenn. Third in Section A of this large class was Sky Jam with owner/exhibitor Brenda Bramlett of Shelbyville, Tenn.

Section B of the class was also extremely full with 31 entries answering the gate call. Laura Brandon was chosen to call this section. A work out was called for 15 entries. When the line up was called for, I'm Richie Rich and Karen Marriott were called to make the blue ribbon ride for Rich and Karen Marriott of Lewisburg, Tenn. Dr. Cash and Bill Barnett, Jr. took the reserve tie for Windsong Farms of Collierville, Tenn. The third place tie went to Highway Robbery ridden by Betty Corlew for James and Betty Corlew and Bowtie Stables of Adams, Tenn.

As another exciting night at the Celebration came to an end, everyone was reminded that Championship weekend is almost here. With record breaking numbers at Monday and Tuesday night's performances, I can guess there will not be a seat to be had in Celebration Arena the night the 2003 World Grand Champion is announced.