Louisville - Wednesday Evening
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Wednesday Evening
The evening session began with the ladies and their five-gaited geldings and it was a class that was arguably one of the best of the show so far. The depth and talent of entries was incredible and the ladies rode hard every step of the way hoping to impress the panel.
Nineteen teams came through the gate and from the first step it was obvious that this was going to be great class. The panel worked them hard both directions and when the group lined up, it soon was clear that there would be a workout.
Ten entries were selected to go back out on the rail: CH Callaway’s Born To Win and Gayle Lampe, (SA) Carlswald Prince’s Dominoe with Wendy Troyer, My Teddy Bheir with Anne Judd, CH Chandler with Julie Anne Wroble, Courtier with Dena Lopez, CH Title Bound with Misdee Wrigley, Callaway’s Banner Headline with Janet Kellett, Red Flame Thrower with Theresa Vonderschmitt, Memorize with Melinda Moore and last year’s winner CH Walterway’s Remember Me with Ceil Wheeler.
The workout was in itself a great class and all 10 horses handled it well, even with the timeout to repair the night’s first thrown shoe. When the cards were turned in, it was Remember Me and Wheeler named to take the victory pass with a unanimous decision. Trainer Nelson Green saluted Kenneth Wheeler, Sr. as he ran to meet Ceil Wheeler for the presentation and her powerful gelding exited to a round of appreciative applause. CH Callaway’s Born To Win and Lampe were reserve followed by Carlswald Prince’s Dominoe, Courtier, Memorize, CH Chandler, Title Bound and My Teddy Bheir.
The ponies were next in the ring and the amateur ladies put on a great show with their harness ponies. Golden Creek earned the win in 2003, 2004 and 2005 with Joan Jett and this year, Mary Gaylord McClean went back to the winner’s circle but this time with Shake Don’t Stir with another unanimous decision from the panel. Vindicator and Karen Waldron took the reserve for Bent Tree Farm.
The Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding class was next and seven powerful entries put on a good show for the crowd. The four-time winner CH Callaway’s Copyright turned back all challengers to make it five years in a row for owner Fox Grape Farms with a unanimous win. John T. Jones drove the high-stepping gelding for the victory pass. Mike Barlow was behind In Bold Print for Melissa Scrushy and they pressed hard to finish with the reserve title to continue a great week for Buffalo Creek Farm.
The 14-17 Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Class was split into two divisions and the first section was next on the evening agenda. A huge group of elegant walk-trot horses came down the ramp and when they eventually settled in and got down to business, Kalarama’s Loose Lips took charge with Ali Judah riding for Joan Hamilton. Wildly Chic continued a great season with Shelby Reimer up for Marion Hutcheson and Happy Valley, and Reimer exited as the reserve world’s champion.
A trio of Hackney Ponies made an appearance in their stallion and gelding class but Nabucco, the reigning 2005 Hackney Pony World’s Grand Champion was unstoppable on his way to the winner’s circle as the stallion/gelding champion. On The Mark, with Karen Waldron driving, was reserve for Bent Tree Farm.
The Three-Gaited Over 15.2 Stake was one of the night’s most eagerly anticipated classes and it didn’t disappoint as reigning World’s Grand Champion Three-Gaited Manila Thrilla and current over 15.2 world’s champion CH Yes It’s True battled it out with five other competitive entries in a great class.
When results were announced, Todd Miles and Manila Thrilla headed for the presentation with a unanimous victory accompanied by a huge round of applause from the crowd. CH Yes It’s True and Sam Stafford also had lots of support from the crowd as they accepted the red ribbon for Pidgeon Roost Farm. Boston Legal and Tre Lee claimed the top-three finish for Belle Reve.
The ladies road horse to bike class featured a roster of not only top road horses but a who’s who of some of the industry’s most competitive women drivers. Melinda Moore and PTO continued their successful season by turning back all challengers for owners Bill and Debbie Tomin. The multi-titled world’s champion Braveheart was the reserve winner with Marilyn Macfarlane driving.
The three-year-old three-gaited horses had two sections and they showed back-to-back to continue a great night of world’s championship competition. Both sections were full of talented young horses and in section one it was the Designed daughter Gloria Vanderbilt, with an ecstatic Jim Lowry on board, named to take the victory pass for Wrapped In Rainbows Farm. Fay Lowry met her husband in center ring for the presentation. Burt Honaker was still riding high from his win Tuesday evening and he expertly piloted Callaway’s Born With Style (CH Callaway’s Born To Win x Callaway’s Sunshine And Clover) to the reserve tie for Callaway Hills Farm.
Section two also featured a great group and when Jackie Tanner’s number was called, it took a minute for it to sink in that Punch Baby had just been named the world’s champion. Sired by Periaptor and out of Let’s Get Phizzical, Punch Baby earned the blue for owners Sarah and Joe Benza. Callaway’s Connotation (CH Caramac x Callaway’s Anticipation) was right there in the mix to finish with the reserve ribbon in section two. Tre Lee rode for Belle Reve.
