by Stephanie Rose and Sarah Smith
TUNICA, Miss. – The Delta Fall Classic was a second to none horse show that was held November 8-10 at the Paul Battle Jr. Arena. The show was jam packed with high quality competition, southern hospitality and plenty of excitement! Spectators enjoyed ringside tables and several special exhibitions including the 2007 Tennessee Walking Horse World Grand Champion, Master Of Jazz. Rollie Beard, Gary Hollin and Tommy Loid marked the cards for the three-night event.
During the Thursday evening performance Mr. Benny Rebstock was thrown from his horse and stepped on during one of the classes. Mr. Rebstock suffered multiple injuries including a broken pelvis and broken ribs. A fund for Mr. Rebstock has been set up by the horse show to aid with the medical expenses. If anyone would like to help, please contact James Benton Pendleton. Several trainers, including Joel Weaver and Jimmy McConnell, have already offered their assistance; they each donated the $500 they won for having the most entries on a given night.
Thursday Evening
The Thursday evening performance of the Delta Fall Classic kicked off with the Mississippi Owned Amateur class. JFK’s Bravado and Carol Lackey were the winning duo in this class. Forbidden and Renee Carlton received the reserve honors in the class. Western Trail Pleasure was the next class to enter the ring. World Champion Cha Cha Cha and rider Miles Irby put on a blue ribbon performance for proud owner Janet Howell. Mackenzie Morgan directed Mr. Jessie James to the reserve streamer.
Jimmy McConnell directed Stuart Little to the winner’s circle in the Open Show Pleasure class for Red and Dot Strickland. The Great Escape and Jackie McConnell won the red award. Trigger Treat and Jeff Givens earned yet another blue in the Model class for Jo Ann Dowell. Robert Nelms and The Executive Decision were second.
Mike Inman rode All In to an impressive blue ribbon in the Amateur Four-Year-Old Stallions class. Bud Dunn and Son Stables prepare the team for the show ring. I’m P. Diddy and Sherri Pollack graciously accepted the reserve honor. Sherri Pollack was right back in the right, this time with her popular park pleasure mount, Gen’s Major Coin. Together the pair earned a Tunica blue ribbon in the Amateur Park Pleasure class. Extra Cash’s Grey Eagle and Haley Lane claimed the reserve honors.
Catching the judge’s attention in the Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallions class was A Dangerous Decision and Lee Wall. Cadillac’s Bum and Pam Betts were second. Both teams ride under the Formac Stables banner. Rhonda Cole rode her beloved Outrageous Attitude to the winner’s circle in the Ladies Amateur Specialty class. He’s Extraordinary and Patti Pollack rode to the red award in the top class.
Donald Knight and Calvin Klein’s Obsession added another blue ribbon award to their lengthy list of accomplishments; the team won the Amateur Lite-Shod Specialty title. Capturing the second place award was Deborah Parmer and Honor My Cash. Shock Jock and trainer Mickey McCormick continued their winning streak by winning the WHTA Riders’ Cup 15.2 and Under class. London Rain and Link Webb were second.
Jazz King and Ed Breedlove proved that they are still kings of the ring. The duo walked their way to the blue in the Men’s Amateur Specialty class. Card Trick and Bob Medina earned the second place award. No strangers to the winner’s circle, All American Ritz and trainer Howard Hamilton won the Open Park Performance class for Cynthia Wright. Joe Cotten and The Concealed Weapon picked up the red streamer.
Reining World Champions, She’s One Hot Tamale and Amy Nesius won the Youth Show Pleasure class. Ya Ma Ka Me Crazy and Ally Puckett earned the second place award in the class. Foolish Dollar and Jackie McConnell won the Aged Mares and Geldings class for Opal Moody. Main Majorette and Jeff Willis claimed the reserve award for Salt Lick Farms.
Riding under the direction of Chad Williams Stables, Bright Sky and Lucky Collins earned the blue ribbon honors in the Four-Year-Old Amateur Mares and Geldings class. Gail Walling and Legend Of JFK claimed the reserve honors. The WHTA Riders’ Cup Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class was so large it was split into two classes. Walking to the blue in the A section was A Lady Santana and Jackie McConnell for Beverly Sherman. Jose’s Gold Coin Lady and Nathan Clark were second.
