By Linda Scrivner

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Spirit’s Midnight Rider with Ramsey Bullington aboard stepped up to claim the Walking Horse Stake at the 44th Annual Murfreesboro Exchange Club Horse Show held June 26 at Old Fort Park. This year’s show featured three jackpot classes which gave one-half of the total amount of the entry fees in addition to the regular prize money. This additional bonus made the three Jackpot classes, the Two-Year-Old Jackpot, the Three-Year-Old Jackpot and the Four-Year-Old Jackpot, very competitive and exciting.

“The Exchange Club of Murfreesboro is extremely grateful to the community for the tremendous support you have given our Club over the 44-year history of this show. We enjoy working together on behalf of the several wonderful programs that are a vital part of this community,” said Carol Goedde, president. “On behalf of the Exchange Club Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, the Boys and Girls Club of Rutherford County, Juvenile Diabetes Research, and the city of Murfreesboro Fire Department, we are very grateful and thank you for your loyal support.”

Show manager Mark Farrar Jr. was extremely pleased with the show. There were 193 entries compared to 178 last year. Marty Irby of Shelbyville judged the 31 classes.

The Stake class closed the evening with Bullington directing Spirit’s Midnight Rider to victory. This multi-stake champion is owned by Annie Williamson and family of Hopkinsville, Ky. Hal Newman was awarded reserve in the championship aboard I’m Unarmed, owned by the Jerry Jones Family. The yellow streamer was carried from the ring by the team of Skywatcher and Bill Bobo for Doug Estes.

The blue-ribbon tally was led by Dunn and Son Stables with four blue-ribbon rides for the evening. Earning a trio of blues were several stables: Barnes Training Facility, Rollie Beard Stables, Mickey McCormick Stables, and Regan Mercer.

Andy Adkins won the first blue for Dunn and Son Stables. In the 10-entry Four-Year-Old Amateur class, he directed Boomer In Command to the blue-ribbon ride. Robin MacDonald came next and topped the Amateur Riders 50 and Over Specialty class. MacDonald was riding Copy’s Touchtone to win this coveted blue. Andy Adkins earned their third blue in the very competitive 10-entry Youth 12-17 Specialty division with Downtown Pusher. Bruce MacDonald earned their final ribbon aboard Your In Command in the Amateur 15.2 and Under Amateur Specialty. Upon exiting the ring MacDonald bowed to trainer Steve Dunn and said, “I’m going to show on your birthday, again.”

Rollie Beard was also at the top of the game earning three blues. Talladega Mama and Beard received top honors in the Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class. Beard and Hal’s Six Shooter claimed top honors in the Fine Harness class. Editorial Page earned another blue to add to his already impressive resume in the Show Pleasure Amateur Specialty class with June Hawkins in the irons.

Becky Coleman made another super ride on Shock Jock, winning the first of Mickey McCormick Stables’ three blues. This team won the 11-entry Two-Year-Old Amateur title. McCormick Stables’ second blue was won by the striking team of The Perfect Masquerade and Mickey McCormick in the Two-Year-Old Jackpot class. Mama’s Almighty Dollar, fresh from a win at the East Tennessee Classic as well as many other 2004 blues, won the 15-entry Three-Year-Old Amateur class with Michael Coleman up.

Barnes Training Facility was next in line with three blues to its credit. Angel Coburn and Masquerading Big Easy made their way to the winner’s circle in the Amateur Park Pleasure Specialty class. Doug Barnes earned two blues at Murfreesboro. The first was in the Plantation Pleasure Lite-Shod Specialty with current world champion Ultra Edge. Forever Spirit and Barnes earned their final blue in the Park Pleasure Specialty class.

For the second week in a row, Regan Mercer and her students made a clean sweep of the Academy classes, winning three blues. In the first class, Lucky and Meredith McKnight claimed victory in the Academy, Youth 12-17, Flat-Shod Specialty class. In the next class, this same team won the Academy, 11 and Under, Flat-Shod Specialty class. Their third blue was won when Fancy and Sarah Smith entered the Academy, Canter class and exited with the blue.

The remaining 11 blues from Murfreesboro were received by various stables and individuals. Stonecutter’s Legacy made his first trip to the winner’s circle with Chris Richards in the Weanling class.

Travis Adams and Drop Dead Dangerous won the blue in the Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class. Picture Of Gold keeps stringing those blues. Picture Of Gold added the 14-entry Country Pleasure blue to that list. Roger Richards and I’m Shania Twain received the top honors in the Yearling class.

Delight Of Motown and Stevie Liddell claimed top honors in the 13-entry Amateur Novice Rider Specialty, and have not won more than three 2004 blues class. Bill Bobo trains this exciting entry that last week also claimed the Liberty Lions Amateur Specialty blue.

Payton Davis and Five Star Rating were the winners of the Youth 11 and Under class in her first show ever. Her father, Brad Davis, of Rising Star Ranch trains Five Star Rating. Rick Sullivan earned the blue in the Open Specialty class with Marketwatch. This team was prepared by Finish Line Farms.

Connie Waldo rode the Amateur Lite-Shod Specialty champion Drop The Hammer. Kurt Kovalick made a flawless ride to win the Three-Year-Old Jackpot class aboard A Night Watchman.

Trevor Brewer and Arm’s Memorial took the top honors in the Amateur Specialty class. Aristotle Onasis and Hulon Humphrey walked their way to the winner’s circle in the Four-Year-Old Jackpot class.