SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The Monday evening performance of the 76th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration got underway, as it always does, right on time at 6:30p.m. Announcer Mark Farrar, Jr. welcomed the fans and introduced those that make the show run smoothly including the judging panel of Rollie Beard, Jennifer Bingham, David Landrum, Paul Robbins and David Sisk.

Repeating their win for the second year in a row was Lined Royal Cash and Dr. Jack Kwok in the Owner-Amateur Gentleman Drivers, Fine Harness. With this win the duo retired the Scott Edwards Memorial Challenge Trophy that was donated by Jeffcoat Stables. Lined Royal Cash topped the fine harness competition at the Spring Fun Show, Columbia Spring Jubilee and Red Carpet Show of the South. Reserve went to Breakin’ Parole and Ron Lawrence. In 2013 Breakin Parole was directed to the Ladies Fines Harness Division B World Champion by co-owner Stephanie Elliott.

Making the trip down victory lane in the Walking Mares, Five Years & Over, Canter class was 2012 Three-Year-Old Mares Div. A World Champion Silver Fog and Jimmy McConnell for Elizabeth Whitney. Reserve went to Ruby Lipstick and John Allan Callaway for Bullock & Callaway. Ruby Lipstick was the 2013 Four-Year-Old Mares World Champion. Third was Busted At Peeble Beach and Justin Harris for Bruce and Robin MacDonald. Busted At Pebble Beach was a Two-Year-Old World Champion and a Three-Year-Old Reserve World Champion.

Next to head into the big oval was the Owner-Amateur Five-Year-Old Walking Stallions. Continuing their undefeated season, Command On Parole and Sheryl Crawford were called from the lineup to carry out all the honors. This team is also the reigning Four-Year-Old Amateur Stallions World Champion and Four-Year-Old Amateur World Grand Champions. Picking up the red ribbon was 2012 Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallions World Champion Defending The Title and Jason Myatt. Defending The Title has made victory passes two times in 2014. The American Patriot and Ashley Joseph Mezrano carried the yellow streamer back to Columbiana, Ala. The American Patriot had wins at the National Trainers’ Show and Red Carpet Show of the South prior to the Celebration.

Lil Wayne is now a five-time World Champion after topping the Classic Park Pleasure Walking Horses, Riders’ Cup class unanimously with B.J. Richards riding for Jeff Gillespie. This talented competitor carried Carlan Cotten to the winner’s circle on Thursday morning and was undefeated at the International Colt and Pleasure Show in early August claiming five blues. Second went to Miss Cheyenne and Patrick Thomas for Gordon and Angelyn Ezzell. Miss Cheyenne was the 2009 Weanling World Grand Champion and is a two-time World Champion. She has been to the show ring seven times this season. Rounding out the top three was Nuclear Weapon and Chris Helton for Andee’ Patton. Nuclear Weapon has five wins to his credit this season.



Next up was the A Division of the Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions, Riders’ Cup. Enjoying the trip down victory lane was Tennessee State Line and John Allan Callaway for Lisa Baum. Sired by Line With Cash and out of an I’m Dumas Walker mare, Tennessee State Line won in the spring at the Gallatin Lions Club show. The reserve title went to Marty McFly and Casey Wright for Joe and Janice Fostek. This duo won at the Money Tree Classic in July and is sired by Jose’ Jose’. Third was Really Coach and Todd Claborn for Fred Allred. Sired by The Coach, Really Coach topped the Two-Year-Old competition at the Cumberland County show earlier this season.

The B Division of the Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions, Riders’ Cup class brought seven entries to the track to impress the judging panel. Rammer Jammer and Charlie Green topped the field for the Kilgore & Holland ownership. Rammer Jammer is sired by The Sky Command and is out of the former show mare Witch Revival. The world champion won at the Gulf Coast Charity, WHAA Summer Classic and Woodbury Lions Club shows before making his trip around the big oval. Reserve went to Gen A’Mighty and Mike Hannah for Larry McCrory and Mike Floyd in just his second show of the season. Gen A’Mighty is sired by Gen’s Black Gin. Carrying out the yellow streamer was Stretch Your Dollar and Casey Wright for Billy and Debbie Woods. Sired by A Strong Dollar, the youngster had prior wins at the National Trainers’ Show and Columbia Spring Jubilee.

The Stephens & Womack entry of B.B. King’s Jazz claimed his second World Championship of the show with the approval of all the judges with Libby Stephens riding to top the Owner-Amateur Riders 50 & Over on Park Pleasure Walking Horses. B.B. King’s Jazz has already taken Jackson Stephens to the winner’s circle earlier in the show. Rise To Fame and Steve Wilson earned the reserve title for Steve and Pat Wilson. During the Monday morning session Patrick Thomas directed Rise To Fame to a unanimous World Championship. Third was Jose’s Baby Doll and Vickie Penick for Doris Penick. Jose’s Baby Doll and Jeff Laughlin won the Pleasure Driving World Championship earlier in the day.



The Owner-Amateur Gentleman Riders on Show Pleasure Walking Horses were next down the hill to entertain the crowd. Riding to the Celebration winner’s circle was El Zorro’s Star and Kenny Compton for Rick Compton. This team topped the same class in 2013 and had one prior outing in 2014 at the Tazewell County Classic that also earned them a blue. Reserve in the class went to Nine Dangerous Yards and Todd Fisher for Fisher & Way. This was the ninth trip to the show ring for the Reserve World Champion this year. Rounding out the top three was Spectacular Dumas and Charles Craddock. This team won at the Red Carpet Show of the South last month and was a World Champion team in 2011. 

Next, there was a break in the competition for newly crowned World Grand Champion Equitation rider, Kaitlyn Rippy and her equine partner, All Time Favorite Dude to show off their skills to the evening crowd. All Time Favorite Dude, age 18, is trained by Jeff Green and Kaitlyn Rippy is instructed by Alice Klein.

Walking their way to the World Championship in the Elite Owner-Amateur Lady Riders on Walking Stallions with all five first place votes was I’m P. Diddy and Sherri Pollack for S & P, LLC. This team was the 2012 Amateur 15.2 & Under World Champions and World Grand Champions. I’m P. Diddy made three prior show ring appearance this year. Reserve went to the 2011 World Grand Champions in the division, Command & Control and Sheryl Crawford. Rounding out the top three was They Call Me Samson and Karen Bean. They Call Me Samson won earlier in the season at the Mississippi Charity and Cornersville Lions Club Horse shows.

The Walking Mares 15.2 & Under, Riders’ Cup class was next on the schedule. Justin Harris directed A Bit Of Change to the win for Dee Broome Yoder. This was the fifth victory pass of the season for A Bit Of Change who is also a two-time Reserve World Champion. My First Dollar and John Allan Callaway picked up the red award for George-Ann Pratt. This team had wins at the Stepping Up For Shonta, Columbia Spring Jubilee and Christmas In July shows. Out On Bond and Mickey McCormick carried out the yellow award for the Stephens & Womack ownership.



Drop A Line and Carrie Benedict made the trip down victory lane in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Park Performance Walking Stallions for Benedict, Teal & Butler. Drop A Line is sired by Jose’ Jose’ and out of the World Champion Mare Silver On The Line. This was only his second outing of the season and the first was earlier in the week with Spencer Benedict riding. The British Open and LaMar DePoyster. This marked the second reserve title for The British Open at this year’s Celebration. Third went to former World and World Grand Champion He’s Extraordinary and Patti Pollack. This was the duo’s first outing in their new division. Brandye Mills directed He’s Extraordinary to a blue a few weeks ago at the Roger Latham Memorial Show.



As a cool breeze rolled through and a shower began, the Owner-Amateur Riders on Mares or Geldings went to the lineup. Emerging from the field and picking up all the honors including a unanimous tie from the judges was Jose’s Centerfold and Bill Williams. This team won the class last year and walked their way out of the Novice division in 2012. Jose’s Centerfold picked up wins at the National Trainers’ Show, Columbia Spring Jubilee and Parker’s Crossroads before heading to the Celebration. World Champion Jose’s Dulce and Meghan Davis earned the reserve honor. This was the fifth show for Jose’s Dulce this season including a win at the National Trainers’ Show in March. Rounding out the top three was Sophisticated and Renee Carlton who have had two previous wins in 2014.



Although the rain was coming down, the crowd let the judges know their favorites in the final class of the evening. The class for the Walking Stallions, 15.2 & Under, Riders’ Cup is a preliminary class for the new Open Specialty World Grand Championship that will be held on Friday Evening. Retiring the Lottery Memorial Challenge Trophy and winning back-to-back championships in the class was A Strong Need For Cash and Michael Wright for Jim and Jeanne Roberts. This team won at the Columbia Spring Jubilee and Marshall County Horseman’s Association before carrying the honors from the Celebration Oval. Ozone’s Cut Above All and John Allan Callaway rode the reserve tie for George-Ann Pratt. This talented contender also had two previous victories this season. Third went to Gin’s Who Dat and Jonathan Watts for Carol Canerday. Gin’s Who Dat came to the Celebration with five wins this season.



It was Dollar Night at the Celebration with General Admission tickets, as well as many delicious food items for only a dollar. Those, plus several other dollar deals will continue on Tuesday Night. Fans can visit the Celebration Trade Fair and other vendors on the grounds so don’t forget to get out and do some shopping.

All the action will resume in the Celebration Oval again on Tuesday night at 6:30p.m.