Shelby County Fair Heats Up in Shelbyville!
Monday, July 5, 2010
by Leeann Mione
SHELBYVILLE, Ky. – The 148th edition of the Shelby County Fair Horse Show took place once again at the Shelbyville Fairgrounds under the direction of manager R.H. Bennett and his capable staff.
The almost unbearable heat from Wednesday abated a bit Friday night, but was back with a vengeance Saturday evening. Despite that, the show hosted a bounty of former and current world’s champions all week and some really first rate competition.
Bennett, with show secretary Beth Snider, office assistant Sandy Backer, announcer Guy Shelburne, ring secretary Georgia Shelburne, organist Gene Wright, ringmaster Don Baker and in-gate manager Brad Noel kept the evening-only schedule moving quickly and the sessions were less than three hours long.
Official videographers Richfield Video and show farrier James Quiram rounded out the list of staff members who helped make the show a success.
Gene van der Walt took on the task of marking the cards each evening and he had a variety of divisions to evaluate.
This year, the Lawrenceburg show was held at the same time and with only approximately 25 miles between shows, exhibitors were able to go back and forth. Many exhibitors competed at Shelby County Fair Wednesday and Thursday evenings then headed to Lawrenceburg for the weekend.
In addition to a great schedule and always popular facility, the Shelby County Fair added some more incentives for owners, trainers and exhibitors to make the trip for a final tune up before Lexington or their next show.
The trainer of the winning entry in each class received $100 Trainer’s Purse, provided they had signed the entry blank as trainer and met the entry deadline of June 14th. With 72 classes offered, that’s a pretty nice chunk of change to give away and it got even better. Fifteen classes were selected for additional money as well. The trainer of the entry that placed sixth in those 15 classes also received $100.
The show closed Saturday night with the Five-Gaited Stake and six hardworking horses came through the gate in hopes of earning the tricolor.
Lakeview’s Rare-A-Phi and Sam Stafford, Callaway’s Bluesman and Redd Crabtree, Mike Spencer and Yippeekiyokiyey, Treasure The Warmth and Rob Byers, Callaway’s Champ Clark and Clark Clouse and Turquoise with Richmond DeHart made for a very entertaining class with teams jockeying for the best position on the rail and entries making great pass after great pass. When it was over, it was Spencer and Yippeekiyokiyey heading down victory lane for owner Minna Hankin. Crabtree and Callaway’s Bluesman were the reserve grand champions for Callaway Hills Stable.
Lynn Williams turned in a single and successful appearance for her return to the show ring with Mary Gaylord McClean. They won the ladies class for Golden Creek Farm under the direction of Premier.
Last Serenade was just one of the winning entries piloted by Vicki Reed. They put together the winning effort in the amateur stake. Bill and Kris Knight directed Reed and Serenade to their win. Shame On You and Lisa Holt were next in line for a ribbon with a solid performance under the direction of Biggins Stables.
Lauren Pope had the winning ride in the amateur qualifier. She took the victory pass on board Thunderstorm Warning under the direction of Tammy Devore.
Signature Stables was represented in the winner’s circle when Oom Pah Pah was called out as the victor in the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Stake. Anna Rogers-Daub claimed the tricolor for Robin Rogers.
Jennifer Alvis Fernambucq held summer camp and brought her campers to the show with instructions that they each had to get their own horse ready to show. They did a great job and helped Heathermoor Farm And Riding Academy have a successful week in Shelbyville. Heathermoor’s Ezekiel and Austen Waldron took the reserve grand championship title for Heathermoor Farm.
Ali Judah rode Stonecroft Rumor Has It to the blue in the qualifier and they brought their blue ribbon back to the Premier Stables tack room for owner Cynthia McWilliams. It would not be the last win for either Judah or McWilliams at the show.
Callaway’s No More Nice Guy topped a nice novice horse class of eight entries to take the victory pass with Neil Visser for Leatherwood Stud.
Visser was again in the winner’s circle when Elisabeth Goth’s Nuttin’ Doing topped the junior horse class which hosted a top group of four-year-olds.
Mike Felty rode Jumpin’ The Gun to the top of the card in the three-year-old class and I See Daylight closed out the gaited division with the win in the five-gaited pony class. Mitch Tunstall rode for owner Barbara Von Borries.
Hillside’s Sensation took the tricolor in the Three-Gaited Stake with Melissa Moore riding for Jennifer and Steve McGowan. Gossip Girl carried Ali Judah to another trip down victory lane when the mare was named the Ladies Three-Gaited Champion for Dr. Meg Knowles. Judah rode under the Visser Stables banner for the win.
Odyssey Mann turned in the winning performance with owner Terri Dolan on board to be named the Amateur Three-Gaited Grand Champion from Visser Stables. Callaway’s Blue Waltz won the amateur qualifier with Susan Olcott riding and returned to take the reserve streamers in the amateur stake under the direction of Premier Stables.
CH Nelmar Tango 4 Ever and Natalie Sams added another win to the Signature Stables total when van der Walt named them the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Grand Champions for Terry and Anne Sams. Walterway’s Valedictorian and Sasha Arijanto claimed the reserve tricolor showing from Heathermoor Farm.
Undulata’s Lost And Found won the qualifier for the junior exhibitor riders. Kelsey Hargadon rode to win for Theresa Hargadon and they were directed to the blue ribbon performance by Marilyn Macfarlane.
Buck Be A Lady won the novice horse class to put another checkmark in the win column for the Goth-Visser team.
Chris Reiser, with Hollywood Affair, and Tami Reiser, with Windgate’s Lady Lorraine, battled it out in the junior horse class and when it was over, Hollywood Affair was awarded the blue ribbon for owner Ed Rhoads.
Thunderstar and Darrell Case brought back the blue in the three-year-old class for owner Judith Swartz to add a win to the Willowbank Farm total.
Lionel Ferreira, showing for Riverdreams LLC, put I Want To Tango Too in the right spots to claim victory in the two-year-old class.
CH Lost Token and Ashley Biggins closed out the three-gaited division with their winning effort in the Three-Gaited Pony class.
Doctor Zhivago has successfully made the transition from the show pleasure driving division to the open park division this season and with trainer Dena Lopez up, he turned in yet another win for owner Maguire Hall LLC to be named the Park Grand Champion. Lopez had already taken the victory pass with Doctor Zhivago in the 13-entry open qualifier. Harlem Divine and Sam Stafford teamed up for owner Luci Nouwens to claim the reserve grand championship under the Kalarama Farm banner.
The amateur riders in the park division also faced a big group. Ten teams came through the gate in the amateur class, but in the end, none could top CH High Heat and Shawn Stachowski. Their blue ribbon added another win to the Sunrise Stables total.
Daniel Lockhart, also showing from Kalarama Farm, put New York Deliverance in the winner’s circle in the junior park class for owner Mrs. Paul Rice.
Cherished King and Mary Gaylord McClean turned in a powerful effort together to be named the Open Fine Harness Champions from Sunrise Stables. Dances On Air and Sharla Deuschle were the ones to beat in the amateur class and they were met by trainer Lindsay Lavery after their win.
Three Gables Cracklin’ Rosie, owned and bred by Sam and Vicki Reed’s Three Gables LLC, won the junior fine harness class with Bill Knight driving from Pleasantview Farm.
Front Row Frankie took the blue in the three-year-old class with Joan Lurie driving for co-owners Hallston Manor and Willowbank Farm.
I Shot The Sheriff took the final win in the fine harness division when van der Walt called out back number 398 was called out in first place. Andre van Shalwyk drove for Hylton and Allebaugh.
Show Me The Money swept the open road horse championship and qualifier with Rob Tanner and Jennifer Robertson drove Rum’s Last Shot to the blue in the amateur class from Infinity Stables. Tanner drove for Dale and Sally Williamson. Mommasbobalou and Mike Felty were the reserve grand champions for Benjamin Fisher.
Regal’s Lucifer LF and Regal’s Trademark LF added three more wins to the Golden Creek Farm total for the week in the roadster pony division. Tom Lowry drove Lucifer to the Roadster Pony Championship and open class wins and Mary Gaylord McClean drove Trademark to the amateur class win which was the largest class for the roadster ponies.
Heartland Flyaway and owner Robert Woodyard were the Roadster Pony Reserve Grand Champions.
Two more ponies added to the Golden Creek total as well. Mollie Kregor showed Prince’s Dreamweaver LF to the blue in the junior exhibitor class and Lowry drove Sis O’ Six to the top of the card in the junior class.
Rick McQuown cheered Paige McQuown on her victory pass with You Raise Me Up in the Roadster Pony Under Saddle class for the final blue in the roadster pony division.
Regal’s Pride and Karen Frickey have numerous wins to their credit, but in the open harness pony class, Frickey turned the lines over to trainer Randy Harper and he headed straight to the winner’s circle. Stablemate Art-O-Matic added another blue to the Frickey Farms total when owner David Swezey drove to the win in the amateur class which was an added class on the show schedule.
Heartland Elise and Mary Gaylord McClean took the victory pass in the open Hackney class and Classical Dancer won the amateur cobtail class with owner Kathy Buente driving under the direction of Lindsay Lavery.
Catch Me If You Can and Lauren Mathewson had a great career together in the roadster pony ranks and this year they have made the switch to the Hackney pleasure driving division with great success. Mathewson drove her pony to take the blue in the class for owner Karen Frickey.
Matthew Christopher Schuckert has big shoes to fill if his goal is to become a top pony trainer like his dad, but he got his show career started right when he drove Maybe, with a little help from his mom. Alicia Schuckert accompanied him in the Junior Exhibitor Hackney Pleasure Driving class on his way to the blue.
The pleasure classes were very deep at Shelby County Fair and in fact, the five-gaited pleasure class was the largest of the show with 18 entries.
Ten teams came back for the Five-Gaited Pleasure Championship and it was the multi-titled team of CH Full Spectrum and Martha Keck, showing from Premier Stables, named as the grand champions. Keck and CH Full Spectrum are spending the summer in Kentucky for the first time after many very successful years competing on the Pacific Coast Horse Show circuit under the direction of Dick Boettcher Stables.
Divine Renaissance and Ali Judah were right there to claim the reserve tricolor and were directed to their powerful performance by Neil Visser.
Suzanna Crews and The Decisive Moment were at the top of their game to win the Five-Gaited Pleasure qualifier and with 17 other teams in the ring, they had a big, tough field of competitors. Take It From The Top and Amy Dix Rock, from Premier, continued their successful season with the reserve tie in the huge class.
Born Ideal and Rob Tanner topped a competitive Open Park Pleasure class and took the victory pass for owner Aliyah Asch. James Orr’s entry Absolutely On Fire won the junior class that was also well filled and full of quality. Michael Buchanan rode for James Orr.
Not to be outdone, Jackie Tanner joined her husband Rob on the winner’s list when Ribbons In The Sky was named the victor in the Three-Year-Old Park Pleasure class for Joan Macfarlane.
The adult and junior exhibitor show pleasure riders had their own championships and qualifiers and all four classes were big and deep.
CH Lightnin’ Lil and Nicolle Beltz Tolliver bested the big group to take the victory pass in the adult championship under the direction of Biggins Stables. They came into the championship having already won the 11-entry qualifier.
CH Pas De Deux and Rosemarie Fernandez returned to the show ring together in their new division and they claimed the reserve grand championship tricolor showing from Premier Stables for Fernandez Family Trust.
Memories Of Us and Dakota Reiser definitely added to their memories of this season when they took the top prize in both the 11-entry junior exhibitor championship and equally as large qualifier under the Reiser Stables banner. Stonehedge Supreme Commander and Andrew Nadder teamed up to finish next in the ribbon count for Dr. Mary Reams. Morgan Chad Reiser directed the reserve grand champions.
The novice horse class full of talented teams and with 15 horses and riders making every effort to put themselves in the perfect spot, it was crowded indeed. Mighty Thor proved to be unstoppable on the way to the winner’s circle with Ali Judah riding to give Terri Dolan another win.
Six horses returned for the Show Pleasure Driving Championship and put on a great show after their even bigger 10-entry qualifier. Christine Broder and CH Callaway’s Halley’s Comet swept both classes under the direction of Ed Bennett. Broder drove for Split Decision LLC. Tart’s High Heels and Robin Rogers pressed hard and exited with the reserve tricolor under the direction of Signature Stables.
Alexa McWilliams was called upon to show She’s Gone in the Junior Exhibitor Show Pleasure Driving class and the girls took blue for Tri-Color Saddlebreds.
Vicki Reed’s great week continued when she and Firecracker Jack teamed up to win the 10-entry Adult Country Pleasure Championship. The win marked her second victory Friday night but this time it was under the direction of A.J. Bruwer. Rocky Bay and Catie Ray Clark were the first team out the gate when they were named the reserve grand champions for Jessica and Glen Carter. Wyatt DeHart met them at the out gate.
Clark and Rocky Bay had already won the second largest class of the show, the Adult Country Pleasure class with a strong performance.
Sir Andrew carried Dakota Reiser to two more victories at the fair for Reiser Stables. They won the Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure Championship after winning the 10-entry qualifier as well. Callaway’s Maverick and Caroline Skinner teamed up to take the reserve streamers in the championship for James and Judy Skinner under the direction of Biggins Stables.
Owner Debra Rateri and Kelsea Rookard have been taking turns showing The Bay Princess this season with great success and Shelby County Fair was no exception. Rookard drove to win the Country Pleasure Driving Championship and topped a good group for the win.
I’m A Somebody, owned by Dr. Robert Pugh, was reserve with Felicity van den Berg driving under the direction of Gerhardt Roos. The reserve grand champions already had the blue ribbon win from the qualifier to their credit from earlier in the week.
Chelsea Ruxer is all grown up and she teamed Samuel Charles to the Country Western Pleasure Championship title under the direction of Rob and Jackie Tanner. Snow Wonderful and co-owner David Bruce were next in the ribbon count for Bruce and LaPierre. Willie Angel and Dave Lopez added another win to the Double D Ranch total when they topped the Western Country Pleasure qualifier.
Madison Peyton Miller won the 17 and Under Equitation class and Delaney Webb won the UPHA Walk and Trot 10 and Under Challenge Cup and both riders hailed from Reiser Stables to add two more wins to their total.
Kate Melican claimed the UPHA Pleasure Challenge Cup win from Signature Stables and Alexa Stumler won the Pleasure Equitation class from Zubrod Stables. Also from Zubrod Stables, Maisie Benfield won the Walk and Trot Pleasure Horse or Pony class with Plumyumi.
The Friesian Walk/Trot/Canter class was added to Friday night’s session and that win went to Onne, with trainer Clarke Vesty, showing for owner Susan Swope.
The Shelby County Fair offers a great place with its relaxed schedule, great staff and fantastic level of competition to do your final tune up for Lexington or wherever you and your horses may be headed. Manager R.H. Bennett has fine-tuned his staff and horse show schedule to make it one of Kentucky’s most pleasant stops in June.
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