Ritz In Command and Rodney Dick won the B section for Jay and Barbara Kenehan. Kennedy’s Carlina and Tim Smith earned the red ribbon in the class. Closing out the Thursday evening performance was the Pro-Am class. Brother Splash with Virginia Stewart and David Landrum sharing the reins earned their fourth Pro-Am blue of the year. Rodney Dick and Gail Walling each took a turn directing Bold Vengeance to the reserve award.
Friday Evening
Trail Pleasure with optional tack started off the competition on Friday evening. Hitch and Miles Irby claimed the blue for Irby Stables. Dollar Generator and Ann Jameson were second. Laurie Toone prepares these teams for the show ring. Walking to the blue in the Weanlings class was Stephanie Isley and Vigor’s Night Life for proud owner Hollis Kelley. I’m Appalled and Robert Nelms walked to the reserve award for Liz Gassaway.
Down Town Pusher and Andy Adkins strolled to the winner’s circle in the Youth 12-17 Specialty class. I’ll Get Over It and Ryan Yokley claimed the red ribbon. Zulu and Suzanne Moore continued their undefeated season in the Amateur Show Pleasure class. The team won the first of two splits. Shot In The Arm and Amanda Carver captured the reserve ribbon. Master Of Pride and Meg Young were victorious in the B section of the Amateur Show Pleasure, with Darrell Oliver and That’s What M Talkin’ About placing second.
Calvin Klein’s Obsession earned his second Tunica Blue with trainer Jeff Givens aboard in the Lite-Shod Open Specialty. Honor My Cash and Patrick Thomas were reserve. The Novice Amateur class was another popular class that had to be split. It was offered for those who had never won a blue at the Delta Fall Classic. Claiming the A section was Santa Monica and Whitney Davis. Ashley Joseph and Crackerjack Edge were reserve. Mr. Kamikaze and Barbara Ann Pate won the B section for owner Suzy Johnson who stayed home to spend time with her new grandsons. Seth Stanfill and My Magical Rhythm graciously accepted the reserve award.
The World Grand Championship team of Amanda Winters and Pat Head Summitt claimed another Yearling blue bringing the yearling’s total blue ribbons to 34. The Front Nine and Holly Puckett were second. Ray Gilmer directed Oops On Parole to the blue in the WHTA Riders’ Cup Three-Year-Old Geldings class. George Clooney and Jimmy McConnell were the reserve team in the class.
Next to the show ring was the WHTA Riders’ Cup Three-Year-Old Mares. Jackie McConnell rode Ozone Magic to the blue in this class. Sheza Hottie and Rodney Dick walked their way to the red award. Sanman and Benjamin Bowen ended their 11 and Under career with blue ribbon honors. Hailey Puckett and Bold Stroke’s Attraction were awarded the reserve award.
John FK’s Pusher carried Robin MacDonald to the blue in the Amateur 50 and Over Specialty. Command And Control and Sheryl Crawford were second. Armed And Trigger Happy and Patrick Thomas earned all the honors in the Western Park Pleasure class for Jim and Debbie Nichols. Pride Of The Street and Steve Clark walked to the reserve award.
Shock Jock earned his second Tunica blue with owner Becky Coleman aboard in the Adult Pony class. Hurricane Rain and Connie Hess were called to the second place honors. Bold Vengeance and Rodney Dick won the Open Specialty class. John Allan Callaway and Jazzed Up won the red ribbon.
Two riders from Bennett Stables earned Equitation blues at Tunica. Paige Bennett claimed the 12-17 Equitation class while Kaitlyn Rippy won the 11 and Under Equitation. World Grand Champion Arm’s Deal For Real carried Sherri Pollack to blue ribbon honors in the Amateur Two-Year-Old Stallions class. Suzanne Moore and Probation Officer carried out the reserve streamer.
Also riding from Rising Star Ranch was the Amateur Mares and Geldings Specialty champions, New York, New York and Terry Lowman. Owner Trish Harrison directed Cheatin’ Danger to the reserve award. Another World Grand Champion carried his owner to blue ribbon honors. Mary Medina and Dragonfly won the Amateur Specialty Stallions class. Ed Breedlove and Kid Callahan were presented with the reserve award.
The Concealed Weapon and Patti Pollack earned themselves all the honors in the Amateur Park Performance class. Susan Coleman directed her mount, Olympic’s Supergizer to the red streamer. The WHTA Riders’ Cup Four-Year-Old class was next to the ring. The Who and Knox Blackburn were called from the line-up to claim all the honors for the Anthony Joseph family. He’s A Weekend Warrior and Joe Cotten rode to the red award in the good class.
