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Bud wins the Roses on one of them this year and on the other the next ? Impossible ? — we ’ ll have to wait to see the judges ’ cards . Meanwhile , Bud just smiles when you ask him which of his horses is " first team .” This all leaves Dr . and Mrs . B . S . Henry of Russellville , Alabama with their problem , too . Here is theirs : When Bud shows Janis ’ horse , their horse is left in the stall ; and when Bud rides their Sundust Perfection , Janis ’ horse gathers no glory . Everything started out simple — Sundust Perfection would be the Stake Horse for Bud , and Go Boy ’ s Sundust would be the Amateur Horse for Janis . But it became complicated — so complicated that four nice people have problems over it all . Perhaps they can blame it all on Bud ... he just did too good a job training Janis ’ horse , and that upset the plans Or maybe they should blame Go Boy ’ s Sundust because he wouldn ’ t settle for being less than a Stake Horse himself . Or could it be that Dr . and Mrs . Henry don ’ t really mind seeing Janis ’ horse carry the family colors into the major stake classes ? And Janis appeared to be excited enough to forgive Bud for taking her horse after the thrilling victory at the Spring Jubilee in Columbia .
As a matter of fact , it is hard to find a loser among the four . They have problems , all right , but who wouldn ’ t be glad to have the same ones ? Over in Shelbyville there is a famous stallion who couldn ’ t care less which horse wins — Sun Dust has it made either way . That makes it unanimous .
WHO IS GOING TO WIN IT ? This time of year , this question in the Walking Horse world means only one thing . And we must modestly assure you that we really don ’ t know either , but having seen most of the top-rated contenders in action , we can claim to know ' several who cannot be ignored .
As we have suggested above , Bud Dunn has two strong challengers and will probably hit the Big Ring with Go Boy ’ s Sundust looking every inch the championship quality thathehas proved to be . Winner of the Spring Jubilee in both 1964 and 1965 , fourth in the Class and third in the Stake at the 1964 Celebration , and winner of numerous other shows (" includinghis class at Montgomery ), thishorsehas many supporters who feel that he can wear the roses in 1965 .
Also down in Alabama is a great young stallion named Dusty ’ s Best Chance , which GEORGE WITT is training expertly for Dr . and Mrs . Marshall Carrier of Decatur , Ala . Third in the Junior Stake at the 1964 Celebration and winner of the Junior Stake at Montgomery , this son of Sun Dust has established himself as a real contender for the championship honors in 1965 . With George in command , Dusty ’ s Best Chance is coming on fast and must be reckoned with in the final line-up .
After the past three years ’ records nobody can overlook or undervalue the truly great Triple Threat , now being shown by BUDDY BLACK for new owner JOE WRIGHT of Nacogdoches , Texas . Always impressive , this powerful Reserve Champion of 1963 and 1964 may move that one notch higher into the winner ’ s circle . His many fans and boosters are pulling for him to go all the way this year .
" One of these days people are going to wake up to see DAVID WELSH riding the best string of Walking Horses in the business ,” predicted one veteran observer at the 1964 Celebration . That day may be coming sooner than he thought . At the Spring Jubilee , David and Go Boy ’ s Rebel put on a great show and looked even better two weeks later in winning the Class and the Stake at Knoxville . The CEBERN LEES , of Oaks Corners , New York , are determined to win the Big One . David Welsh is one ofthefinest young trainers in the business . Go Boy ’ s Rebel is a truly great Walking Horse . This combination will give a stirring account of itself in 1965 , and this is only the beginning !
Catching this writer ’ s eye for the first time in the Stake at Montgomery last November was Prince Royal , ridden by CHARLIE MARTIN for Mr . and Mrs . LEWIS AITA ofFranklin , Tennessee . Since that night , he seems to be improving with every show . Always a contender and now frequently a winner in the fastest competition , this speedy stallion will be a real threat for the Roses .
With ownership of Go Boy ’ s Blackjack and a partnership in Go Boy ’ s Crimson Tide , Captain and Mrs . E . A . SELF of Mobile , Alabama have a double opportunity this year to join the exclusive ranks of owners of Grand Champions . JIMMY WAD DELL is showing the popular champion Go Boy ’ s Blackjack for the Selfs , and WINK GROOVERis training Go Boy ’ s Crimson Tide for the Selfs and their partners , Mr . and
Mrs . N . W . HUTCHINGS , JR ., also of Mobile .
Wink is high on his horse as a real prospect for greatness , although an injury has kept him out of the ring so far this year . And Jimmy can let Blackjack ’ s record speak for him . What a dilemma for the Selfs if these two contenders should be called out for a two-horse workout !
At his famous stables in Beech Grove , Tennessee , veteran trainer STEVE HILL ( four times victorious in the Big Stake ) is quietly tuning up Go Boy ’ s Royal Heir for what he believes will be his fifth Ride with the Roses . Recently sold for respectcommanding prices , Royal Heir has a short but impressive record to date . But his followers claim he will show the beauty of conformation and the gaits worthy of a Grand Champion . The Junior Champion of the World has now moved up to challenge the big horses for their most coveted honor . Gunsmoke ’ s Son , with BUD DY HUGH in the saddle , has proved himself already this season with impressive victories at the Shelbyville P-TA Show and in several other rings . This exceptionally fast and beautiful stallion also won the VOICE Challenge Trophy at the recent Rossville , Georgia show . Buddy and TOBY GREEN have been willing to meet all comers and are pointing toward the Big Showdown , confident that Gunsmoke ’ s Son , owned by Mr . and Mrs . BARKLEY BROCK , Clinton , Missouri , will wear the Roses .
SAM PASCHAL is hard at work in the meantime to prepare Johnny Midnight to follow in the hoofprints of his famous brother , Sun ’ s Delight . Owned by Mr . THOMAS EATON and Mr . LARRY GRIBBLE of Mc Minnville , Tennessee , the big black stallion shows all the desired qualities of a modem Tennessee Walking Horse , and he will be a strong challenger for the Grand Championship of 1965 . With three such victories to his credit , Sam surely knows what it takes to be ready forthe Big Event ,
and he is schooling his horse every
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50 VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse