Bits & Spurs
By Sharon Terry Box 1178 Stale College , Miss .
The last of November will bring the close of the show season for this year . The Jubilee and Montgomery shows will be the final ones of the season .
The Jackson Horse Show was held October 26-28 at the Coliseum in Jackson , Mississippi . 1 don ’ t have all of the results , but I do have a few of the winners in the main classes . JIMMY HOLLOWAY won the Two-Year-Old Stake on Go Boy ’ s Big Shot for Mr . C . D . MADDOX . The Junior Stake was awarded to Perfection ’ s Shadow S . with JIMMY WADDELL in the saddle for Babcock & Tallant . LYNN DOUGHTY of Mobile made a nice ride on Go Boy ’ s Rhoda to win the Junior Juvenile class , while SHERRILL MARKS on Go Boy ’ s Jet carried away the trophy in the Senior division . MARJO RIE GILL and her Magic Knight took top honors in both the Amateur Stallion and Gelding class and the Amateur Stake , while my Shadow ’ s Replica was reserve in both divisions . The Championship Stake was one of the most exciting of the season , for the judges put Go Boy ’ s Sun Dust , with BUD DUNN up , and Go Boy ’ s Royal Heir , with STEVE HILL up , on the rail for a breathtaking two-horse workout in which Royal Heir received the blue with Bud right behind him .
Highlighting the Jackson show was the personal appearance of Mr . JAMES DRURY , better known to television fans as The Virginian . Mr . Drury , accompanied by three of his associates , gave an interesting performance at each show including the matinee . An Appaloosa stallion from the Delta was borrowed for the act . Mr . Drury raises Appaloosas himself , and he has a herd of approximately forty , including three top stallions . Mr . Drury commented on the hospitality of the many Mississippians with whom he had been associated during his stay . He closed each performance with a rousing version of " Dixie .” Mr . Drury took time from his busy schedule to sign autographs for his many admirers at each show . I was very much impressed with the warm friendliness of The Virginian , and I sincerely hope that I get to see him again one day .
I had a long talk with WINK GROOVER at Jackson , and he tells me that his World ’ s Champion Goldfinger is working fine . Wink made an excellent show on the big sorrel gelding . Sensational Sun Dust , to win the Gelding Class . Sensational Sun Dust , owned by Mr . SPENCER WALKER of Fitzgerald , Georgia , is quite a horse , and Wink is going to use him for his stake horse next year .
The Jackson horse show gave a beautiful Exhibitors ’ Party after the show at Primo ’ s Northgate . The decorations were gorgeous and the food was excellent .
A lot of folks may think I get out of contact with the horse world while at college , but I don ’ t . West Point is only about fifteen miles away , and the well-known Circle R Stables are located there . Twenty-one-year-old trainer RONNY SPEARS has been working these horses since last February . Ronnie , originally from Scottsville , Kentucky , trained for a while in Orlando , Florida , for Mr . C . E . BRADSHAW . There he built quite a reputation for himself showing the black stallion Go Boy ’ s Flying Cloud to win many blues all over Florida , including the Stallion and Gelding Classes and the Stakes at Orlando , Winterhaven , and Miami . The Flying Cloud was the high point horse in Florida last year .
Ronnie ’ s pride and joy now , however , is a little bay three-year-old gelding owned by the ROBINSONS ,
Pride ’ s High and Mighty . This cocky gelding has a big way of going that will make folks turn around to get a better look . He has a long-striding , head-shaking flatwalk , a fast running walk with a lot of motion , and a rocking-chair canter . High and Mighty will be one of the top geldings out next season . The first time I saw him was when he won theStarkville show , and I have liked him ever since . Keep your eyes open , boys !
Ronnie is working a good two-yearold Bomb filly for Mr . TED MAJORS of Calhoun City . This filly is real loose , with a natural lick and a perfect back end . Ronnie alsohas Silver Star , BECKY ’ S white mare .
Ronnie has a barn full of good Amateur horses as well as the professional horses . PETE Robinson ’ s stallion , Go Boy ’ s Fancy Pants , is working perfectly after a successful season and such blues as Amory , Pontotoc , Tupelo , Starkville , Aberdeen , and Okolona . Pete has a good coming-two-year-old by Fancy Pants . Pete also has a new mare who will be a Juvenile horse for one of his children .
LINDA Robinson ’ s Go Boy ’ s Challenger is better than ever , and her new black gelding . Beau Brummel , is going to make her a top Juvenile mount . Beau Brummel is by Old Glory , Jr ., and he and Linda were third at Jackson at their first show together . SARA BETH came all the way over from Germany to show her mare , Candy Kisses , at the Celebration , and will return to Germany after the season is over . Ronnie will show this mare next year in the mare classes .
Among the two-year-olds that Ronnie is working is a full sister to High and Mighty . He also has a top Major Wilson filly for KENNETH Robinson .
Ronnie Spears is one of the upand-coming young trainers in the business . This next year he will have about as many good horses as any trainer . Ronnie and his mascot , Sam the Bloodhound , wish to extend a cordial invitation to visit the Circle R Stables .
The whole horse show world was shocked and grievedby theuntimely death of BERYL BETHEA of Laurel . Beryl has shown horses for many years and one of her favorites was Go Boy ’ s Peacock . The VOICE extends sympathy to her parents , Mr . and Mrs . ROBERT BETHEA .
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse