by Mark McGee

Wind was blowing, and rain began pounding down a couple of hours before the start to the final night of the 86th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration

Lance Bennett, of Fairlane Church of Christ, offered the invocation. The Voices of Lee University from Cleveland, Tennessee, presented a beautiful, multi-layered a cappella performance of “The Star Spangled Banner”. Ronnie Spears, presenting the Stars and Stripes aboard White Diamond Dollar, also celebrated the 50th anniversary of his first world grand championship ride aboard Another Masterpiece in 1974.

After a massive participation in the Stick Horse class, announcer Farrar, who read all 141 names, took a deep breath and called for the Owner-Amateur Three & Under Trail Pleasure World Grand Championship to open the 14-class finale. All six programmed entries made the gate call. Cha Cha Ching SF, with Jordan Howell in the saddle, made the trip to victory lane under the spotlight for Janet Howell of Murfreesboro. Janet is not only the owner, but the breeder of the champion. Cha Cha Ching and Jordan have three blues and one second this year, including top honors in the Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Old Trail Pleasure class the first Thursday morning of The Celebration. Rosalitta and owner-rider Ashley Wadsworth received reserve honors. She Is Unbelievable and owner-rider Darrell Collins claimed the third place tie.

It was a repeat world grand championship spotlight ride for Gomez and Amber Zahnd in the Park Pleasure World Grand Championship. Brock Wampler is the proud owner and breeder of Gomez. The winning duo were the unanimous choice of the five-judge panel, and added this win to their Western Park Pleasure victory they claimed the first Wednesday night of the show. They are three-for-three in 2024. He’s A Dixieland Delight was reserve with Jeff Laughlin riding for Vickie Penick. One Special Poison and Jonathan Baskin took home a yellow ribbon for owners Shockey and Nipper. Five of eight listed entries participated in the class.

Shipwrecked and co-owner-rider Dr. Shana Hughes made the spotlight ride in the Owner-Amateur Four & Five-Year-Old Country Pleasure World Grand Championship for the second year in a row. They were the unanimous selection of the judges. The duo added this to their Owner-Amateur Five-Year-Old Country Pleasure World Championship captured Monday morning. In 2022, they picked up their first of three floral horseshoes and tri-colored ribbons in the Owner-Amateur Three & Under Country Pleasure World Grand Championship. They are undefeated in five classes this show season and have 15 straight blue ribbons dating back to 2022. Crypto was ridden to reserve honors by Kaitlyn Rippy for owner Andy Rippy. A Knightime Menace and co-owner Vickie Moore placed third for co-owner Vince Moore. All eight anticipated entries showed. 

Nine of 17 planned entries participated in the Owner-Amateur Youth 12-17 World Grand Championship. Jose’s Vindicator and Caroline Wesley Way of Ralph, Alabama, rode under the spotlight for the Blaylock and Way partnership. It was her first ever world grand championship. Charlie’s Ritzy Lady and owner-rider Johnathan Lawwell rode to reserve honors, while Time To Be Glamorous THF and owner-rider Carly Cagle brought home a yellow ribbon.

Kong was the king of the Show Pleasure World Grand Championship class making the spotlight ride with Tyler Baucom aboard for Allyson Armstrong of Hickory, North Carolina. They were the unanimous pick of the judges. Kong and Armstrong were the Owner-Amateur Show Pleasure World Grand Champions in 2023. YS Fly Like An Eagle flew to reserve with Lake Weaver in the saddle for Ben Moss and Ron Carney. Zdangzewicz, with John Allan Callaway in the irons for Dr. Robert Watkins, was third. Nine of 10 anticipated entries performed. 

Dru McCormick of Shelbyville and TN Lineman wore the floral horseshoe and took home the multi-colored ribbon in the Owner-Amateur Mares & Geldings World Grand Championship. Co-owners are Marbry and McCormick. It was their first ever world grand championship as a team, and they earned the title as the unanimous choice of the judges. This win was added to their Owner-Amateur 15.2 & Under Mares & Geldings victory the captured Tuesday night. In 2021, Mickey McCormick rode TN Lineman to the Open Specialty World Grand Championship. Uptight Jose and co-owner Bruce MacDonald were reserve for co-owner Robin MacDonald. My Honey Bee and Taylor Walters buzzed to third for The Molly Walters Family. Sixteen of 17 programmed entries made the gate call.

Blacklist made it three world grand championships in a row in the Trail Pleasure class with Carrie DeJarnatte aboard for owner, Jane Pirolo from Franklin. Blacklist may have been the only horse in the class, but he still put on an impressive performance. DeJarnatte and Blacklist were first Tuesday in the Trail Pleasure class. Pirolo was reserve Thursday night in the Owner-Amateur Trail Pleasure World Grand Championship. Blacklist has four world grand championship titles and 12 world championships on his resume. 