The open division for the 50 inches and under roadster ponies was the next class on the evening’s schedule. A big group of talented ponies made their way to the gate call and put on a great class. The world’s championship titles just kept on coming for Golden Creek Farm and Beaulah Jean was the unanimous winner with Jeff McClean driving. Desert Fox and Steve Demjen finished as the reserve world’s champions for owner Linda Park after a strong effort.
After a big stallion and gelding class, the Fine Harness Mare Stake was smaller in numbers with six entries. It certainly wasn’t smaller in talent and all six mares put on a great show. Along Came A Spider developed quite a fan club on the way to earning the mare victories in 2004 and 2005 and they showed their support as she headed to the winner’s circle to make it three years in a row for owner Georgia Baker. George Knight drove the flashy black mare to the unanimous victory. The Social Butterfly and Candy Hyman, directed by Grey Ridge Farm, finished in good order as the reserve champions.
From fine harness mares to five-gaited mares, the girls of the equine world just kept entertaining the crowd with exciting class after exciting class. The Ladies Five-Gaited Mare class saw seven hard working entries make the gate call and settle in to put on a good show. When the action stopped for a thrown shoe, everyone took a few minutes to regroup and get ready to start again. The class got back to order with one less entry. The lost shoe was unable to be replaced, and disappointingly Such Sweet Memories and Marion Hutcheson had to take the gate.
My Chanel, after suffering the same heartbreak last year in the championship class with Owen Weaver up, battled hard and never lost her momentum. They took the blue ribbon for Fox Grape Farms to make it two years in a row under the direction of Patty Milligan. Take Me Away and Mary Gaylord McClean also turned in a solid performance and they exited as the reserve world’s champions from Premier Stables.
Mary Gaylord McClean barely had time to take a breath before she was back in the ring with Romeo’s Miss Mariah LF in the Hackney Pony Mare class. The Golden Creek team faced a pair of competitors in the class but when it was all over, it was Miss Mariah named to head down victory lane. Former World’s Grand Champion Hackney Pony Fancy Ribbons was reserve with Randi Stuart Wightman driving under the direction of Walnut Way Farm.
Before the 14-17 junior exhibitors headed to the ring for the second section of their three-gaited class, there was a break in the action for a special presentation.
The 2006 World Cup Team USA, along with Three-Gaited Team Coach Renee Biggins, headed to center ring and received a huge ovation from the crowd. As part of the team’s fundraising efforts, a drawing for a $2,000 Carl Meyers gift certificate was held. Melanie Williams was called out as the winning ticket holder.
After the team left the ring, it was time for the junior exhibitors to head in for the second split with their walk-trot horses. As in the first section, this was a big, talented, deep field and everybody had to ride hard showcase their elegant mounts for the panel. CH Blackberry Delight, with a bounty of world’s titles to his credit in numerous divisions, paraded to the presentation area with Rachel Machamer after they were named the unanimous champions from Hollow Haven. I’m Bewitched and Rachel Singer, showing from Jack Magill Stables, turned in the reserve world’s championship performance.
One of the evening’s most-anticipated classes, the Five-Gaited Gelding Stake, was finally here and the crowd was ready for a great show. Eleven geldings came through the gate and each was met by a roar from the crowd upon arrival. As the class progressed, it became a battle worthy of a grand finale and great pass after great pass brought more and more excitement from the crowd.
In an unbelievable turn of events, suddenly the action stopped as Smith Lilly faced yet another thrown shoe with an early crowd favorite He’s The Man, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Shires and Allison Combs. As in Monday night’s Junior Five-Gaited Stallion/Gelding section two class, Lilly had to hope that the shoe could be replaced successfully. Luckily it was and the flashy gelding continued to garner crowd support as he paraded down the straightaway.
Just as things got started again, yet another shoe came off but this time the results were far different. The Echo Of Thunder, partnered with trainer Merrill Murray for just over a month and the recent winner of Shelbyville’s Five-Gaited Championship, was forced to exit the ring as the shoe was unable to be replaced. For the second time Wednesday night, a legitimate campaigner was forced to end their hopes for a Louisville title due to a thrown shoe.
Once again the action started and all 10 horses worked hard to get right back in stride, including reigning World’s Grand Champion Five-Gaited Five O’ Clock with Todd Miles. Jean and Chris Nalley’s powerful gelding had also earned his share of crowd support and the crowd made it clear he was also one of their favorites.
The panel did not call for a workout and when the results were announced it was Smith Lilly and He’s The Man named to take the victory pass. This time Lilly was able to ride out to a huge ovation from the crowd.
Five O’ Clock and Miles finished with the reserve and their great team effort was acknowledged by the crowd as they left the ring. CH Breaking News and Peter Cowart took the yellow ribbon for owner Megan McClure who had already had a pretty good day in the amateur park division. Beringer Red and Jenny Taylor, Colonel Hoss and Clark Clouse, Love Bite with Mike Benn, All American Guy with Ricky Cook and Grand Revival with Desiree DeVries rounded out the ribbons to close out a great night of competition in Freedom Hall.
This concludes the highlights of Wednesday night’s session. Complete results can be seen and searched by clicking on SHOW RESULTS.
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