Rain doesn’t interrupt a night dominated by in hand classes

By Britney Brown

The Celebration represents timeless tradition, revered with much pomp and circumstance. Smooth from dragging, the show ring would soon be filled with hoofprints. The first night in the Big Oval is always characterized by both excitement and trepidation. Afternoon showers dissipated just in time for the show to start at 7 PM on Wednesday night, with 16 classes scheduled. Mark Farrar announced the flag horse, White Diamond Dollar, ridden by Vicki Self. The invocation was given by Steve Murphree of the New Beginnings Baptist Church. It was followed by Stephanie Nash singing the National Anthem. Then it was time to call the first class into the ring.
Class 14 was the first on the program, Weanling Colts National Futurity, Foaled Spring 2025. Judge Campbell was the call judge as 10 of 12 entries were led into the lineup, head to tail on the west rail. Rain kicked up for a moment, but the handlers and colts never faltered. The team of Tampa Bay W and Amanda Wright, for the George Wright family, wore the blue ribbon in the championship class. Tampa Bay W is sired by Walk Time Charlie and out of a Master Of Jazz mare. Reserve in the class went to The Heir Apparent and Lynn Womack for owners and breeders Bobby Jones and Dr. Roger Richards. Sired by Justified Honors and out of an I Am Jose’ mare, this young horse already boasts four wins from the International in July. The Baum Diggity and Robert Nelms walked out with third in the good class, for Beth Beasley. 

The next gate call was for Class 15, Owner-Amateur Two-Year-Old Trail Pleasure. Many of the 13 horses entered in the class were former Maiden contenders, now with their owners taking the reins. Robert Cortner was the call judge as they took to the rail. After much deliberation, Mark Farrar called the back number of Tony V and Emma Carter for Karen Doss and Emma Carter of Minford, Ohio. Tony V is sired by Omaha. Reserve in the class went to After Shock and Danielle van der Hoeven of Werribe, Victoria, Australia. They took fifth runner up in The Maiden earlier this year. Finally, Dragon King and Kaitlyn Rippy were awarded third place honors for Andy Rippy. 
Owner-Amateur Five & Under Park Performance, class 16, denoted the third class of the evening. Competitors flat walked down the chute, fueled by the excitement of the Wednesday night crowd. Twelve of 16 entries answered the gate call where Judge Grider called the class as they circled the Big Oval. In the end, it was Feeling Tipsy and Kyndra Myers for Sherry Roberts of Van Buren, Missouri, who received the blue ribbon, neck ribbon and victory pass. Sired by Jose’ Jose’, Feeling Tipsy has had wins this year at the Columbia Spring Jubilee and Walking For The Angels. Second place was awarded to Limbaugh with Jannie Chapman up. Limbaugh has won blues this year at the FAST Spring Showcase, TWHYA Summer Splash and Marshall County Horseman’s Association. Carrying out the third-place award was The Red Dragon with owner/rider Anne Evans in the irons.

Class 17 showcased the Weanling Fillies National Futurity, Foaled Spring 2025. This crop of nine youngsters made names for themselves as they walked around the ring and were then lined up head-to-tail on the west side. Though the rain peppered down, the competition continued. J French Brantley, horse show organist, played the doleful tunes of “Old Man River” as the judges went from filly to filly. They were by some of the best sires in the industry, from Jimmy Choo to Justified Honors, to Marty McFly. However, it was Justa Hookup, sired by Justified Honors out of a Dixie Lineman mare, who was invited to the winner’s circle, with Robert Nelms at the head. Janson Patterson is the proud owner and breeder of this fine filly who has had wins at both Christmas In July and The International. Reserve world campion honors were handed to Time To Shine W, by Walk Time Charlie and out of a Master Of Jazz mare, led by handler Amanda Wright for The George Wright Family. The third-place award went to I’m Miss High And Mighty and Margerite Sims for Kyle and Shanell Bryleith-Bridger. 
Western Park Pleasure, Class 18, turned up the heat next. Five of seven entries answered the gate call with Chris Bobo as the call judge. The wet track only offered better footing for this talented group of horses. As the rain continued to pour, He’s A Dixieland Delight was awarded an exciting, unanimous first place blue with Jeff Laughlin in the irons for Jannie Chapman and Julianne Laughlin. He’s A Dixieland Delight has an impressive show career, with blues at the Celebration in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 and now 2025. He also won at Christmas In July earlier this season. Reserve in the good class was the talented team of Late Night At The Ritz and Patrick Thomas for Lisa Baum. A Stormy Night In Dixie and Laurie Toone walked out with the yellow streamer.

