primary contender for the annual Shelbyville classic . The big show arrived and all eyes awaited the entrance of a big black stallion that was a full brother to the 1963 World Grand Champion , which Paschal also rode to victory . It made a good story and at the beginning of the contest he was up to the challenge at hand . As the class began to take its toll , however , JOHNNY MIDNIGHT came up short on the judges ’ cards . He was awarded the title of Reserve Grand Champion Walking Horse of the World , a title he carried until his death early in 1969 .
1966 — The Celebration of 1966 is one that few modern-day Walking Horse lovers will ever forget . It was
a hot evening in September when a record crowd of over twenty-five thousand jammed the Celebration arena to witness one of the most exciting contests ever staged . From the outset , one horse was the popular favorite , but from along the rail came an awareness of something amiss . Almost unnoticed amid the
excitement of the hour , a fancy bay stallion kept getting better and better . He never missed a lick but , by
the time he was noticed , it was all over . GO BOY ’ S CHATTERBOX , owned by Frank Mason of Dallas , Texas and ridden by Bud Seaton , was crowned Reserve Champion of 1966 .
1967 — Excitement reigned over the Celebration grounds in 1967 as large crowds of spectators converged upon the hamlet of Shelbyville , Tennessee to see one event . They came to see the stake class and to see the winner of the previous year make a comeback . Destiny was to play some strange tricks on everyone in 1967 , however , as the stake class became a veritable battleground of emotion . Surging through the heat of the contest was a horse that was to gain the respect of a lot of people . His name was MISTER GLO and he was ridden by Elmore Brock for Frank Metcalf of Sparta , Tennessee . He became the second Reserve World Champion for Mr . Brock .
1968 — There were more top contenders for the World Championship title in 1968 than at any other time in the history of the Celebration . Good horses were " a dime a dozen ” as each of the major contenders made its way into the bright lights of the big ring , one by one . The final workout saw five of the greatest Tennessee Walking Horses ever assembled take the rail for the last time . And a great workout it was , with four stallions and a mare making the maximum effort to win the blue . After the Champion was crowned , there was another burst of applause as the secondplace horse made his way to the lights for his ribbon . It was THE ENTERTAINER , three times a world champion , with Joe Webb of Searcy , Arkansas riding for Chester Coon of Biggs , California .
1969 — Reserve Grand Champion Walking Horse of the World is ...........! and it is here that we bring this story to an abrupt close , because this is the title nobody wants . Nobody remembers the unsung heroes of the showring who tied second . Everybody wants to be first , but remember . . . there can only be ONE winner and there is still some honor in having competed and achieved the measure of success to say , " We were Reserve *.”
♦RESERVE — " To keep in store for future or special use .”
SUMMARY — It is interesting to analyze the relationship between the World Grand Championship and the Reserve Championship , and to note the several horses that have held and lost one or both titles . Check your own records against this , and you will enjoy many hours of interesting reading .
THIRTY-FIRST ANNUAL FUTURITY SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY , AUGUST 28 AT CELEBRATION
The 31st Annual National Futurity , sponsored by the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders ’ Association of America , will be held Thursday evening , August 28 , at the Celebration grounds in Shelbyville , Tennessee . Nominations this year will include : 52 stallions , 386 mares , 219 yearlings , and 92 horses under saddle in the two-year-old class .
With over $ 18,000 in prize money , this becomes one of the richest Futurities in the horse business . Prize money is meted out to class winners according to the number of entries and , in addition to a sizable sum donated by the State of Tennessee , funds for the show are accumulated by nominations . The judges for the 1969 show had not been selected at press time , as the deadline for sending in recommendations for judges was July 31 . The judges for this show are selected by the members of the Association who have horses nominated for the Futurity . Admission is free and everyone is invited to be sure and attend , as some of the finest young stock in the country will be exhibited .
MISSISSIPPI STATE CHAMPIONSHIP HORSE SHOW MISSISSIPPI COLISEUM JACKSON , MISSISSIPPI
SEPTEMBER 18-19-20
THREE NIGHTS WITH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY MATINEE
★ $ 10,000 IN PRIZE MONEY ★
WALKING HORSE JUDGES : Dude Crowder Bob Cherry Jackie Gardner GAITED JUDGE : Redd Crabtree
CONTACT
SHELBY T . LILLY , Executive Secretary Mississippi State Horse Show Association , Inc . P . O . Box 4571 , Jackson , Mississippi Phone 601 / 353-9568
110 Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse