By Britney Brown

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. –Tonight was the first full night of world grand championship classes. It was also dubbed Throwback Thursday, where spectators and exhibitors alike celebrated the rich history of this great breed. They especially commemorated Betty Sain, the first female trainer to win a World Grand Championship exactly 60 years ago. Mark Farrar announced the arrival of Fruit Jar Alley and Ronnie Spears bearing the flag at precisely 7 o’clock. Dr. Tim Brooks of Christian Ministries Church of Hot Springs, Arkansas, said the invocation. Thereafter Presley Campbell of Eagleville sang the national anthem. Steve Buttleman sounded the bugle for the opening class.

The first of 14 world grand championships on the agenda for Thursday evening was Owner-Amateur Park Pleasure, class 165. Five horse-and-rider teams came down the hill and took to the rail under the direction of Scotty Brooks. In first on the judges’ cards was three-time World Champion Mr. Patron and Becca Tate, up for Janson Patterson and Heritage Farms of Meridianville, Alabama. In 2026, Mr. Patron had blues at Walking In The Smokies and the Fayetteville Blue Ribbon Show, as well as winning both his qualifying classes Monday morning and Wednesday morning. This was the first spotlight ride for horse and rider. In reserve on the cards was two-time World Champion The Holy Roller and Caroline Elliott Allen, the owner and up. They were winners at the Money Tree Classic this year. The third-place ribbon was awarded to seven-time World Champion Dixie’s Legacy and Sister Milligan, the owner and rider.

Class 166 brought 11 entries to compete for the roses in Owner-Amateur Youth All Day Pleasure class. Finley Reed spun the wheel determining that Rollie Beard would call the class. All the youth riders made excellent shows. However, in the end, World Champion Failure To Appear rode under the spotlight with Walker Manis aboard for Manis and Pope of Shelbyville. This was Walker’s first spotlight ride in the Big Oval. They add a world grand championship to their titles after a year of victories at the PWHAT Fun Show, WHTA National Trainers’ Show, TWHYA Summer Splash and Wartrace. Coming to an impressive reserve finish was two-time World Champion Trend Setter with Vivian Woodruff in the irons for Emily Woodruff. Their show season wins this year were at the Shelbyville Tennis Club, as well as winning their preliminaries on Wednesday morning and Saturday morning. Wearing the gold streamer for Joe Lester was the team of three-time World Champion Peligro Dinero with Lexi Smith riding.

The call came for class 167, Owner-Amateur Novice World Grand Championship. Colson Kelly spun the wheel to determine the call judge. Judge Brooks called the class of 24 entries as they each vied for their very first Celebration spotlight ride. This large class had riders fighting to get a good spot on the rail. There was a workout, in fact, because the class was so deep. After much competition, it was Spring Fun Show winner and Friday night Novice World Champion, Longing For Honors with owner Pia Broccard of Shelbyville in the irons who wore the floral horseshoe by unanimous choice. Reserve in the good class was awarded to Slim Power and owner Chuck Ramsey. The duo has had a successful year thus far with wins at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Marshall County Horseman’s Association and their qualifying World Championship class on Saturday night. Finally, third on the cards was Dixie Memorial with Tammy Barclay, the owner and up.

Class 168 was next on the evening’s agenda, Elite Owner-Amateur World Grand Championship. Mike Inman spun the wheel, determining that Judge Beard would call the class. Twelve entries answered the gate call and got underway on the rail at a flat walk. These riders’ ages were only indicative of their skill. In the end, two-time World Champion and now two-time World Grand Champion Kobe 24 made the victory pass under the spotlight by unanimous choice, with owner Jimbo Conner of Sevierville in the irons. This world grand championship rounds out a year of wins at the Spring Fun Show and Waynesville Charity Horse Show. Taking home reserve for Bob and Deb Adcock was four-time World Champion and three-time World Grand Champion Born A Maverick, with Bob Adcock riding. They had a successful 2026 show season with wins at the Spring Extravaganza and the Columbia Spring Jubilee. Walking to a third-place finish was World Champion and World Grand Champion Powerstroked By Jose and Sister Milligan, the owner and up. 

The next World Grand Champion would be crowned in class 169, Owner-Amateur Youth Ponies. The wheel determined that Chad Williams would be the call judge, and the bugle call brought nine entries down the hill to contend for the roses. These young riders made a vivacious show to the delight of spectators. Out of the lineup came World Champion Beach Bum Bruce with Shane Smith making the spotlight ride for Robert Deutsch and Shane Smith of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Mt. Vernon, Kentucky. They earned this victory after wins this year at the Slick Conner Memorial, Derby Classic, KWHA Juvenile Auxiliary, Owingsville Lions Club and CKRHA Kentucky State Championship. They had their first world championship ride on Sunday in the Owner-Amateur Youth 15-17 Ponies class. Second, in the good class went to two-time World Champion Switchblade FSS with Ally Jo Jacobs riding the entry of LaRue McWaters and Ally Jo Jacobs. They had a successful year with blues at the FAST Spring Showcase, Columbia Spring Jubilee and Woodbury Lions Club. Third on the cards was three-time World Champion and World Grand Champion I Am March Madness, with Ryder Wright up for himself and Debbie Woods. 

Class 170 was the Owner-Amateur Two-Year-Old World Grand Championship. Charles MacDonald spun the wheel to determine the call judge. The bugle sounded and 15 entries answered the gate call, getting underway at a flat walk under the direction of Judge Sorrell. J Brantley played “As the Caissons Go Rolling Along” as they took a deep seat and showed their horses at a running walk. In the end the Thursday evening Owner-Amateur Two-Year-Old Section B World Champion, Ol’ Tooter Rooskie, and owner Kenny Compton of Tazewell, Virginia, walked their way into the winner’s circle to wear the tricolor ribbon. Sired by Honors and out of City Girl’s Dream, Ol’ Tooter Rooskie was reserve in the Prodigy this year. Slick Rick 3A and Ashley Rea finished reserve in the good class for Jeanne Ann Rea. They won this year at the TWHYA Summer Splash. Wearing the gold streamer for Floyd and Caryl Sherman was Unique, with owner Caryl Sherman in the irons.

Next, class 171, Amateur Owned & Trained World Grand Championship made their way into the ring. This class was the inaugural world grand championship for this division. Fifteen entries took to the rail at a flat walk, with Judge Brooks calling the class. Each of these owners had dedicated a lot of time and resources into their mounts, strengthening the horse-and-rider bond between them. Wearing the tricolor ribbon and floral wreath was World Champion A Poor Man’s Gold and owner Paul Robbins in the irons of Rutherfordton, North Carolina. A Poor Man’s Gold won in 2026 at Walking In The Smokies, NCWHA Spring, the Smoky Mountain Classic, East Tennessee Classic, Waynesville Charity Horse Show and Marshall County Horseman’s Association. This team also walked to their first world championship on Sunday in their qualifying class. Reserve award in the class was presented to two-time World Champion and World Grand Champion I’m Senor Copperfield and KJ Compton, up for DGC Enterprises and Rick Compton Sr. Their show season saw blues at the Smoky Mountain Classic and WHTA Fireworks & Freedom, as well as a world championship on Sunday night in their qualifying class. Finishing out in third was Commonwealth Attorney and Kenny Smith, the owner and up.  

After this, T Wayne Williams, of Woodbury, Tennessee, made an exhibition ride aboard four-time World Champion and two-time World Grand Champion Mr. Bentley. He wore the official blue jacket of the FFA. He was an active horse judging competitor and has now become a state FFA Officer. He was presented with a commemorative ribbon, recognizing his accomplishments in the National FFA. Carrying himself with dedication, humility and excellence, he represented the Tennessee Walking Horse industry on a national scale.

Owner-Amateur Youth Show Pleasure World Grand Championship, class 172, was next on the program for the evening featuring 12 entries. These young riders displayed excellent horsemanship as they found a spot on the rail. The spotlight found World Champion and World Grand Champion The Comanche with Harlynn Lorance in the irons for Harper Lorance of Murfreesboro. Sired by Jose’ Jose’, The Comanche had wins in 2026 at the Columbia Spring Jubilee and Heart Of A Champion, as well as winning their qualifying world championship on Saturday night. It was The Comanche’s second spotlight ride and Harlynns’ first. Walking to a reserve finish was two-time World Champion and World Grand Champion Well Armed American and Reese Abernathy, the owner and up. Their show season included wins at the Mid-South Horse Show Association, Spring Fun Show, TWHYA Summer Splash and Woodbury Lions Club. Wearing the yellow streamer for the Jacobs Family was World Champion Tee Time Charlie and Ally Jo Jacobs. 

Class 173 was the Owner-Amateur Park Performance World Grand Championship. The bugle sounded and Curt Cobb spun the wheel to determine the call judge. Sixteen entries answered the gate call, as Judge Williams called the gaits in the class. Wearing the tricolor ribbon in the good class was eight-time World Champion and now seven-time World Grand Champion A Touche’ and Jannie Chapman, the owner and up of Red Banks, Mississippi. In 2026, they had blue ribbons at the Marshall County Horseman’s Association and their qualifying class on Tuesday. The reserve honors were presented to two-time World Champion Hello Handsome with owner Hensley Hammond in the irons. Their 2026 wins included the FAST Spring Showcase and their qualifying youth class on Sunday. Third on the cards was the team of Mayor Bill and Kim Lewis for George and Kim Lewis.
After this, the legendary Betty Sain returned to the show ring for a final ride in the Big Oval, commemorating her win on Shaker’s Shocker, 60 years ago. Emmett Guy was the announcer in 1966, but tonight Mark Farrar announced number 35 back into the ring. In 1966, at just 23 years old, Betty Sain became the first woman to ever enter the World Grand Championship. Not only did she enter the big stake, but she won the class on Shaker’s Shocker in front of 23,000 fans. She had been showing since 1962, with one of her other horses Merry Boy Traveler. One unique thing about Sain is that she trained all her horses personally: breeding, raising, breaking, riding and ultimately showing them successfully. She is still the youngest woman to have won The Celebration to date. Sain has been such a popular figure in horse show history that she received the Sports Illustrated Award of Merit. She has inspired generations of horsewomen. She made her last spotlight ride here on Thursday night in a buggy pulled by Outta Sight prepared for exhibition by White Farms and driven by Rex Nance. On this Thursday night, she was honored for her great efforts and the monumental moves she made for women in this amazing breed. Now in Bedford County, September 3rd has officially been declared Betty Sain day. J French Brantley sent her out to the “Tennessee Waltz” under the spotlight.

Greg Shumaker spun the wheel to determine the call judge for the following class. The Walking Mares & Geldings Specialty, class 174, was next on the program, with seven entries answering the gate call. They got underway at a flat walk under the direction of Judge Williams. This was the inaugural world grand championship in this division for mares and geldings. Earning their way to that first world grand championship in this class for owner Shirley Vandygriff of Madisonville, Kentucky, was He’s Walking In Dixie and Lake Weaver. He’s Walking In Dixie is a two-time world champion with 2026 career wins at the Heart O’ Dixie Spring Showcase and the Spring Extravaganza. The crimson streamer was awarded to the team of World Champion Lethal Ambition with Ryan Blackburn in the irons for the Salt Lick Farm and Elese Lewis. This year, Lethal Ambition won at Walking In The Smokies, the Come-Unity Cooperative Care, Spring Fun Show and Owingsville Lions Club, as well as winning their qualifier world championship on Sunday night. Finishing in third for Maria Bobo was five-time World Champion She’s Lined With Love 4G and Thomas Derickson.

