The second night of the 37th annual National Walking Horse Trainers’ Show began at 6:30 p.m. with a large crowd anticipating some exciting competition.

Again, a father and son team carried the flags in the opening ceremony. Father, Mike Civils carried the Stars and Stripes aboard Leann Rhimes while son Jimmy and Generators Legend proudly showed the Trainer’s Association flag. Jimmy entered the show ring for the first time at age four. At last year's Celebration, Jimmy became the youngest rider to win the Plantation Pleasure Lite Shod 17 and under three gait class with Trashedeous.

Barclay Woodward was the featured exhibitor for the spotlight on the youth division. Woodward’s accomplishments in the show ring with Major Cigar and his current mount WGC Silver Design, are very extensive. He rode Silver Design to the Youth Walking Ponies World Grand Championship at the 2004 Celebration. >p>The Walking Horse Report honorees for the 2004 Year in Walking Horses were the stallion, He’s Puttin’ on the Ritz and trainer, Jimmy McConnell. The 1996 WGC, owned by William B. and Sandra Johnson, not only had an impressive show career but has passed on his exceptional talent to his offspring. McConnell, 2004’s Trainer of the Year, is also the trainer with the most wins in Celebration history. He is also a past president of the Walking HorseTrainer’s association and has served the industry in other leadership roles.

Thursday night’s competition began with eight entries in the Amateur Stallions Specialty class. Lisa Patton Evans took the first blue of the evening with This JFK’s a Pushover for Linda Patton of Mt. Sterling, Ky. Joe and Janice Foster will take the reserve ribbon back to Roanoke, Va., for Janice's ride on Willie Wonka.

Wednesday night's Plantation Pleasure Lite-Shod Open winner with Doug Barnes, Jose Quevro Gold, was awarded the win in the first unanimous judges' decision of the evening in the Amateur Plantation Lite-Shod class with Jeff Ray up. That makes two classes and two blues for owners Jeff Ray and Nancy Yonko. Kevin Marker and Blackberry Wine finished reserve for owner Stacy Richards.

Brandi Todd rode to her second blue of the show in the Amateur Two-Year-Old Stallion class; this time with He's Extra Ordinary for Ronnie Corey of Kentucky. Dr. David Brown and Ritz on the Corner took the red ribbon back to owners Brown and Cully of Sumter, SC.

The Amateur Park Pleasure, Specialty Class was sponsored in memory of the Grand Collection, the 2002-2003 Readers' Choice Sire of the Year and the 2002-2003 TWHBEA Sire of Year. The Silver Ghost and owner/rider Debbie Cable topped the class of 16, while Bob Lawrence and Hermano Gold earned reserve for Lawrence/Hutto of Georgia.

The five judges made their second unanimous decision of the evening in the Three-Year-Old Show Pleasure Class, naming Cash's Lets Roll and Joey Tackett the winner in the nine horse class. Cash's Lets Roll is owned by Southbound Stables of Piketon, Ohio. Bill Callaway and Wicked Pusher took the reserve for Chuck Williamson.

An American Outlaw and Brenda Carlon received the first place award in the Amateur Geldings, Specialty Class for Dr. Harvey Carlon. Laura Brandon and Pushin That Jazz made the reserve pass for Laura and Wallace Brandon of Franklin, Tenn.

The Show Pleasure, Juvenile 17 and Under class was not only the third unanimous call of the night but the second blue for The Great Escape. Wednesday night's Show Pleasure Open winner with Jackie McConnell, Sarah Akin proudly accepted the honors for Camille Akin of Collierville. Reserve went to Jimmy Civils and Wicked Wanda for father Mike Civils. Also of note, Jesse Barnes, son of Doug and Becky Barnes made his show ring debut in a performance class on JFK's Top Aide.

Fourteen competitors in the Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallions had the crowd on their feet and cheering. A very happy Gail Walling and Jose' Grande' walked away with the win for Judy McDonald. Suzanne Littell picked up the red ribbon for On The Line's owners, Moore and Littell of Alabama.

The selection of the winner in the Amateur Plantation Pleasure Lite Shod, Four Years and Under, Open class, C'Mon Turn Me Loose, made four unanimous decisions by the five judge panel. Joe Dixon was in the irons for Red Eagle Farms of Dacula, Ga. Christy Mauney and A Sure-Fire took home the reserve ribbon for Laura Mauney of Gastonia, NC.

Shelbyville's own, Lisa Baum, and her mount The Ritz in Dixie topped the Amateur 15.2 and Under Stallion competition. Walking All Over with Bob Medina up earned the reserve for Bob and Mary Medina of Skillman, N.J.

Jared Carrier and Silver's Spinal Tap took first place in the Youth Plantation Lite Shod, 17 and Under class, again the judges' unanimous choice. Silver's Spinal Tap is owned by the Chip Carrier Family of Franklin, Ky. Ring the Man and owner/rider Rachel Burch took the reserve ribbon in the class.

Sunrise at Midnight and Debra Coleman struck gold again in Amateur 15.2 and Under Mares and Geldings. Last night's winner in the Amateur Mares class, Coleman and her horse were unanimously presented with the victory by the judges. The Prime Suspect with owner/exhibitor Candra Shular garnered the reserve ribbon.

The local team of Brenda Bramlett and Jazzed Up out jazzed the competition in largest class of the evening. The pair topped the competition in the 21-entry Amateur Four-Year-Old Stallions for Bramlett and Wilson of Shelbyville, Tenn. Judy McDonald's Bold Vengeance with Heather Walling in the irons were the judges' choice for reserve.

In the 13 horse Amateur Show Pleasure class, I'm a Voo Doo Daddy and Brittany Johnson emerged as the victors for owner Joel Johnson of New Market, Ala. Sabrina Young not only took second place with her mount Ultra Prime Mover but received a hug and kiss from her young son, Dylan, before making her reserve pass.

The exciting Park Performance Open class, also a large class, had members of the crowd loudly cheering on their favorites. The partnership of Lit Up's Double Time and Howard Hamilton accepted the win for Red Eagle Farm of Dacula, Ga., while Joe Cotten and The Concealed Weapon claimed reserve for owner S and P LLC of Saratoga and Shelbyville, Tenn.

Mr. Jesse James, this time with his owner, Ann Jamison in the saddle, picked up his second blue of the show with the win in Western Plantation Pleasure, Lite Shod class. Laurie Toon and Mr. Jesse James won the Western Plantation Lite Shod, Open class Wednesday night. Jared Carrier and A Style File were reserve for the Carrier Family. Both first and second places were unanimous.

The Park Pleasure, Two and Three-Year-Old was a family affair. Doug Barnes took the victory pass with The Lady Has Connections while Becky Barnes and Freeze Frame earned reserve honors for Bernie Duncan of Florida. The Lady Has Connections is owned by Del and Bridget Ruse of Oxford, Mich.

The final competition of the evening was also a first and reserve unanimous call by judges Leigh Bennett, Jamie Hankins, Tommy Loid, Mack Motes and BrockTillman. Howard Hamilton and Armed and Trigger Happy were the winners for Jim and Debbie Nichols. Becky Barnes and Generators Power Pusher ended the evening with the reserve for Sally and Dick Reiley of Lewisburg, Tenn.



WC Jazzed Up and Brenda Bramlett are joined by John Allan Callaway after a large Amateur Four-Year-Old Stallion class.



Joe Dixon and C'mon Turn Me Loose made a great performance to earn the blue.




Brad Beard and Chris Bobo catch a very pleased Lisa Baum after this great team won the Amateur 15.2 & Under class with The Ritz In Dixie.