Class 19 was the next to enter the ring, Owner-Amateur Two & Three-Year-Old All Day Pleasure. Horse and rider teams continued to stream into the ring long after time ran out on the clock. This class included Futurity nominated Two and Three-Year-Old All-Day Pleasure Mares, Geldings & Stallions. Judge Campbell was the call judge as the 16 entries took to the rail. With such a dense class, the cheers came from every direction. The team of Villainous and Andy Stooksberry walked their way to a first-place tie. This follows a successful show year for this team with blue ribbons at the Spring Extravaganza, Spring Fun Show and Let Freedom Ring. Villainous is sired by Lined With Cash and out of a Jose’ Jose’ mare. Second in the good class was Shady In Blue, sired by He’s Slim Shady, and Maggie Moore for Stan Kuykendall and Maggie Moore. Aleena’s Dixie Shockwave and Kaitlyn Rippy rode to third for Louis Lane and Kaitlyn Rippy. 

Class 20 switched up the program with Yearling Fillies National Futurity, Foaled Spring 2024. All six entries came down the chute. These youngsters were not strangers to the show ring, however. After lining up head-to-tail on the west side, the back number of Clarabel Chugga Choo Choo and Robert Nelms were announced, taking home the blue for owner and breeder MaKayla Jennings. Clarabel Chugga Choo Choo, the unanimous choice of the judging panel, is sired by Jimmy Choo and out of a Jose’ Jose’ mare. They received two wins this year at The International and were undefeated last year at the Celebration taking the coveted spotlight stroll to be named the Weanling World Grand Champions. Second in the good class was presented to Strip Tease RW with Marty Warren at the head for owners Steve and Denise Smith. Sired by Justified Honors and out of a Lined With Cash mare, this filly won at the Petersburg Colt Show this year. Third place honors went to Say It Ain’t So and Chase Williams for Char Johnson.

Class 21 saw Owner-Amateur Five & Under Show Pleasure contenders coming down the chute. Nineteen of 27 entries made the gate call for the good class. Judge Grider called the massive class. Only one horse could place first, though, and each entry strode with everything they had. The final tie placed Charlie’s My Pa Pa and Chad Adams first for Vaught and Adams of Watertown, Tennessee, and Goldsboro, North Carolina. This was the first Celebration blue for the stallion, sired by Walk Time Charlie and out of a Whole Nine Yards mare. This win was the culmination of a successful show season with blues at The FAST Spring Showcase, WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Spring Fun Show, Walking For The Angels and Let Freedom Ring. Second in the class was Your Attention Pleeze with Kent McGary of Nashville in the irons. Southern Soul and Gail Walling came out with the yellow streamer in the class.

The call came for Class 22, Weanling Colts & Fillies National Futurity, Foaled Fall 2024. After walking both ways, the class of five entries lined up head-to-tail along the west rail. This class also sported a range of sires, from The Dixie Lineman to Honors to Walk Time Charlie. In the end, it was Bit Of Honey and owner/handler Claire Hankins-Kincade who took the blue. Sired by Walk Time Charlie and out of A Greater Generator mare, Bit Of Honey boasts wins at the Owingsville Lions Club earlier this year. Second in the class, walking out with the crimson streamer, was He’s Bunker Buster and Karen McGee for Charles Gleghorn of Petersburg. He’s Bunker Buster is sired by Honors and out of a Lined With Cash mare. Walking to third was Hootie Hoo and Beverly Carter for Bowden and Nelms. 

Excitement filled the ring when Class 23 was called. The Four-Year-Old Mares & Geldings (Canter) class came into the ring with Chris Bobo as the call judge. Six of eight entries made the gate call. It was the team of Gimme A Redneck Girl and Sam Martin for WGC Gimme Girl LLC of Wartrace earning the victory pass. This dynamic horse won the Two-Year-Old World Grand Championship in 2023 with Jimmy McConnell; in 2024, she rode to a Three-Year-Old Mares World Championship with Sam Martin. Taking the reserve was Spring Extravaganza and Christmas In July winner, Sir With Honor, ridden by Dan Waddell for Taylor LeGate of Petersburg. Coming in third was the successful team of Ladies Privilege THF and Thomas Derickson for Star Catcher Farms. 
Class 24, Yearling Colts National Futurity, Foaled Spring 2024, was next. Judge Campbell called the good class of seven entries. This class of big colts made for stiff competition as the rain continued to hold. After lining up on the west rail, the world champion honor went to Dizzy Dean RW with Marty Warren handling for Steve and Denise Smith. Dizzy Dean RW is sired by Walk Time Charlie and out of a He’s Puttin’ On The Ritz mare. He had previous wins this year at the Cornersville Lions Club and the Marshall County Horseman’s Association. Wearing the reserve ribbon in the class was the horse and handler team of Cold Justice LL and Robert Nelms for Jamie Noe of College Grove. Sired by Justified Honors and out of a Watch It Now mare, this colt was a world champion in the Owner-Amateur Weanlings class at the 2024 Celebration. Third place went to the team of Ah Ah Ah Choo and Roger Richards Jr. for Bobby Jones and Dr. Roger Richards, who were also the breeders. 
Class 25 was the Amateur Owned & Trained Country Pleasure contenders. For 2025, it was He Is Forrest Gump who took first place in the class of eight with Whitlei Burks aboard for Burks and Martin of Shelbyville and Lynchburg. He Is Forrest Gump is a veteran to the show ring, winning a world championship in the Youth Country Pleasure in 2022. Second place in the class went to two-time world grand champion Stapleton and Maggie Moore for Maggie Moore and Jim Leek of Christiana. Third in the class was awarded to the team of Sabotage and Andy Stooksberry.

