Shows
Kicking off the month of March was the Second Annual Georgia Charity National Horse Show, held the 5th through the 8th at Dewey Henderson’s Arena in Atlanta. The multi-breed show featured 207 classes in 10 sessions, with 34 classes allotted for Walking Horses.
Leading the blue ribbon tally with eight were the horses and customers at Bill Cantrell Stables. Half of these wins came from horses owned by Dr. and Mrs. W. S. Warr. Fireball’s Copy and Linda Warr claimed both the Amateur Specialty Grand Championship as well as the Ladies Amateur Specialty title. Linda also directed Pride Of Gen Right On to the Two-Year-Old Amateur victory. Dr. W. S. Warr took his turn in the winner’s circle with Coin’s Clown in the Four-Year-Old Amateur class.
Other Cantrell winners included Magnum Royal and Jim Hartzog in the Men’s Amateur Specialty Class, Mark’s Rudu and Cantrell in the Three-Year-Old Class, Pride’s Flashy Girl and Cantrell in the Four-Year-Old Class, and Concern’s Pusher and Bob Hunnicutt in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Class. Shortly after the show, Concern’s Pusher was purchased by Brian and Matt Kilgore.
Also enjoying their usual good show were Larry and Gary Edwards of Carl Edwards and Sons Stables. Their big winner came in the form of Fantastic Gold in the Championship Stake. Larry Edwards made the good ride in this chestnut stallion’s debut as an aged horse for owner Brent Buck.
On March 14, an early season ritual, the WKU Spring Festival took place in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Two hundred thirty entries made up the 35-class schedule on this chilly evening.
The Stake Class finale found six worthy entries vying for the tri-color honors. Well known amateur contender, Collector’s Spitfire stepped into the open class and poured on the heat to capture the title with Charles Massey in direction. This dynamic stallion is the property of John R. Lindahl and Don LeNeve. Interestingly, Spitfire’s sire, Ebony’s Collector made his first show ring appearance in five years to win the Open Specialty Class at the age of 16. Long-time trainer Charles Massey made the good ride for the Collector Syndicate.
Sammy Day Stables presented dual winners in Power Generator and Coin’s Raven. Power Generator was named the winner of the 15.2 & Under Class with Sammy Day riding for Mr. and Mrs. Joe Benes. Coin’s Raven topped the toughest class of the evening, the Three-Year-Old Stallion Class, with Sammy again in direction for owners Mr. and Mrs. James Harrill.
Copy’s Rippling Rhythm and Generator’s Black Ace each one a blue for Stanfill Stables and owners S & S Asphalt. Rippling Rhythm topped the Amateur Specialty Class with Judy Stanfill in the irons, while Black Ace earned the Open Amateur title with Stephen Stanfill at the helm.
In the Plantation division, trainer Bobby Patterson directed dual Bowling Green winners. Stardust Of Pride was named the winner of the Open Plantation Class for owner John Houston, while Inside Trader earned the victory pass in the Four & Under Plantation Class for owner Cindy Anderson.
March 7 marked the start of the Southern California show season with the Desert Classic at the Empire Equestrian Park in the desert community of Indio. For the second consecutive year, Coin’s Adonis and trainer Scott Benham made the victory pass in the Open Stake Championship for owner Charles Walters.
In addition to Adonis’ stake win, Golden West Farms claimed 14 other wins to lead the blue ribbon count. Their winners included Finally, Hot Property, Final Attraction, Pride’s Golden Heir, Coin’s Mystery Lady, Dreams Of Gold, Coin’s Pushin’ For Gold, Parade Grand Marshall, The Ironworker and Pride’s Good As Gold.
Russ Thompson Stables tallied 12 impressive blues, and they included: Gen’s Armed & Dangerous, Gen’s Fire N’ Ice, Main’s Makin’ Time, Generator’s 2800 Watts, V.P.’s Scatman, Generator’s Ice Lady, Gen’s Lady In Red, Golden Generation and Patriot’s Dream.
The 24th Annual National Walking Horse Trainers’ Show took place March 25-28 at Calsonic Arena in Shelbyville, Tennessee. With pre-entries at 1612, more stalls reserved than for any previous Trainers’ Show and profits reaching over $100,000, it is safe to say that the 1992 version of the Trainers’ Show was the most successful in its history.
For the first time ever, the Trainers’ Show was dedicated to the “Feed The Children” charity. In addition to collecting donations of canned goods, the WHTA raised nearly $10,000 through a Pride’s Beam yearling filly giveaway. The filly was donated by Hugh and Barbara Branch.
The ten-horse Grand Championship Stake found the team of Jubilee’s Rising Star and Ramsey Bullington rising to the occasion to claim the prestigious title for the Bob Parks family. For the Bullington/Parks association, this marked their third time to present a Trainers’ Show Grand Champion. In 1986 it was Rising Star’s sire, Pride’s Jubilee Star, and in 1991, Wired, whom Parks claimed part ownership of, captured the crown with Bullington in the irons. In addition, Bullington directed Pride’s Jubilee Star to a Trainers’ Show win in 1983 under Dr. Buris Boshell’s ownership, bringing Bullington’s total to four Trainers’ Show Championships.
Leading the blue ribbon tally were the horses and customers riding out of David Landrum Stables. All total, this successful operation netted six blues. My Promises Promises and Victoria Martocci notched dual victories, the Juvenile 15-17 followed by the Juvenile Championship for Windward Manor Farm. Also a two-time winner, Jenny’s Jezebel carried Beth Baker to the Ladies Amateur Mare title, followed by a Juvenile 12-14 win with Ashley Baker aboard, Pam Ingraham directed Gen’s That Kind Of Girl to the Two-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding victory, while Landrum himself won Aged Gelding honors aboard Pride’s Good Buddy.
Heaping Spoonful was the recipient of five Trainers’ Show blues. Trained by Wallace Brandon Stables, owned by Windward Manor Farms and ridden by Victoria Martocci, this versatile performer claimed his third consecutive Trainers’ Show Lite-Shod High Point Award.
In the Amateur Championship, it was Good Advice and Dru Magee earning the championship title for owners Bill and Ann Bailey. Topping the Amateur Specialty Championship was another Steve Aymett-trained team, Doc’s High Tribute and Brenda Wilson. This marked Doc’s amateur debut since claiming the title of 1988 World Grand Champion. This great stallion is the property of Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Putman. Hickory’s Top Gun and Patti Pollack Diamond were the winners of the Show Pleasure Championship for Bob and Wanda Pollack. Iron Works bested a strong field to be named Plantation Pleasure Grand Champion with Dick Myers riding for Betty Freeman. Rounding out the Championship winners was Pusher’s Twist About, the impressive winner of the Frances C. Gentry Ladies Specialty Championship with Judy Young riding for Grider and Young.
Another highlight of the 24th Annual Trainers’ Show was the retirement of many times champion Sweetpea. At the age of 23, Sweetpea and his trainer of 21 years, brought the crowd to its feet with an emotional farewell.