Next to the ring were five of seven listed entries in the Park Performance World Grand Championship. “Wanted” THF and Patrick Thomas made the spotlight ride for Manis and Pope in the Park Performance World Grand Championship. They are undefeated in five classes this year, including the Park Performance World Championship victory they captured Tuesday night. I’m A Proud American was reserve this year with Michael Wright in the saddle for Bill Williams. Praise And Honor, the winner in 2023 and 2022, was ridden to third by Jeff Laughlin for Doris Penick.

Luciano and owner-rider LaMar DePoyster from Greenville, Kentucky, added to the success of their first show season together with a world grand championship ride in the Owner-Amateur Country Pleasure class. Luciano is unbeaten in four classes this season including the Owner-Amateur Western Country Pleasure World Championship Monday night. Luciano has three previous world grand championships with two in Owner-Amateur Youth Trail Pleasure class in 2023 and 2021, and the Owner-Amateur Trail Pleasure class 2020. GiGi’s Majestic was ridden to reserve by Elysse Bradford for William Bradford. Jose’s Twist Of Gin and Patti Pollack rode out with a yellow streamer for Silver Spur Legacy LLC. Eight of nine planned entries made the gate call. 

Thirteen of 16 anticipated entries vied for the top honors in the popular Two-Year-Old World Grand Championship. Shoulda Been A Cowboy was called to make the spotlight ride with Sam Martin in the irons for Caryl and Floyd Sherman of Shelbyville. They were the unanimous selection of the judges. Martin and Shoulda Been A Cowboy captured the first place tie Monday night in Section A of the Two-Year-Old Stallions class. They are undefeated in four classes in 2024. General Thomas J. Jackson and Michael Wright were reserve for Shannon and Ed Cotter. Cowboy Can was ridden to a third place award by Joseph Goldman for Sabrina and Terry Mathews.

Gunsmith wore the floral horseshoe and tri-colored ribbon with rider David Sisk in the Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old World Grand Championship for Linda Sisk from Columbia, Tennessee. The duo was the unanimous choice of the judges. They won the blue ribbon in the Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old Stallions earlier in the show. In five classes in 2024, they have four firsts and one reserve. Sweet Black Gin and co-owner-rider Lorraine Rosbury were reserve for co-owner Keith Rosbury. Miss Annie Rose and co-owner-rider Danny Hicks were third for co-owner Kathy Hicks. Seven of nine planned entries competed.

Millionaire’s Row made the spotlight trip down victory lane with Bill Callaway in the irons for Jackie Greenwalt of Brownsville, Kentucky, in the Open Specialty World Grand Championship that hosted eight entries. The duo won the 15.2 & Under Stallions World Championship Monday night, and are three-for-three in wins this year. Warbird, winner in 2023 and 2021, was reserve with Ryan Blackburn on board for Ginger Williams. Tua MCF was ridden to third place by Tim Smith for Lorraine and Keith Rosbury. 

Only one of three scheduled entries made the gate call in the Owner-Amateur (Canter) World Grand Championship. A Big Honor and co-owner-rider Dr. David Bullock of Mount Vernon, Kentucky, rode to his first ever world grand championship for the partnership of Hopper and Bullock. They were second in the Owner-Amateur Stallions (Canter) class Tuesday night. The champions exited the ring to a standing ovation from the crowd.

The time had finally come for the final class of the 11-day show. It was announced that four horse and rider teams would be coming to the ring to compete for the top title in all of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. Ring announcer Mark Farrar, who is also executive director of the Tennessee Walking Horses Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA), encouraged the crowd to support not only the world grand championship contenders, but The Celebration and the industry.

Each team was called to the ring in numeric order to cheers and applause be their individual fan bases. After going both ways of the ring, the teams were called in for conformation judging. Then, it was time to re-saddle the contenders and take them back on the rail for one final workout so the judges and the crowd could pick out their favorites.

Following great performances by each team, the spotlight searched for the 2024 World Grand Champion. As #814 was called out, the spotlight stopped on the team of Cavender and Tim Smith, and then followed them around as they rode under the spotlight for the ultimate title. They were the unanimous choice of the judging panel for proud owners Bruce and Robin MacDonald. It was not only Smith’s first ever win in “The Big Stake”, it was his first world grand championship victory ever. What a world grand championship to win! They added this win to their Section A victory in the Five & Over Stallions World Championship the previous Saturday.
Cavender was the Four-Year-Old World Grand Champion in 2023, and the Three-Year-Old World Grand Champion in 2022; both years with Knox Blackburn riding.

The Reserve World Grand Championship honors went to A Great Honor with Dan Waddell riding for Chavigny Beasley. Twisted With Honors, with Tyler Baucom aboard for Allyson Armstrong, placed third.
All three of the top ties were sired by Honors.