Class 175 brought the Owner-Amateur Five-Year-Old horses to compete for the floral horseshoe. Charles Cush spun the wheel, determining that Sam Sorrell would be call judge. Ten entries answered the gate call and competed fiercely for the world grand championship title. In the end, it was by unanimous selection that that great honor went to two-time World Champion Straight Republican with owner Kelly Manis of Laurinburg, North Carolina. They had a successful show season, undefeated at Walking In The Smokies, the Spring Fun Show and the Money Tree Classic, as well as a world championship in their qualifier on Monday evening. In reserve on the judges’ cards was World Champion 8 Mile SWF and Nathan Oliver, up for Darrell Oliver. 8 Mile SWF had a year of blues at Walking For Cancer and WHTA Fireworks & Freedom. Finally, wearing the gold streamer home was two-time World Champion Charblackwood and Jimbo Conner, the owner and up.

The Owner-Amateur Trail Pleasure World Grand Championship, class 176 was next to the ring. Thirteen entries answered the gate call. Judge Williams called the class as exciting competition ensued. Walking out of the lineup to receive the tricolor ribbon and floral horseshoe was Cha Cha Ching SF and Jordan Howell, riding the Janet Howell entry of Murfreesboro. Cha Cha Ching SF is a three-time world champion and now a three-time world grand champion, winning this year at the Money Tree Classic, as well as winning her preliminary on Thursday morning. Finishing in reserve was eight-time World Champion and seven-time World Grand Champion Machete with owner Susan Coleman in the irons. Machete won in 2026 at Walking In The Smokies and the Money Tree Classic, as well as his preliminary on Wednesday morning. Receiving the third award in the good class was the team of 14-time World Champion and five-time World Grand Champion Blacklist and owner Jane Pirolo.

Then, the call came for class 177, Owner-Amateur Show Pleasure Five & Under. Walker Manis spun the wheel to determine that Judge Williams would call the class. Steve Buttleman sounded the bugle, and 13 entries answered the gate call. After much deliberation, the horses went to the lineup. Wearing the tricolor ribbon for Deb and Bob Adcock was A Brother’s Honor and Bob Adcock. This was the first spotlight ride for A Brother’s Honor. He was bred by Wink and Nancy Groover, sired by Honors and out of Chips & Salsa. Reserve in the class was presented to The Back 9 and Patti Pollack up for Silver Spur Legacy LLC. This Reserve World Grand Championship was the show ring debut for The Back 9. Earning the gold streamer was Your Attention Pleeze and Kent McGary, the owner and up.

Class 178 was the last class of the evening, the long awaited Three-Year-Old World Grand Championship. Excitement filled the stands and the crowds watched in suspense as 10 entries answered the gate call. J Brantley welcomed the contenders to the ring playing “All Shook Up.” Judge Sorrel called the class as they got underway and each found a good spot on the rail at a flat walk. In the end, wearing the roses back to Decatur and Arab, Alabama, and McMinnville, Tennessee, for Holland, Clark and Hale, it was Rival and Tim Smith. Winning in 2026 at the FAST Spring Showcase, the Columbia Spring Jubilee and the Money Tree Classic, Rival is already a two-time world champion, winning that second title in his qualifying class on Friday evening. Sired by Justified Honors and out of Preakness Winner, Rival was bred by Travis Hale. Finishing in reserve was two-time World Champion and World Grand Champion Sho-Time, with Casey Wright in the irons for Joe Barnes and Bob Kilgore. Sho-Time had wins this season at the Spring Fun Show and the Red Carpet Show of the South, in addition to winning his qualifying world championship class on Friday evening. Honor Him and Gary Edwards walked their way to a third award for Rhonda Major and Gloria Warr. 

With that, the events of Throwback Thursday and Betty Sain Day were concluded. The first full night of world grand championships was in the books. Everyone retired for the night, though sleep was not guaranteed in light of the excitement still palpable in the air. The next evening would be Patriotic Night at The Celebration, and the stands would soon fill with red, white and blue.