By Linda Fox

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Bowling Green Charity Horse Show was held Saturday evening, Oct. 25, at Western Kentucky University’s L.D. Brown Agriculture Center. Proceeds from the show benefited the Hospice Of Southern Kentucky, an organization very near and dear to show manager Joanie Duncan’s heart. Duncan wanted to give back to the organization that was so instrumental in comforting her during and after the loss of her beloved mother. The judging duties for the 32 classes and the 285 contenders were alternated between Don Campbell of Kentucky and Mike McCormick of Tennessee. Over $12,000 in prize money was awarded along with three floral horseshoes, five cutback saddles and a diamond ring to winning contenders. The audience also got in on the prizes as two saddles were awarded to lucky winning admission ticket holders and numerous gift baskets were given throughout the evening. Those who have never helped put on a show can’t possibly understand the hours of manual and mental labor it takes, not to mention nerves of steel, to have everything sitting on ready when show time rolls around. The Walking Horse Stake brought the exciting 2003 edition of the Bowling Green Charity Show to an end when nine top contenders answered the gate call. The flashy A Shot Of Gen and trainer Justin Harris made the victory pass for Bob and Curtice McCloy of Norman, Okla. Tommy Loid directed Superior’s Generator Threat to the red ribbon for L.E. Walton of Woodburn, Ky. Rounding out the third slot was the team of Jason Day and Pusher’s Force for the Burl Compton family of Roanoke, Va. The Juvenile Country Pleasure 17 & Under competition found Threat’s Hooker and Jackie Osborne taking home the blue. This team was directed by Leigh Bennett of Alvation, Ky. Next up was the Two-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding class. Ten top young contenders worked for the blue, but it was Dr. Charlene Cook and Generator’s In The Money who made the victory pass. Kevin Luttrell Stables readied this team for competition. Pusher’s Sharon and Rae Ellen Thompson took the nine deep Juvenile 11 & Under class by storm. Loid Stables presented this top team. Stop’s April Fool and Kristi Kirkpatrick found themselves in the winner’s circle in the Country Pleasure division for Ford and Jane Gates. Russ Keyser trained this top team for the ring. The exciting Express Doll carried Joe Herald to the Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding title a class of nine talents for Clay Simpson of Bowling Green, Ky. The Brooks Stables team of Jazz Pushover and Beth Carol Thomas topped a class of 15 to be named the Amateur Three-Year- Old Mare and Gelding Champions for the Butch Thomas family of Bowling Green, Ky. Chill and Sandra Reed topped a field of nine Amateur Plantation Specialty contenders for the right to wear the roses. Later in the evening Chill and Doug Barnes returned to claim the Junior Plantation Pleasure Specialty title. Danielle Reed is the proud owner of Chill. The hard walking Olympic Wired and trainer Tommy Loid made the Four-Year-Old Specialty division their own topping six other talents. George Marshall and Doug Potter are the proud owners. The always competitive Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty class saw 15 contenders answer the gate call. It was pretty Melanie Brooks and Counterfeit Money who got to make the victory ride for O.K. Walking Horse Farm of Norman, Okla.

The flashy Gossip and trainer Charlie Green made the top ride to take home the Open Specialty title for Carol Whitehead of Mt. Orab, Ohio.

Seven teams worked for the Western Plantation title, but it was Wham and Mike Anasis who made the blue ribbon ride. Later Anasis and Wham were named the Plantation Pleasure Stake Champions. Kevin and Kim Smith of Yorktown, Ind., are the proud owners.

Cool Texas Cash and Shannon Harr topped 10 young contenders to be named the Two-Year-Old Amateur Stallion champions. Beaty Stables readied this team action.

Silver Dollar Make Me Holler and Kathy Graves made an exciting show to top the 12 deep Patty Doyle Memorial Ladies Amateur Specialty division.

Jeff Givens and Rainsong claimed the Plantation Lite-Shod title for Mike and Pam Ericson of Madjoka Canyon, Calif.

Justin Jenne directed the Jazz House to the Open Two-Year-Old Stallion laurels for the Keith Smith family of Mt. Vernon, Ky.

Wes Hendrick and Half Dollar made the victory pass in the nine deep Four-Year-Old Amateur Specialty competition for Kenny Hendrick of Bowling Green, Ky.

Design Of 2000 and Jack McCormick bested a top field of Open Spotted Saddle Horse Contenders to take home the blue. Beaty Stables directed this team to the win.

Gen All The Way and Terry Sims made a top ride to claim the Marcus Alexander Memorial Three-Year-Old Classic. The Tim Napier family of Union, Ky., owns this contender.

Northern Exposure and Carrie Benedict made it two in a row when they claimed the Open Amateur division, besting a class of nine contenders.

Next, Spirit’s Gem and Spencer Benedict took their victory pass after topping 10 other teams in the Performance Pleasure class for the Tapocik family of Riverside, Calif., and Kuna, Hawaii.

The hard riding Justin Mosley and Favorite’s Maverick claimed the Juvenile 12-17 competition for owner Tracy Mosley. Highland Stables backed this super team.

Eleven contenders worked for the Show Pleasure Trainers Only blue. When everything was over, Ronnie Campbell and Pushin Backatcha made the victory pass.

The team of Natalie Beckham and Navy took charge of the 10 deep Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallion class for Kenneth and Pat Massey of Carthage, Tenn. Loid Stables readied this team competition.

Sixteen contenders worked for the Amateur Specialty title, but it was the team of Black Chip and Danny Luttrell who got to make the ride to the winner’s circle for Beverley Spangler. Kevin Luttrell directed this team to the blue.

Darrell Smoot and Freedom Is claimed the tough Grooms class for Buford Martin of Owenton, Ky.