Owner-Amateur Mares& Geldings (Canter), class 26, was next for the night. With only a few more classes to go, these four entries persevered as they vied for that coveted first-place tie. Taking home the blue streamer and neck ribbon unanimously in the class was Honor My Country, ridden by Stephanie White for Toni White of Fernandina, Florida. They’ve had wins this year at the WHTA Trainers’ Show, Spring Fun Show and Walking For The Angels. They were also world champions in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The second place award in the class went to 2021 world champion, A Dixie General and Laura Mauney. In the third-place seat was Charlie Paycheck ridden by owner Steve McLaurin. 

Class 27 featured aged riders with young attitudes. Of the 16 entries in the Elite Owner-Amateur Gentleman on Mares & Geldings, 13 made the gate call. Judge Sisk called the class that was full of veteran winners from previous Celebrations. Only one could take the world championship position though, and that privilege went to 15.2 & Under World Champion from 2024, My Brother In Arms, this time with Todd Jackson aboard. Owned by Todd and Shanna Jackson of Monroe, Georgia, this year My Brother In Arms has had wins at the Spring Extravaganza, Belfast Lions Club and Christmas In July shows. Reserve in the class was awarded to Google.com and Rodney Stanfill for Ronnie Stanfill of Lexington, Tennessee, winning previously this year with Judy Stanfill at the Columbia Spring Jubilee and Walking For Cancer shows. Wearing the yellow streamer in the good class was Paranormal and Ty Irby. 

Yearling Fillies & Colts National Futurity, Foaled Fall 2023 comprised class 28 on the program, and consisted of three entries. Judge Bobo called the good class, having the handlers park their older yearlings out on the west side. The class concluded with Rhythm Nation and Robert Nelms making the victory pass for Janson Patterson. Sired by Justified Honors and out of a Push U Over mare, Rhythm Nation wass bred by Patterson and Bridges. This colt is undefeated this show season with wins at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Spring Fun Show, Christmas In July and Let Freedom Ring. Second was Mona Lisa Mona Lisa with Chris Richards handling for the owner/breeder team of Bobby Jones and Dr. Roger Richards. This filly is sired by Justified Honors as well, and out of a Black Diamond Ritz mare. She was the 2024 Fall Weanlings World Champion. Rounding out the class was She’s Rowdy & She’s Royal and Stephanie Richardson for Dr. Joe Leith. This filly was sired by Rowdy Rev out of a Pride’s Royal Master mare and was bred by Dr. Rhonda Hoffman.

Class 29 was the final class of the night, Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old Stallions. What a class it was! Twenty-five horse and rider teams had entered the class and 21 made the gate call as Ross Campbell called the gaits in the class. It was worth the wait as the clock struck 11PM, and every horse and rider pair fought for a good spot on the rail. The final first place award of the night was presented to Straight Republican and Kelly Manis, the owner and up, of Laurinburg, North Carolina. This follows a series of wins this season at Walking In The Smokies, the NCWHA Ladies’ Auxiliary, Money Tree Classic and Marshall County Horseman’s Association shows. This was Straight Republican’s first Celebration blue ribbon. Earning the reserve was Here I Am CL and Ashley Petrekovic for Silver Spur Legacy LLC of Saratoga, California. This son of I Am Jose’ won at the Heart Of A Champion show earlier this year. Third place was claimed by British Sky and Mitch Taylor for Sharon Hill and Mitch Taylor.
The first night concluded with mild weather as the rain moved on from the show grounds. It must be noted that the Optimist Club Donut Booth made a special batch of their iconic Celebration treats for the Wednesday night festivities and spectators and workers alike shared in the delicacies. As center ring closed for the night, Thursday’s morning session was already highly anticipated as a morning of competition to remember.