1968-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1968 May Voice RS | Page 79

ed from page 12)
(Cont inu
The show got underway in fine style as Marion Rus­
sell Neighbors topped the Ladies Amateur Class with
SPECIAL’S ANGEL. Showing out of the Russell Pate
Stables, this pair served warning for classes to come
TENNESSEE HONEY with Connie BoUnger UD
for Red Bridge Stables took a fine reserve in this
class and Mrs. Floyd Posenke tied third on GO BOY’S
RAVEN, another fine mount.
ft was two in a row for the Pate brothers as Richard
came on strong to show one of the best two-year-old
fillies we have seen this early in the year. Riding
CARBON COPY’S STAR, he gave an indication of
what is to come with a top performance on this big­
going black filly. Reserve was SPIRITS HOLIDAY
QUEEN with John Peels up for Youree & Peels; and
third was Ted Baier on PERFECTION’S PEG for Ed­
ward Brigg of Clinton, Kentucky.
The Two-Year-Old Stud Class is always a favorite
and it proved exciting again this year. It was Richard
Pate on EBONY’S OLD CHARTER, a top sorrel stud
by EBONY MASTERPIECE, who won the blue. It
should be remembered that it was in this ring that
Russell Pate brought out EBONY’S OLD CROW, the
1966 World Champion Two-Year-Old, and carried him
on to the top. This colt is a bigger horse than OLD
CROW, but if looks, action and a "whisky-drinking
name” can get the job done . . . watch for EBONY’S
OLD CHARTER. Tom Youree tied reserve on SPIR­
ITS JACK OF DIAMONDS for Peels & Youree, and
Ted Baier was third on SHADOW’S CRAPSHOOTER
for R. B. Scruggs of Rutherford, Tennessee.
SPECIAL DELIVERY, the 1967 Reserve Champion
Two-Year-Old, came in the gate looking every bit the
champion with Buddy Hugh in the saddle. He was
pushed hard by Louis Slone on HANDSHAKER’S
DELIGHT but after the latter failed to canter in the
workout it was apparent who the winner should be.
This HANDSHAKER horse, who tied third, is now in
training with Doug Wolaver and should do well for
owner Clyde Frye of Crocker, Missouri. Reserve was
Jackie Gardner, riding LITTLE MAC for Tarkington
Stables of Cotton Plant, Arkansas. Mr. H. P. Sheely,
Dallas, Texas, owner of SPECIAL DELIVERY, has
reason to expect great things from his horse in 1968.
One of the most talked-about Junior Horses in the
country is from the Mid-West. His name is AIR GUN
and he is owned by George Logan of Nevada, Mis­
souri and trained by Don Bolinger of California, Mis­
souri. By PIDDLEY out of a GUNSMOKE mare, this
fine black stallion put on a great show to win the blue
at Searcy. This horse has a lot of natural ability and
has been called the greatest PIDDLEY colt ever. Don
is taking careful aim at the Celebration and a lot ol
people are seriously discussing his chances.
Second in this class was another top Junior Horse,
SUN’S STRADIVARI US, ridden by Neil Robinson lor
Jeffcoat Stables. He put on a fine PeJfor™ai^ to t^
Reserve. Third was Jackie Gardner, riding *
.
MAGIC for John T. Turner of Forrest City, Missouri.
The Juvenile Class saw another blue gbbon go toa
horse carrying the Pate banner. It was Brenda
lett riding MERRY MELINDA, who started the 1968
season right for Russell Pate of
Fowler up
Second was MR. COMBAT with Debbie Fowler: up,
and third was MACK K’S SUZETTE with Susan How
ell riding for Cliff Lirette of Thibodaux, Lomsiana.^
MISS BOMB, with Ronnie Spears :rid^
the
Terry of Cleveland, Mississippi, took op
Mare Class. This fine mare showed top form in a
Mar6
and set herself up as a real contender for
rRJJl8 Year- Reserve was Richard Pate on
CRYSTAL’S FIRST LADY for Fred Fowler of Somer-
A/TA^T/i^n^??See’ and Neil Robinson tied third on
MAGIC’S PRINCESS.
The biggest and perhaps the most hotly contested
class of the night was the Amateur Open. With over
wenty-five horses showing, Dr. George Smith made a
great show on his MAC K’S SOUVENIR. This out-
standing stud showed well in all three gaits and was
still in form at the end of a long workout. Watch for
him in Amateur Classes the remainder of the year.
Reserve in this class was W. B. Cherry riding SON’S
PLAYBOY and third was KEETER’S PIN UP, ridden
by Bill Pickering of Rogersville, Missouri.
Judge Sam Paschal of Murfreesboro, Tennessee did
a fine job of calling the classes. His pencil was sharp
and he checked carefully for any infringements of the
rules as recommended by the Trainers Association.
For the most part the horses were in excellent shape
and no signs of mistreatment were obvious. Announc­
er O’Neil Howell did his usual fine job of keeping the
show moving and Carrie Neal Foy put in her usual
superb performance on the double manual Hammond
organ. It was a fine season opener and the entire
Joe Webb cast deserves a vote of thanks for a top
show.
PORTER RODGERS SALE PRECEDES
HORSE SHOW
The annual sale of Porter Rodgers’ Stock was held
during the afternoon preceding the Horse Show. The
bidding officially opened at one P.M. and it took sev­
eral hours to run the more than forty head through.
There was a jam-packed crowd in the Joe Webb Sta­
bles, across the road from the Porter Rodgers farm,
and the bidding was brisk and enthusiastic on most of
the horses. It was obvious to most observers that the
large part of the crowd was there "just to look” as
buyers were centered in only a few people. The stock
that was offered was varied with some top brood
mares, good show horses and some top colts being
offered for sale.
DR. AND MRS. RODGERS ENTERTAIN
EXHIBITORS AT SEARCY COUNTRY CLUB
Mrs. Porter Rodgers, Sr. was the "hostess with the
mostest” as she entertained the exhibitors for the
Searcy Horse Show at her annual party. Held at the
beautiful Searcy Golf and Country Club, the affair
started at 5 P.M. and lasted until 7 P.M. and was
attended by the majority of the people from around
the country who had come for the show. Dr. Rodgers
made his way around the club visiting with his many
friends in the horse world. The affair was greatly ap­
preciated by everyone. This has become one of the
"must” events of the early social season of the Walk­
ing Horse Whirl. Next year should find an even larger
crowd in attendance.
DETERMINATION
The rung of o ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only
to hold a man's foot long enough Jo enable him to put the
other somewhat higher. — Thomas Henry Huxley
79
May, 1968