Easing into the final daytime session of the World’s Championship Horse Show, the Hackney Pleasure Driving Championship came to the ring first. Making a return trip to the winner’s circle, Heartland King Of Kings was the first number called and the last to leave with Joanne Weiner. The return trip had been a while in coming, as his last engagement had been as a three-year-old as the 2003 Harness Pony World’s Grand Champion. Directed by Bill Tomin and joined in the ring by Debbie Tomin and Julie DeVault, Joanne Weiner cried those wonderful tears of joy as she was overcome with tri-color emotion. They were reserve in their qualifier, just as they had been in 2006, their first trip to Freedom Hall together. Another one that is no stranger to the winner’s circle here, One More Time and Anna Marie Knipp made one of their best performances since their win in this class in 2004. They were the proud recipients of the reserve tri-color after also placing reserve in their qualifier. A qualifier winner, Heartland Breaking News was third with Kay Marschel, while Wait & See’s Raspberry was fourth with Donna Beck.
Winner of the Senior Equitation World’s Championship last year, Ellen Medley Wright was the winner of the Kentucky Riders Equitation 14-17 class. Ellen Medley displayed that form that has carried her to so much equitation success. Eleanor Watkins and Worthy I Am were reserve under the direction of Zubrod Stables. Mollie Kregor rounded out the top three in this one.
Move over Dolly Parton and Reba McIntire, there is a new Queen of Country. Crowned in a coronation ceremony in Freedom Hall, Peter Fenton sent Nancy Anderson out on her victory pass, dubbing her "the Queen of Country."This of course was in the Country Pleasure Driving Championship, where Nancy Anderson and CH Callaway’s Pretty Penny won their seventh consecutive World’s Championship tri-color. A true "superhorse," Pretty Penny is always consistent and consistently brilliant to boot. Directed for the entire time by Andy and Lynda Freseth, this team just keeps on going, year after year. They have redefined the division, without question. Ali DeGray let her flaming red hair flow free beneath her hat, as she drove Harlem’s Worldly Lady to reserve. Mom Helen Rosburg had been at the lines for reserve in the qualifier, two fantastic performances by these two fantastic ladies. Stonecroft Tanqueray and John Scheidt earned the yellow ribbon in third for Stonecroft Farm, also a repeat of their qualifier position and possibly their best drive of the year.
Talk about a team that has really come together this year, CH New York Style and Ben Ferreby were crowned the 14-17 Three-Gaited Show Pleasure World’s Champions. They started putting the puzzle pieces together heading into the offseason with two wins at ASHAV. After the long winter, there were Championship performances at Bonnie Blue, Rock Creek, and Lexington Junior League. After a solid show in the qualifier on Monday that led to a Reserve World’s Championship, Ferreby, New York Style, and the Walnut Way team were ready to roll today. Big and powerful but moving effortlessly down the rail, the chestnut gelding by Local Hero headed to the winner’s circle with Marilyn Macfarlane and Beth Nevitt in tow. Mom Sandy Ferreby was standing and cheering in the stands, screaming, "He won!" A horse that has bumped into New York Style a lot this season with about even results, Got No Shame was the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions. With Rachel Machamer aboard for Jeff and Kelly Williamson and BRK Equestrian LLC, Got No Shame was a qualifier World’s Champion earlier in the week. The other qualifier winner, CH Ninety-Eight Degrees, was third with Katherine Randall up for Brookdale Farm.
John Scheidt had a busy morning, as he transitioned from two wheels and a Saddlebred to four wheels and a Hackney pony. The transition was no problem for Scheidt, as he and Nobu topped the Junior Harness Pony Championship by a unanimous choice of the judges. Named of course after the world famous Japanese restaurants, Nobu is a delicacy in his own right. Four-Year-Old Harness Pony World’s Champion on Tuesday, he was back for more today under the direction of Majestic Oaks. Another one-name wonder, Spencer was reserve for Randy Harper and Frickey Farms with a comeback performance. He is by Dun-Haven Celebrity and out of Magic In The Air.
In her final year in the Junior ranks, Belle Owen broke through as the Junior Equitation World’s Champion of Champions after finishing reserve a year ago. Riding Chanti’s Prayer, Belle was her usual stellar self on the rail and capped it off with a precise pattern. Hunter Chancellor was aboard Heir’s Encore in this one as the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions. She was also reserve in the 13-Year-Old qualifier. She was third in this class a year ago. Abby Mutrux finished up in third aboard Blackboard, causing Peter Fenton to refer to DeLovely as the "Equitation Station" as they completed a top-three sweep. Gavin Gagnon rounded out the top four spots under the direction of Fairfield South. Gavin is the lone 12-year-old rider of this top four.
In the 14-17 Country Pleasure Championship, it was another young man taking on the predominantly female cast of competitors to take top honors. Sir Andrew and Dakota Reiser certainly picked the right moment to come up with their best class of the year. With dad Chris Reiser directing, Dakota and Sir Andrew kept getting seen in this big class and made the most of those opportunities. They picked up steam as the class rolled along, finishing strong in this deep field to be crowned World’s Champions. Callaway’s Maverick and Caroline Skinner, qualifier winners here last year, were reserve today. Bright chestnut and full of charisma, Maverick is by Harlem’s Hot Dice and out of a Will Shriver mare. Kabu and Ashley Baird, World’s Champions in the younger age group in 2006 and reserve in their qualifier this year, were third for MBA Equestrians. Also a former World’s Champion, Sing My Song and Kristen Smith were fourth with a nice go.
It was a battle of the qualifier winners in the Adult Country Pleasure Championship, as League Of Nations and Tremendously Charming duked it out. With his high-riding, go-forward style, League Of Nations got the nod from all three judges with Carol Hillenbrand up. They were second in this class just a year ago after winning their qualifier. John Conatser once again made that slow and easy jog to the winner’s circle. It is incredibly important to have a good jockey aboard, especially in a big class. It is tough to find one better than Kathy Capsuto Walker. She guided Tremendously Charming to the Reserve World’s Championship, keeping him in top form through all of the traffic and incidents that come with having that many horses in one ring. Two time Reserve World’s Champions in their qualifier here, CH Riva Diva and Donna Finch had their best championship performance of all time, taking third back to High Caliber Stables. They were Lexington Champions just last month. The Bourne Supremacy and Sarah Luft finished up in fourth after taking reserve in their qualifying go, while Jessie Cole and Amanda Dellinger took fifth.
It has probably happened before, but nonetheless it is an incredible feat for one young rider to win two World’s Champion of Champions titles on back to back days with full brothers. Last night, it was Jessica Wuesthofen with She’s My Desire BH in the 13-and-Under Three-Gaited Championship. Today, she was back with CH Brookhill’s King Of Kool, also by CH Harlem Town and out of CH It’s A Beautiful Day. Wearing her silvery gray day coat, Jessie kept the big chestnut with that quirky, off-kilter white stripe on his face in great position all class long to earn the approval of all three judges as the 13-and-Under Three-Gaited Show Pleasure World’s Champion of Champions. It has been a great week for the Wuesthofen girls and Glenmore Farm. Winners of their qualifier on Tuesday, The Majestic and Maya Manilow were reserve today. Kenny and Donna Smith directed this even bigger chestnut and his rider. The Majestic is by Supreme Heir, one of three in the top five of this class by the grand stallion. Second of the Supreme Heirs and third in the class, Supreme Spotlight earned the yellow ribbon for Ashley Bryce and Bryce Heritage Investments LLC. Cagle James and CH My Grande picked up fourth. They were reserve in this class last year as well as their qualifier this year.
It was back to back wins for CH Harlem Town, as Mirror Me was called out atop the ASR National Three-Year-Old Park Pleasure Futurity Finals. By Harlem Town, this fixy chestnut gelding is out of CH Times Mirrored ERB. With just the slightest trace of white on his face, he has just the one white coronet on his left hind foot. Times Mirrored had absolutely no markings whatsoever. The name begins to make even more sense! Times Mirrored of course was a World’s Champion both in three-gaited and fine harness in her stellar career. Mirror Me carried on the family tradition as both of his parents are of the highest quality show stock, World’s Champions multiple times. Nelson Green did the honors today aboard this colt that he himself owns. Flashy and flaxen in reserve, Guy From Vegas and Kristen Bagdasarian picked up a nice-sized check with a very nice go. By Callaway’s Guy Park, Guy From Vegas is out of Callaway’s Vegas Lights. The Mirror Me name may have been a bit more difficult to figure out. Vegas Lights is a half sister to CH Advantage Me and Red Hot Chili Pepper. Jet black with his pretty blonde owner and rider, The Agateer earned third today for sire Periaptor and dam Callaway’s Little Dipper. Little Dipper, a World’s Champion herself is a full sister to Adelita and more importantly to this story, Callaway’s Blue Agate. That is where this name comes from, "aunt" Blue Agate, owned by Tracy’s good friend, Carol Hillenbrand. The fourth place finisher was ridden by Beth Nevitt for Mike Felty and Marcia Sisco. He is by Sir William Robert and out of a CH Buck Rogers mare. His name? Sir William Rogers…
Both of the top two in the Roadster Under Saddle Championship sported blue and white silks with red trim, but it was all a blur anyway as they both really turned it on and let loose, gunning for the World’s Championship. Taking most of 2008 off, Where Are We Now is back in top form for Dr. Brian Garrett. Not only is he back to his old self, he looks plenty ready to keep on rockin’. So true in his corners and so square down the rail, this rather fine bay gelding was lucky he didn’t have wings, because there would have been liftoff as he blew down victory lane as the World’s Champion of Champions. Repeating their finish from a year ago, Suzanne Crabtree and Despite It All were reserve for Barbara Watts. They were reserve in the Open qualifier after winning it in 2008.
Pedro Martinez certainly had good zip on his fastball and great control today as he guided the winner of the Three-Year-Old Fine Harness Mare class down victory lane for the second year in a row. Last year, it was Magical Promises as the World’s Champion. This year, it was a beautiful bay filly named Emmy Night that wore the blue for Blythewood. By CF First Night Out, she is out of a Mountain Highland Memories mare. Catalyst Merry Lee, another of the not quite inventive names, is by Catalyst and out of Albelarm Merry Lee. A fancy flaxen filly, her second dam is CH Miss Lillie O’Lee, a longtime star and Reserve World’s Champion in the gaited ranks. Lewis Meadows was at the lines of this one for Joseph Crum and Elizabeth Johnson. Purchased at Tattersalls as part of the Callaway Hills consignment last fall, Callaway’s Lilly Blue was third for Debbie Foley and Tillman Stables. Lilly Blue is by Callaway’s Blue Norther and out of CH Lilly Black.
Driving for the Holt Oaks Farm, Tyler Miles got the job done with Kentucky Hot Brown in the 14-17 Road Pony Championship. From her position on the rail behind the line, Lesley Miles threw her hands straight up in the air and cheered as Tyler’s number was called. Todd Miles was heading this Majestic Oaks-trained pony. He and Rich Campbell both stayed in for Tyler’s round of honor, but Todd was the one that got the hug for Maureen Campbell at the gate! Tyler put on a clinic in this one, getting everything that great pony had to give. A star in the making, Heartland River Dance was the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions with Joe Harrod driving for Susan Harrod. By Dun-Haven Awesome Creation and out of a Dun-Haven Bandolier mare, River Dance is now hitting the show ring under the direction of Joe’s uncle, Rodney Hicks. Boogity Boogity and Shannon Ella were third for Ashlyn Farms, also directed by Rich and Mo Campbell.
With the unanimous acclaim of the judges, the Section One winner of the Three-Year-Old Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding class was HS Dignitary. Another of the great ones out of CH A Daydream Believer, he is by Sir William Robert. Daydream Believer was a harness winner here as a two-year-old, as was Sir William Robert. Robert would of course follow that up with a three-year-old win the following year. Dignitary is a chestnut gelding with all sorts of white trim. He has a wide stripe that fits him perfectly as he marches around the ring. George Knight made his always-entertaining harness display for the Hagan Saddlebreds, highlining off the rail and heading to the winner’s circle. Todd Graham continued a good week, if slightly interesting at times like yesterday’s freak line break incident with his two-year-old. He was the Reserve World’s Champion here with Just Out Of Reach for Melvin Blankenship. By The Foxx Man, a son of Sultan’s Starmaker, he is out of an Heir To Champagne mare. Platinum Moon, a Reserve World’s Champion in harness last year, was third with Larry Hodge at the lines. He is a full brother to CH Gone Platinum, by Periaptor and out of Harlem’s Moondance. Harlem In New York looks to be a very special youngster. By CH Harlem Town and out of an I’m A New Yorker mare, he was shown to fourth by owner Tim Shea.
Floating and four-cornered, Lass’s First Tango wowed the crowd with his athleticism and beauty for Steve Crabtree and owner Austin P. Waggoner II. The first foal of the Adriatic mare, The First Lass, he is by The Spanish Tango, a son of Arborlane Tangos Wee Pee. He certainly put on a show today, throwing those legs away and snapping his hocks just like his grandsire. Chestnut with plenty of chrome, First Tango will certainly be asked to dance again on the green shavings one day. Daniel Lockhart drove New York Deliverance to reserve for Mrs. Paul Rice. By Kalarama Cabernet, he is out of Katie Lynn, a Harlem Globetrotter mare. His second dam is Co-Ed’s Leading Lady, many times a World’s Champion in harness and a producer of World’s Champions as well, as she is in the Broodmare Hall of Fame. A bright chestnut with a lighter tail, Roselane’s Ready To Jet was third for Mike Roberts and owner Frank Cook. He is by Buck’s Co-Star and out of a Callaway’s Blue Norther mare.
Camille Cowart threw down the gauntlet from the very beginning of the Junior Exhibitor Park Championship. She brought Justa Rascal down the chute and absolutely blasted down the first rail as one of the very first to hit the show ring. Boom, boom, boom went all three pens to pads, as all three judges marked her number down at the top of their cards. It was an eye opener for certain. Her intentions were made crystal clear from the get go. Her number stayed at the top of all three cards all class long, and Peter and Kim Cowart made the run to the winner’s circle along with Jackie Ware. Just 11 years old, CH Justa Rascal seems like he has been around forever, since he has always been at or near the top of his division. The consummate park horse, it is fitting that he is the first ever Junior Exhibitor Park World’s Champion of Champions. Andy and Lynda Freseth saw an opportunity to create a fantastic new team when this division was added to the Louisville program. They purchased CH First Class Heir for Brianna Meyer of the Brown Anderson Farms and set them on the path to this moment. They captured the reserve tri-color today, making that high style show that they have been making all year long. It is a great picture and fun to watch. Jay Wood had his junior exhibitor superstar, Breanna Lukan, primed and ready to go aboard his Paper Princess JJW. The homebred former harness World’s Champion was third today among the all-star contenders.
Ronnie Graham and Bud Light repeated as the Roadster Pony to Wagon winners for James and Helen Rosburg. "Doctor Graham," as he was called by Peter Fenton, was of course wearing the business suit and hat of choice called for in the class specifications. Nashville Cat and Holli McDowell were reserve for Charlotte Goodman and Lisa McMackin. Holli was radiant in black and white to match her pony.
With 18 answering the call in the Park Championship, it was anybody’s game. The class devolved into a bit of a free-for-all, as these Park classes can sometimes do, but there were four real standouts that kept their cool and kept making pass after pass stating their case to be the World’s Champions. Jim Cherry and Brookhill’s Periday, winners of this class last year, were at the top of their game again this afternoon. Big Man On Campus, always a crowd pleaser with his surreal headset and big front end, was in and working in that picturesque show horse style for Walden Bullard. Master And Commander, the Stallion/Gelding qualifier winner, was making an absolutely beautiful show for Maria Gilman. And CH Ya-Ya was up to her usual antics, putting it all on the line as few show horses can. Normally not a loud guy, Dave Lopez was yelling encouragement from over the rail as they turned for home. "Come on, Dena! Keep her steppin’!" he called over the rail as the bay mare strutted by with Dena Lopez aboard. Step she did. She stepped onto the biggest stage and took on the best in the business to come away with the Park World’s Championship. It has been a long trip to victory lane in this event for Ya-Ya and Dena Lopez, along with owners Elizabeth Shatner and Dorothy Anderson. Their first attempt came in 2005, and they have been in there every year since. The past two years, when this mare has really come into her own and fully matured as a show horse, they were Park Mare World’s Champions. They accomplished that feat yet again this year, and then broke through that glass ceiling to grab that tri-color. Maria Gilman and Master And Commander were the Reserve World’s Champions for Barbara Woods, up one spot from their finish last year. Big Man On Campus finished third again today, as he had in the qualifier for Walden Bullard and Hagan Saddlebreds. The crowd showed their appreciation on his way out of Freedom Hall. Brookhill’s Periday and Jim Cherry also repeated their qualifier placing, taking fourth. Tom Hanks and A.J. Bruwer, who got a first-place vote in their Stallion/Gelding qualifier, were fifth for MBA Equestrians.