Skip to content

Lexington Jr. League - Thursday Evening




Thursday Evening

 

Late Thursday afternoon the sun finally began to peek out and kept the rain away for almost all the evening making the atmosphere perk up -- something many exhibitors love about Lexington.  The evening session began with three top entries in the Two-Year-Old Fine Harness.  Earning the blue ribbon was an entry from the Stonecroft breeding program.  The chestnut by Supreme Heir and out of Ring Girl lived up to his name as Stonecroft Ring Leader won the class with Nelson Green on the lines for Stonecroft Farm.  Reserve went to another Supreme Heir prodigy, The Decisive Moment.  Carter Cox for Charlotte Wrather piloted this bold moving black two-year-old.  Silver And Blue and Jim Taylor earned the strong third place with the crowd's applause.

 

Another driving class followed with the adults back to compete for the show pleasure driving grand champion title.  Stonecroft Farm continued to remain in the spotlight as they claimed the tricolor making it two in a row for the evening and also a sweep of the division with the performance from The Last Straw and John Scheidt.  CH Tamarack's Lightning Strikes moved up to the red ribbon with Tara Duff, marking the second year in a row they have earned the reserve grand champion title.

 

Manhattan's Irish Cream and Whitney Bennett were much of the talk of Thursday evening as Bennett had this young horse marching down the rail with tremendous motion in the Three-Gaited Pony Stake.  After a bold show they earned a unanimous trip to the winner's circle where Matt Shiflet greeted them.  Reserve honors went to the eye-catching team of Cloudsplitter and Olivia Weber. 

 

Winning the Limit Hackney Pony was Doc Sullivan with Larry Bacon on the lines for Gaye and Art Birtcher. Perfect Creation earned reserve with Anna Marie Knipp for the High Spirits Farm with a first place vote. 

 

Next up was the competitive over 35 show pleasure class with 17 set to compete.  Cards were split as the top three ribbon winners each earned a first place vote and when it was all said and done the blue ribbon went to First Night Vision and Kurt Antonacci for Debbie Hoffman.  Reserve honors went to Chemistry In Motion with Sally Kropp while Haunting and Sarah Russell earned the yellow streamers.

 

The junior exhibitors were back in the spotlight as they came to compete for their five-gaited championship title.  Sarah Longworth put CH Diamond's Hope in all the right spots as they boldly moved from gait to gait commanding the attention of the judges and crowd.  Longworth was determined and confident and the hard work paid off as number 266 was called to the winner's circle.  This pair is trained by the team at Cash Lovell Stables.  Reserve honors in this great class went to the winner of the 15-17 qualifier, CH Tigerlee and Ali DeGray.  This team proved their strength as they put in a strong performance in only their second show together.  A strong third went to another new team in their second show too.  The well matched team of The Party's Here and Kristen Koenig graciously accepted the yellow steamers under the direction of Nancy and Bill Becker.

 

With a change of pace the Limit Roadster Pony class was next on the Thursday evening agenda.  Winning the class with a unanimous vote was Fame's Fortune and Larry Ella for Adam Bovaird.  Reserve in this competitive class was Desert Fox with Josh Greer on the lines for Billie Rae Graham. 

 

The 35-and-under adults took center stage in the show pleasure class with 21 on the book to compete.  The flashy chestnut CH Uncle Abe and Piper Granger under the direction of Sugar Knoll were the winning combination in this competitive class.  The high-headed My Grande with Amanda Dellinger earned the red ribbon with a first place vote. 

 

It was a repeat performance for Just Special and Allison Combs as they returned to the winner's circle in the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited 14-and-Under Stake.  This year was their first time to perform at Lexington and it has been several years since Combs has exhibited here, but together they handled the ring like pros and ended up in the winner's circle to sweep the division.  The red ribbon went back to hang at La Fleur Van Ess Stables with the outstanding performance from Cheetah's Admiral and Faye Wuesthofen.

 

The evening continued with the three-year-olds entering the ring for their fine harness class.  Surfer Boy was magnificent as he earned the unanimous decision from the judges with George Knight on the lines for Georgia Baker.  Reserve honors went to Night Sight and Smith Lilly for Cedarledge Farm while Performing Nightly and Chad Graham earned top third for Rigby's Green.

 

With great skill Misdee Wrigley handled her team of four bay Hackney geldings to win the Four In Hand Coaching.  Reserve honors went to Elizabeth Lampton driving set from Hardscuffle. 

 

The tough five-gaited pony division showed next.  Last year Miss Outta My Way and Ivy Johnson newcomers but they were determined and at Lexington last year they took home the reserve championship title.  They showed earlier in the week and took home a prize but Thursday night their determination paid off and after having a great ride they patiently waited by the end gate as the cards were being tabulated.  Johnson just happened to be looking at the leader board when Miss Outta My Way appeared in bright lights. Finally, number 366 was called to the winner's circle unanimously and Johnson’s smile showed how proud she was. Reserve honors went to veteran pony CH Sammyshine with Cydni Simmons piloting this sharp pony under the direction of Tammy Devore. 

 

Sierra with Calvin Haughaboo at the lines was the next to make the trip to the winner's circle after an exhilarating performance in the Novice Roadster To Bike.  Incredible Dream and Doug Greenwood earned the red ribbon.

 

George Knight was back in the spotlight with Charming Babette.  This elegant bay by Periaptor has been very successful as a two-year-old and also earlier this year at Indianapolis in the harness division. Thursday night she showed her versatility in the three-gaited division with an impressive win for owner David Osborne and Barbara Partlow.  Lenore's Whoops There It Is and Matt Shiflet earned the red ribbon with a first place vote for Dorothy and John Lenore. 

 

Five entries came to compete in the Single Hackney Horse Championship.  Once again it was a one-two finish for the Elizabeth Goth/Reiser Stables entries.  Rudulph The Second and Chad Graham earned a unanimous trip to the winner's circle for Goth while Marspon Swan Songs and Chris Reiser received the reserve ribbon also for Goth. 

 

The speed demons of the driving world were up next competing for the Roadster To Wagon Championship.  Ashland and Mike Barlow continued their dominance in this division as they won the tricolor for Dr. and Mrs. Howard Six.  Reserve honors went to Revel Rouser and Les Cunningham.

 

Neon Dion and Mary Gaylord McClean were the winning team in the Limit Harness Pony with a strong performance.  With a first place vote Sweetheart Of Success and Larry Ella earned the red streamers for Bent Tree Farm.

 

The evening closed out with the performance from 16 three-year-old five-gaited entries.  Entering the ring first and with the crowd's applause Tre Lee expertly piloted According To Lynn through an outstanding performance.  With hat in hand in appreciation Lee took the Callaway's Born To Win-bred mare to the winner's circle for Golden Creek Farm.  Putting on a sporty performance Travel In Style and Don Harris won the red ribbon and one of the first place votes for Belcort Farm. Brookhill's King Of Kool and Tim Shea earned the yellow streamers.

More Stories

  • Letter To The Editor

    Dear Kentucky State Fair Board,

    My name is Melissa Moore; I am an American Saddlebred, Hackney and Roadster horse trainer. I am a second generation horse trainer whose family is deeply immersed in this equine industry and has been for over 75 years.  

    Read More
  • UPHA Office Moving

    UPHA is relocating to a new address. Kindly update your records with our new location. The postal address is P.O. Box 3728, Midway, KY 40347 and the physical address is 123 East Main St, Midway, KY 40347. Read More
  • From the Desk of Edward R. “Hoppy” Bennett

    Dear Members of The American Saddlebred Community, 

    As predicted, we have received pushback from various members of the Saddlebred industry, namely the American Saddlebred Horse & Breeders Association (ASHBA).  When we made our decision to replace the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) with Equine Sports Council (ESC), we were aware of and discussed this pushback and moved forward with the changes, knowingly.

    Read More
  • River Ridge Is USEF Lite Rated

    Barbara Dunham, manager of the River Ridge Charity Horse Show, announced that the show has been granted USEF Lite status for its April 24-27 event at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, Columbus, Ohio. Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    In response to recent developments surrounding the World's Championship Horse Show (WCHS), the American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) is pleased to announce the launch of a dedicated webpage to serve as a news hub for its members. This webpage will provide timely updates and information as the situation evolves. Read More
  • Morgan Grand National Update On New Coliseum

    The Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show is one step closer to the beginning of a new era as progress on the new state-of-the-art coliseum in Oklahoma City continues on schedule. Read More
  • Update On Citrus Cup Regional - New Venue and Dates For 2024

    Join in for fun in the sun at Citrus Cup at its new location, the fabulous World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, on April 24-27, 2024. Fay Lowry will be judging all main ring classes. The new revised class schedule includes classes for Morgans, Saddlebreds, Hackney, Harness Pony, Open breed, carriage, ranch riding, and dressage divisions. Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    Many of you received an email today from David Beck, President and CEO of Kentucky Venues, that indicates a decision has already been made by the Kentucky State Fair Board (KSFB) to change the governance of the World's Championship Horse Show from the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).  Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) is extending the National and National Amateur Futurity weanling nomination deadline until May 1, 2024... Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) has given the Kentucky State Fair Board (KSFB) notice to terminate its 1995 agreement with the KSFB to provide support to the World’s Championship Horse Show (WCHS). The termination notice was hand delivered to the KSFB on Friday, March 15. Read More