By Mark Davis
If the radar displayed on the Celevision screens in the big oval tells the tale, it looks like maybe, just maybe, the rains that have covered Middle Tennessee over the past 48 hours might have passed on by or at least might give us a break for a few hours this evening.
The Tuesday night schedule featured thirteen classes highlighted by the Four-Year-Old Walking Mares, Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Mares and Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions.
The judges for the 70th annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration include Rollie Beard of Lewisburg, Tenn., Nathan Clark of Arab, Ala., Jamie Hankins of Paris, Ky., Tommy Howell of Shelbyville, Tenn., and Mack Motes of Eagleville, Tenn.
The invocation for the evening was given by Charles Williams of Fair Haven Baptist Church, followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Gary Haile of Shelbyville, Tenn.
Up first on the evening’s program was class 114, Four-Year-Old Walking Mares (Canter) with nine of the 14 on the book making the gate call to work in the event as Judge Jamie Hankins called the gaits in the section. It was no secret, Gary Edwards and Victoria’s Secret, a World Champion Two and Three Year Old mare, put on an outstanding performance to garner the blue with a unanimous decision of the panel for Chester and Linda Stokes of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The team picked up 2008 wins in their only showings at Panama City Beach, Fla., and Woodbury, Tenn. Bella Sera At The Ritz and Knox Blackburn pulled in for the reserve for the Anthony Joseph family of Columbiana, Ala. Dark Escape and Dale Watts were third for Brett and Lisa Jones of Tylertown, Miss.
Class 115, featured the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings, Five Years and Over (Canter). Fourteen of the 20 with reservations made the trip down the big oval as Judge Tommy Howell led the panel in the event. Putting the fear into the competition and picking up the second unanimous decision of the night was Cheatin’ Danger and Trish Harrison riding for Trish Harrison and Four Centuries Farm of Nashville and Greeneville, Tenn. This win marked Cheatin’ Danger’s second 2008 World Championship as he topped the 15.2 and Under Geldings with trainer Joe Cotten earlier in the week. Watch For Glory and Erica Derickson accepted the red streamers for Erica and Maria Derickson of Wartrace, Tenn. The Family Jewels and Kim Leonard rounded out the top three for Scott and Kim Leonard of Greendale, Wis.
Cheatin' Danger and Trish Harrison were blue ribbon World Champions on Tuesday night in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings, Five Years and Over (Canter) class.
The amateur riders were in the spotlight once again for class 116A, Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings with 18 of the 45 expected making the gate call and worked the track as Judge Mack Motes served as Call Judge for the section. Three classes down, three unanimous decisions as the panel called the team of Miss Natalie and Jerry Cole to the winner’s circle for Jerry and Vicki Cole of Martinez, Ga. I Am A Diva and Kelly Sherman pulled in for the red streamers for Floyd Sherman of Dallas, Texas. Miss Coco Chanel and Lucky Collins were third for Don Collins of Ft. Myers, Fla. & Bell Buckle, Tenn.
Twenty four of the 45 programmed entries for Class 116B, Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings made their way down the hill to work for the good sized Tuesday night as Judge Rollie Beard led the panel in the event. Riding to the top of the event and taking the honors back Carolina way were owner/exhibitor Rhonda Warren and She’s Electric carrying the honors home to Kernersville, N.C. Paroled In Texas and Holly Coggin were the popular reserve riding for the Coggin and Whittenburg families of Murfreesboro, Tenn. Dangerous Dollar and Jimmy Grant accepted the yellow ribbon for Richard and Gail Greer and Jimmy Grant of Lenoir, N.C. & Raymer, Ala.
The Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Ponies, Mares or Geldings were up next on the evening’s agenda with 20 of the 43 on the book made their way down from the warm up ring to work for the silver as Judge Nathan Clark called the gaits in the class. With an appropriate name for the last couple of days we’ve had, Hurricane Rain and Connie Hess made the memorable ride down victory lane for CM, Connie and Lindsay Hess/Zenda Hill Farm of Harrisonburg, Va. A Dangerous Man and Donna Ingle Hill, a winner in the Novice division earlier in the week, accepted the red ribbons to take home to Troy, Mo. & Cleveland, Ala. He’s A Half Dollar and Wes Hendrick pulled in for the golden streamers for Kenny Hendrick of Bowling Green, Ky.
Connie Hess and Hurricaine Rain made a flawless performance and were crowned the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Ponies, Mares or Geldings World Champions.
The trainers were up on the track next in class 118, Show Pleasure Walking Stallions, with 16 of the 32 expected working to the rail as Judge Jamie Hankins called the gaits in the class. Claiming the win in the event was the reigning Show Pleasure World Grand Champion and a 2008 WC with Jean O’Brien earlier this week, Coin’s Black Stroke and John Puckett were in the winner’s circle again tonight for Reggie Pimentel of Bell Buckle, Tenn. Stewart Little and Jimmy McConnell were reserve for Red and Dot Strickland of Olive Branch, Miss. A Headliner and Dan Waddell were third for Waterfall Farms of Shelbyville, Tenn.
The trainers were back for class 119, Young Trainers, 35 Years and Under, on Walking Stallions with 16 of the 45 on the entry sheets taking to the rail to work for Judge Tommy Howell and his cohorts. Just as the work was nearly complete in the division, Louie Staton got to go to work once again, replacing the second cast shoe of the evening. Taking the win home to South Central Kentucky was Jason Hughes and Who Am I?, answering all the right questions for M.R. McCoy of Glasgow, Ky. Aristotle Onassis and Justin Harris pulled into the second position for Jeanne Harrison of Augusta, Ga. Sensational Premier and Michele Mercier rounded out the top three for Melton and Latithia Oran of Sweetwater, Tenn.
