bidding going until a top price of $ 43,000.00 was reached . A record for a sale ! His new owner was Mr . HANK SHEELY of Dallas , Texas . Mr . Sheely owned the horse privately for only about fifteen minutes , however , as Mr . JOE WRIGHT of Nacogdoches quickly worked out an agreement for half of the horse .
From this point on it was speculation as to what the future held for Triple Threat . Immediately after the Murray Farm Sale was over , he was shown in Manchester , Tennessee by STEVE HILL and was reputed to be better than ever . Shortly after this , Joe Wright purchased all of him and trainer BUDDY BLACK of Lewisburg showed him for his new owner to good advantage in Tennessee and Texas . He still showed his winning ways . As the Celebration drew nigh this year several individuals began to ponder the prospects of Triple Threat winning the Big Show and the pot began to boil regarding his chances . And then the big news came ! Triple Threat was being placed in the hands of Douglas Wolaver of Pulaski , Tennessee , to be trained for the Celebration .
DOUG WOLAVER TAKES OVER When the news leaked out that Doug would train the horse for the Celebration , there was a stir of approval throughout the Walking Horse world . This , according to many learned observers , was a stroke of genius on the part of owner Joe Wright . Everything fit ! Doug needed a Stake horse for 1965 . He was a popular young trainer - well liked by Celebration observers . His reputation as a trainer since his outstanding win in 1960 on Mack K ’ s Handshaker was excellent . Since then Doug had won the Two-Year- Old World Championship twice , the Three-Year-Old Stake , the Futurity Two-Y ear-Old Classes several times , the World Championship Stallion Class and a multitude of other outstanding wins to keep his name before the Walking Horse public . And in addition to all this his 1965 entry , Triple Threat , would doubtless be a sentimental favorite on this third try .
Douglas Wolaver was born and raised in Middle Tennessee . The family farm is in Diana , Tennessee , just a stone ’ s throw from Pulaski . As a youngster , Doug spent many hours with his horses and he and his father , MYRON Wolaver , were always in evidence at the horse shows . Doug is known and respected by his many friends as a quiet young man who works hard in his chosen profession as a trainer . In his younger days he could always be seen around the show grounds helping others wherever help was needed . His attitude , desire to win and doubtless ability as a trainer all go hand-in-hand to formulate a winning combination . Young Mr . Wolaver had his work cut out for him , however . He was faced with the various problems of learning the horse . He had to get him into shape for Celebration competition and he had several important decisions to make regarding hig horse . To many Triple Threat supporters there was something different about the big horse when he entered the ring this year . He still had the big-lick flat-foot walk and his canter was still tops . The big difference was in his running walk ! Seasoned observers maintained that Doug had to make an early decision whether to try for rhythm and motion in the running walk or to show the people ALL the big horse could do . He decided to try for speed , and it paid off ! On both Wednesday night in the Stallion Class and Saturday in the Big Stake , Doug waited for the precise moment and , on the reverse , headed the dazzling bay down the rail in a blinding burst of speed that would have broken a lesser horse . When the name of the winner was announced the audience erupted into thunderous applause . Triple Threat , who had made his third determined bid for World Championship honors , was at last the victor . There is not a boast or a brag in Doug Wolaver . Immediately after the class was tied and he had posed for pictures with his 1965 winner , Doug was stopped by radio reporter BILL CARRIGAN as he went out the gate . Doug , in his best manner , answered the questions for this live broadcast and said , " I guess we were just lucky to have had so many good people pulling for us .” After the show the Wolaver Stables were mobbed by well-wishers , news reporters , magazine representatives and the plain curious who wanted a close look at the young man who had shaped the great Triple Threat in such a short time .
THE JOE WRIGHT FAMILY
There are many reasons that prompt a person to dig deep in his pocket to purchase a top horse , but in the case of the Joe Wright family of Nacogdoches , Texas , winning is now firmly entrenched in their Walking Horse activity . In discussing his reasons for buying Triple Threat , Joe stated that he " felt that everything was right for him this year ” and that with the right trainer he could make it . His feelings were wellfounded . Walking Horses have been an important facet of the Wright family for years . Mr . M . S . Wright , Sr . was instrumental in getting his son Joe interested in Walking Horses and for years it was an activity in which the whole family participated . Young JAN Wright has won perhaps as many blue ribbons as any other exhibitor in the nation . The outstanding performances of this pretty blond miss on Dark Shadow have been thrilling Celebration crowds for several years . Joe , himself a seasoned exhibitor , has also taken home his share of blue ribbons on Sun ’ s Celebration . These , along with several other top horses , have kept the Wright family on top in the Walking Horse business , under the expert handling of Mr . BILL MOORE , trainer for the Lone Star Stables . Mrs . HELEN Wright , although not an active exhibitor , can always be seen on the rail as Joe and Jan show throughout the land . One would think that , after all this time , the attractive Mrs . Wright would take it all in stride , but observers can sense her keen interest and genuine excitement every time Jan or Joe show . She is an important member of the family team .
It is ironic that owership of Triple Threat on the eve of his 1965 World Championship victory should return to the place where he won his first blue ribbon — Nacogdoches , Texas .
( Continued on page 19 )
September , 1965 17