by Mark McGee
It was Red, White and Blue Ribbon Night for the second of three nights of world grand championship classes. The blue, red and yellow that make up the tri-colored world grand championship ribbon is the goals of all riders.
The traditional start of The Celebration began with Tim Brooks of the Christian Ministries Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas, offering the invocation. Ben Gulley, an opera singer from Kalamazoo, Michigan, presented a classic version of “The Star Spangled Banner” reminiscent of yesteryear. A world-renowned tenor, Gulley presented a rousing medley of patriotic song selections. Ronnie Spears and White Diamond Dollar presented the Stars and Stripes.
Competition kicked off with four of five programmed teams making it to the ring to compete for the Owner-Amateur Fine Harness World Grand Championship. It was the fourth world grand championship for owner-driver Ron Lawrence from Lenoir City. In Ted’s Image, the unanimous selection of the five-judge panel, has won the title in 2022, 2021 and 2020. He also has seven world championships on his resume. Bred by Lawrence, In Ted’s Image and Lawrence also won the Owner-Amateur Gentlemen Fine Harness class Monday night, along with Bill Callaway directing the champion to the Fine Harness title. The Blackstone and owner-driver Kelly Manis placed reserve, while Outlier was driven to third by Barbara Civils.
IB Smokin Joe and co-owner Tucker Johnson made the spotlight ride in the Owner-Amateur Youth All Day Pleasure World Grand Championship. Co-owned by Tanner Johnson of Shelbyville, it was the fourth world grand championship for IB Smokin Joe, but it was the first title win for Tucker. IB Smokin Joe also has eight world championships. The other world grand championship rides were earned in owner-amateur all day pleasure competition in 2023, 2022 and 2021 with Joel Johnson aboard. Betrayal, the 2023 youth world grand champion, placed second with Harper Grider in the irons for the Gassaway Estate. First Knight Out and co-owner Ally Jo Jacobs rode out with a yellow streamer for co-owner Riley Gregory. Twelve of 14 anticipated entries were in the ring.
Co-owner-rider Thom Meek and Lady Whistledown captured the Owner-Amateur Three & Under Country Pleasure World Grand Championship. Meek and Lady Whistledown earned the first place tie the first Thursday morning of The Celebration in the Owner-Amateur Two-Year-Old Country Pleasure class. Owners, Payne and Meek were the breeders of Lady Whistledown. Meek also had world grand championship rides in 2007 and 2003 with The Phantom Menace. Vivian was reserve for owner-rider Amanda Manis. Dead Beat Daddy was ridden to third by co-owner-rider Dennis Hills for co-owner Susan Hills. The class had perfect attendance with all 10 entries in the ring.
Clarabel Chugga Choo Choo was led to the Weanling World Grand Championship spotlight walk for MaKayla Kay Jennings from Jamestown. It was their third Celebration win this year with first place finishes in the National Futurity Spring Weanling Fillies and Weanling Fillies classes. Bred by Jennings, Clarabel Chugga Choo Choo is sired by Jimmy Choo out of Jose Rocking Lady. They have four blues in five classes this year. Reserve was Ah Ah Ah Choo with handler Lynn Womack for Dr. Roger Richards and Bobby Jones. Ah Ah Ah Choo is also sired by Jimmy Choo. Handler Leighanne Tibbs led Splash Of Blue to a yellow ribbon for The Tom Insell Family. Ten of 12 listed entries made the gate call.
Three entries made their appearance in the next class. Jalapeño and Joe Lester were hot in the ring and made the spotlight ride in the Three & Under Trail Pleasure World Grand Championship for owners Kimberly and Perry Walden of Shelbyville. The win came as a unanimous decision from the judging panel. Jalapeño and Lester won the Trail Pleasure Three-Year-Old class the first Wednesday morning of The Celebration. They are unbeaten in seven classes in 2024 with nine straight firsts dating back to 2023. Cat Dragon and Hannah Myatt rode to reserve honors for Dr. Jana Anderson. Daddy’s Dreamcatcher rounded out the third place spot with Keagan Meadows in the saddle for LeAnn Werner Osborn and Werco Equine.
Claiming the tri-colored ribbon and making the spotlight ride as the Two-Year-Old Mares World Grand Champion was Far Above Rubies with Thomas Derickson in the irons for owners Theresa and David Williams of Shelbyville. They were the unanimous choice of the judges. The team moved up from their reserve finish the first Thursday night in Section A of the Two-Year-Old Mares class. It was Derickson’s first ever world grand championship ride as a professional trainer. Reserve was Paraiso THF and Casey Wright for Rick Ferguson. Honoring Miss Dolly left the ring with a yellow streamer as Josh Wright was up for Sam Wilcoxen. Four of eight programmed entries made the gate call.
I’m Charlie Black CFF and Dr. Dalia Smith Harr made the spotlight ride in the Owner-Amateur Ponies World Grand Championship for Kenny Smith of Manchester, Kentucky. They were the unanimous winners. Dalia has made many world championship rides over her showring career, but this was her first world grand championship ride. They won the Owner-Amateur Ponies Mares & Geldings class Monday night, and are a perfect five-for-five in top finishes this show season. Reserve was Form A Line with Carole Baxter in the irons, while Bouje and Dr. Lynda Brogdon placed third. Eight of 10 anticipated entries competed.
In the next class, four of 11 listed entries made the gate call to vie for the Owner-Amateur World Grand Championship honors. Powerstroked By Jose’ and owner-rider Sister Milligan from Panama City, Florida, made a strong performance and had the crowd cheering them to victory. In her many years as an owner and rider, this was also the first ever world grand championship honor for Milligan. They were third in the Owner-Amateur 70 & Over class the first Friday night of The Celebration. Reserve was awarded to Honored In Texas with owner-rider Bob Adcock. The Iron Door and owner-rider Sarah Coffee Burks took a yellow ribbon home.
I Will Honor Thy Father and Kenny Compton walked out with the tri-colored ribbon and floral horseshoe after a spotlight ride in the Owner-Amateur 15.2 & Under World Grand Championship for owner Della Gay Compton from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They were the unanimous selection of the judges. They are three-for-three in top honors in 2024. The first Thursday night of the show they claimed the Owner-Amateur 15.2 & Under Stallions title. Patrick Mahomes and co-owner Paul Simmons rode to reserve for co-owner Tiffany Simmons. The third place streamer went to Bob Adcock and A Kingpin. Five of six planned entries competed.
It’s The Medalist and Eli Cunningham made their first ever spotlight ride as the Owner-Amateur Youth 6-11 World Grand Champions for Melissa Wilson and Brittany Cunningham from Shelbyville. They were reserve in the class last year. They have ridden to four top ribbons this year including the Owner-Amateur Youth 6-11 on Geldings the first Friday night of the show. I’m On Good Behavior and Mary Beech Alias were reserve for Alias Investments. Southern Attitude and owner-rider Levi Parker made the ride to third place. Eleven of 14 entries showed in the class.
In the Owner-Amateur Lite-Shod World Grand Championship, it was the duo of Roscoe Jenkins and owner-rider Susan Coleman once again unanimously capturing the victory. This marked their 11th spotlight ride. They retired The W.H. “Butch” Cauthen, Jr. Memorial Challenge Trophy. They also have 12 world championships and are undefeated in Celebration classes. Two Guns and Blake Cammack were reserve for Champion Stables. The Master Of Ceremonies captured the third place tie with Terry Moran in the saddle for Darnell and Moran. Five of seven anticipated entries were in the ring.
In the next class, 10 of 15 listed entries made it to “The Big Oval” to walk their way to the Owner-Amateur Show Pleasure World Grand Championship. The Honor Code and owner-rider Lisa Baum of Shelbyville took the spotlight ride. They were second the first Friday night of the show in the Owner-Amateur Ladies Show Pleasure class. They have four blues and a second this year. Cash Agenda and co-owner-rider Jimbo Conner were reserve for co-owner Kyle Hicks. I’m Moonlighting and owner-rider Stephanie Elliott carried away a yellow streamer.
Grateful Red and owner-rider Greg Kiser from Rosedale, Virginia, rode to the floral horseshoe, multi-colored ribbon and spotlight ride as the Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Old World Grand Champions. They have six blues in seven classes, including Section B of the Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallions class Tuesday night. Reserve honors went to Janice Fostek and Country As Cornbread. Aerosmith CL walked to the third place finish with Courtney Luttrell in the irons for the Luttrell and Conner partnership. Eleven of 14 programmed entries were in the class.
Checkpoint Charlie was ridden under the spotlight by co-owner-rider Harper Grider in the Owner-Amateur Youth Trail Pleasure World Grand Championship. Grider is from Columbia, Kentucky, Co-owners Tamara Hader and Jared Carrier are from Bainbridge, Georgia and Gallatin, respectively. It was the third class appearance for Checkpoint Charlie this Celebration. They were victorious the first Friday morning in the Owner-Amateur Youth 12-17 Western Trail Pleasure class. Checkpoint Charlie has eight blues and one reserve this year. Imagine Dragons was reserve with Caroline Stanley in the saddle, while Mr. Bentley and owner-rider Lakelyn Mathews picked up the third place finish. All nine program entries made the class.
Only one of eight entries made the gate call in the Four-Year-Old (Canter) World Grand Championship, much to the dismay of the fans who remained. My Addiction and R.M. Kellett made a great exhibition both ways of the ring to much support from the crown. They made the final spotlight ride of the night for Mr. and Mrs. Howard Eastridge from Columbia, Kentucky.
“We’re resilient and we are unified and we always find a way,” Mark Farrar said. “We will be back tomorrow night.”