Closing out the Friday evening performance was the Groom’s class jackpot. This class was a chance for all the hard working grooms to get a little of the spotlight. Originally the jackpot was $1,000 but as the top entries headed for the line-up, another $1,000 was donated for the winner. When the cards were marked and turned in it was Jenny Byrom and Bo’s Shania Rose who were called to receive the medallion, trophy, floral horseshoe, tri-colored ribbon and $2,000. Lock And Load and Poncho Mendez were reserve.
Saturday Evening
Major Miss Understood and Mark West started off the Saturday evening performance in blue ribbon style. The team won the Fine Harness class with the team of Richard Wall and Category Five placing second. Lake Weaver won his first blue of the night aboard Jazz’s Rhythm And Blues in the Youth Ponies class. Pushover And Lookout and Caitlyn Salhany were reserve. Lake returned to the winner’s circle in the very exciting Youth Championship with New York, New York. All 23 of the Youth Championship entries were called to the show ring individually. Watch N Bedazzled and Mary Morrison walked their way to the reserve award.
It’s Silver Dollar Time and Kelly Weaver rode to the blue in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Mares and Geldings Sec. A class. Jose’s Special Edition and Robin MacDonald earned the reserve award. Forbidden and Renee Carlton won the B Section of the competitive class, with I’m A Special Lady and Vicki Jones walking their way to second position.
No strangers to the winner’s circle, Mr. Jesse James and Mackenzie Morgan claimed the Youth Trail Pleasure class. Papa’s Show Girl and Lauren Birmingham were second. Newton Parks and Hollywood Boulevard won the judge’s approval in the Amateur Owned and Trained Specialty. The Major Flair and Stephanie Cagle were reserve.
Probation Officer and Knox Blackburn were the winners in the WHTA Riders’ Cup Two-Year-Old Stallions Sec. A class. Stephanie Cagle and The Major Flair captured the second position. Winning the B division was Getting Out On Parole and Rodney Dick. Cash In Motown and Jackie McConnell claimed the red award in the good class.
Zulu and Suzanne Moore collected another blue in the Amateur Show Pleasure Championship. Stuart Little and Red Strickland rode to the reserve championship honors. Current World Grand Champions The Phantom Menace and Thom Meek continued their winning ways to claim the blue in the 15.2 and Under Amateur Specialty. Riding to the red award was Rocky Mountain Sky and Lucky Collins.
Celine Neon and Patrick Thomas earned the blue in the Open Park Pleasure class. Let’s Ritz And Roll and Ray Gilmer were reserve. Ultra Copy’s Dark Shadow and Chuck Cheek walked their way to the top award in the Amateur Canter class. I’m Clark Kent and Bruce Vaughn made a good show to claim the second place award.
Command And Control and Sheila Groover made the winning ride in the Ladies Auxiliary class for Crawford Colts. Capone and Carrie Benedict showed to the red ribbon in the good class. On the heels of their Alabama Jubilee victory, Kennedy’s Carlina and Amy Nesius claimed the blue in the A division of the Two-Year-Old Amateur Mares and Geldings class. Ritz In Command and Barbara Kenehan were second.
In the B division of the Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class, it was Prodigy and Sherri Pollack that was called from the line-up to the winner’s circle. Lined With Faith and Nancy Groover claimed the second place honors. Cadillac’s Bum and Jimmy McConnell rode to the blue in the WHTA Riders’ Cup Three-Year-Old Stallions Sec. A class for Pam Betts. Right on his brother’s heels was the pair of Jackie McConnell and All American Made.
Winning the B division of the WHTA Rider’s Cup Three-Year-Old Stallions class was Ozone’s Cut Above All and John Allan Callaway. Ray Gilmer and Oh My Wicked Ways and walked their way to the reserve award. More Of The Major and Kay Green racked up all the honors in the Amateur Specialty Championship. Landrum Stables prepares the team for competition. Robin MacDonald and John FK’s Pusher received the red streamer.
Closing out the impressive horse show was the exciting WHTA Riders’ Cup Walking Horse Stake class. Jackie McConnell and Star earned the honor for Mrs. Opal Moody. Hydrostatic and Link Webb were called out of the line up to receive the second honors with Jimmy McConnell and Busting Special rounding out the third position.
Complete results and judge’s cards follow and can be viewed, searched and printed at www.walkinghorsereport.com.