Class 120A, Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions brought 23 of the 43 expected entries down from the warm up ring to work for that 70th annual Celebration blue as Judge Mack Motes served as Call Judge for the section. Riding down victory lane in the split and taking the win back to North Carolina was I’m Wall Street and Clay Mills in the irons for Corbin Mills of Mt. Airy, N.C. This win capped off a great 2008 for the team where they had captured top honors at the National Trainers’ Show, the Spring Fun Show, the Land-O-Sky Summer Festival and the PC Splash Summer Classic. Terror On The Border and Nancy Groover were second in the class for Wink and Nancy Groover of Longview, Texas. Opus One and Kelly Sherman were third for Floyd Sherman of Dallas, Texas and Shelbyville, Tenn.
Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions, class 120B, featured 29 of the 43 on the books making the gate call to show off their very best as Judge Rollie Beard called the gaits in the split. The panel determined that additional work would be necessary to properly tie the event. Fifteen of the original 29 were asked to remain to continue working toward that coveted Celebration blue. Lining everything up to make an outstanding performance and pick up their second World Championship of the week was Outta Line and owner/exhibitor Kelly Peevy of Decatur, Ala. The team rode to top honors already in the Novice Riders on Novice Walking Stallions event on Sunday evening. Nine Yard Blitz and Laura Cochran pulled in for the red streamers for Tim and Laura Cochran of Chatsworth, Ga. Sky Miles and Patty Marek picked up the yellow ribbon for Patty Marek and Gary Smith of Shelbyville, Tenn.
Kelly Peevy and Outta Line won their second World Championship of the Celebration. This time as the WC division B Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions.
Class 121 brought the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings, 15.2 and Under to the track with 19 of the 45 programmed entries making their way to show for Judge Nathan Clark and his cohorts. Making the strong performance to ride away with the win was Be Cool and Spud Warr riding for Warr Development of Phenix City, Ala. The tried and true Gen’s Color Me In and Lisa Baum accepted second for Lisa Baum of Shelbyville, Tenn. Rounding out the top three in the section was Adrenaline and Patti Pollack up for Robert and Wanda Pollack/Pollack’s Silver Spur Ranch of Saratoga, Calif. & Shelbyville, Tenn.
The Park Pleasure Horses were up on the schedule for class 122, Park Pleasure Walking Mares or Geldings, Five Years and Over with 14 of the 26 with reservations making the gate call to work as Judge Jamie Hankins handled the duties of Call Judge in the class. Moving up from reserve in this class in 2007, Regal’s Delight Lady and Howard Hamilton rode to the winner’s circle in the event for Reynolds, Hamilton and Gilmore of Jupiter, Fla. & McKenzie, Tenn. The Grizzly and Kevin Marker were reserve for David Mesimer of Concord, N.C. A Night Mare and Mark Lambert pulled in for third for Kasidy Petty of Riverton, Utah.
Staying in the pleasure division, class 123 featured the Owner-Amateur English Trail Pleasure, Adult Riders (Canter) with 12 of the 21 expected making their way to show off in the big oval as Judge Tommy Howell called the gaits in the division.
Rounding out the evening performance was class 124, Owner-Amateur Novice Gentleman Riders on Novice Walking Mares or Geldings. Twenty of the 30 with reservations made their way down to the track to be greeted by a light mist as they exited the dry confines of the warm up ring to work for their first chance at the Celebration silver tonight as Judge Mack Motes serves as lead official for the class. Riding out of the Novice division tonight was I’m Stan The Man and Ben Brogdon riding for Ben and Dr. Lynda Brogdon of Tallahassee, Fla. Busting With Design and owner/exhibitor Ronnie Grider of Columbia, Ky., remain novices for another day riding away with the reserve honors. Starstruck Dollar and Corey Clark were third for Clarke Farms of Campbellsville, Ky.
Twenty of the 30 with reservations made their way down to the track to be greeted by a light mist as they exited the dry confines of the warm up ring to work for their first chance at the Celebration silver tonight as Judge Mack Motes serves as lead official for the class. Riding out of the Novice division tonight was I’m Stan The Man and Ben Brogdon riding for Ben and Dr. Linda Brogdon of Tallahassee, Fla. Busting With Design and owner/exhibitor Ronnie Grider of Columbia, Ky., remain novices for another day riding away with the reserve honors. Starstruck Dollar and Corey Clark were third for Clarke Farms of Campbellsville, Ky.
It might have been another wet night, even though the rains held off for the most part through the night, but there was another good crowd on hand, considering the conditions with a paid attendance of 22,281 and actual attendance of 8,530 and they got to see a great horse show with 234 horses in 13 classes of World Championship competition. According to the weatherman, things are supposed to dry out some on Wednesday and hopefully, things can get back to normal as we finish up the preliminary competition tomorrow night.
Of course, that means that there will be roses to be won starting on Thursday night as Championship competition gets underway. Also, the Music In The Plaza will continue, after being rained out Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, on Wednesday night and continue through Saturday starting at 5:15 pm each day and the Street Parties will get going once again Thursday, Friday and Saturday night after the horse show down by the old warm up ring.
There really is excitement in the air in Shelbyville! Don’t miss a moment of the action!