by Debbie Graham
MARTIN, Tenn. - The 10th annual Weakley County Walking and Racking Horse Classic was held April 3, 2004, at the West Tennessee Agricultural Pavilion on the campus of The University of Tennessee at Martin. The show was sponsored by the Weakley County Rescue Squad, an all volunteer non-profit organization which provides many forms of emergency and rescue services in Weakley County. The squad is celebrating its 30th year of service. Proceeds from the horse show will be used to help purchase a new rescue vehicle that will enable the squad to provide quicker and safer responses to the citizens of Weakley County.
Ben Kail judged the walking classes that drew over 200 entries.
To begin the evening, Stage Fright claimed back to back blues for the weekend with a win in the Two-Year-Old Open class with Shane Vaughn directing for Stan Wilcoxen.
In a hotly contested Ladies Amateur Specialty class of 15 entries, Heart Attack’s Fast Beat and Beth Carol Thomas made the victory pass in a new division for Butch and Jane Thomas.
Big Time Pusher and William B. Johnson turned in a winning performance to claim the Amateur Specialty title for William B. and Sandra Johnson.
Jubilee’s Awesome Dream claimed a second blue for the weekend with Jeff Sanderson directing for Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Sapp.
In field of 14 talented Youth contenders, The Hotline and Benjamin Bowen were winners for Larry and Pam Russell. Paris Hilton claimed a second Martin blue with Debbie Williams riding in the Two-Year-Old Amateur division for Mark and Debbie Williams.
Pride’s Flapjack and Lillian Gaines were in the winner’s circle at the conclusion of the Open Amateur class for Mr. and Mrs. L.H. Gaines.
Star’s Triple Charge and Kay Thompson won a highly competitive Amateur Show Pleasure class loaded with 14 talented entries for Tony and Kay Thompson.
The Three-Year-Old Amateur division was another large class with 12 top entries. I’m PT 109 and Stan Wilcoxen sailed to the winner’s circle to claim PT 109's second title of the weekend.
Jim Nichols received two Four-Year-Old Amateur titles at Martin with back to back blues riding Hard 2 Change for Jim and Debbie Nichols.
The Amateur Owned and Trained class was led by Stormy’s Black Rain and Summer Sullivan for the Jim Sullivan family. This was Sullivan’s second blue of the weekend.
In the Spotted Saddle Horse class, Bonnie Coble was thrilled to accept the blue riding Straw Man for Richard and Susan Davis. Jazzing Papa and Sarah Coble were winners in the Amateur Park Pleasure class for Robert and Lisa Marbry. C.K.’S Mystery and Jackie McKnight were Country Pleasure champions for both the Friday and Saturday night events.
Claiming his second tricolor ribbon for the weekend was Jimmy McConnell riding Doc Ty in the Walking Horse Stake for Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Tanner.
Complete results from the Weakley County Walking and Racking Classic follow and can also be found on our web site at www.walkinghorsereport.com.