The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration announced class splits Friday afternoon for its 79th annual event, which kicks off later this month. Ten classes have been divided, with the two-year-old stallion division once again having three splits.
The Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions has an A and B section (Class 22 A and B Thursday Aug. 24), along with the following: Owner-Amateur Novice Lady Riders on Novice Walking Mares or Geldings (Class 26 A and B Thursday Aug. 24), Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions (Class 48 A and B Friday Aug. 25), Three-Year-Old Walking Mares (Class 73 A and B Saturday Aug. 26), Two-Year-Old Walking Mares (Class 76 A Saturday Aug. 26), and Walking Stallions 5 Years and Over (Class 82 A and B Saturday Aug. 26), wrapping up the first week of the show.
Sunday, Aug. 27 features one split on the agenda in the Owner-Amateur Riders Four-Year Old Walking Mares and Geldings (Class 92). The Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions, as tradition calls, are divided into three groups Monday Aug. 28 (Class 111), with the Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings split Tuesday Aug. 29 (Class 119) and the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Mares and Geldings split Wednesday Aug 30 (Class 128).
Entries in the aged stallions preliminary, sec. A are as follows: Reservation On Line and Chad Williams for Amanda Odom, Jose’s Power Broker and Keith Blackburn for Dan and Susan Erwin, The American Ride and Gary Martin for Tommy Shealy, Lester H. Burns and Ryan Blackburn for Martin Cox, Master’s Razzel & Jazz and Herbert Derickson for The Alan Riddley Family, I’m Judge Roy Bean and Gary Edwards for Scott and Joe Cooper, Gen’s Black Maverick and Bill Callaway for Keith and Lorraine Rosbury, Sky Miles and Bobby Hugh for Beth Sims, Incredible Machine and Blaise Broccard for Linda Stewart, Gen A Mighty and Jimmy McConnell for Floyd and Taylor, and The Land Shark and Casey Wright for Larry Russell.
Sec. B includes the following: He’s Unleashed and Chad Williams for Evergreen Farms, Prince At The Ritz and Sam Perkins for Jeff Bronnenberg, Warbird and Derek Monahan for Ginger Williams, I’m Mayhem and Rodney Dick for Jo Ann Dowell and Susan Coleman, I’m Lombardi and Larry Edwards for Henry and Peggy Metcalf, I’m Resurrected and Scott Beaty for Fred Allred, Jose’ Cold Chills and John Allan Callaway for LaRue McWaters, A Cowboy Casanova and Brandye Mills for Wayne and Gail Putman, He’s Shady In Black and Jimmy McConnell for Richard and Connie Donner, and I Am José and Casey Wright for Billy and Debbie Woods.
Preliminary entry figures released by the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration show another 5 percent increase over last year. The Celebration entry office received 2,064 entries as compared to 1,975 in 2016.
“This solid increase follows the positive pattern we have seen all season. It bodes well for what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and exciting Celebrations in recent years,” said Celebration Chief Executive Officer Mike Inman.
This is the third consecutive year of increase in entries. Since 2014, The Celebration has seen a 15 percent increase in preliminary entries. The 79th annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration will be held Aug. 23 through Sept. 2.