1969 Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1969 June Voice RS | Page 62

personal list all summer of men who have done good
jobs of judging. They go to a lot of horse shows and
watch various prospects judge. Each man” he went
on, "makes as many recommendations as he wants
to for the original list They have a meeting and
check these lists and reduce them to a master list of
twenty-five or thirty prospects.” He scratched his
head, lit a cigarette, and said, "And then the hard
part comes.”
Helen looked Lonny in the eye and said, You mean
to tell me that they even go so far as to check the
financial status and the personal reputation of the
last few prospects?” Lonny laughed and said, "That’s
about it. They go over every facet of the man in­
volved, including the horses he has had in the past
few years, the people he has been associated with,
and the horses he is currently showing, if he is a
trainer. It seems,” he said, "that they have narrowed
it down to eleven prospects this year and of that
group only nine have said they would be interested.”
At this point Helen asked the sixty-four-dollar ques­
tion. "What did you tell him when he asked you?”
(Next Month — The Big Decision)
SUN’S
•
WILLING
©
HOLIDAY
*
to win
&
FIRST ANNUAL HERNANDO CLASSIC
ATTRACTS TOP TRAINERS AND HORSES,
WINS ACCLAIM
Hernando, Mississippi’s one-night horse show earned
praise from announcer O’Neil Howell, who certainly
should know a good show when he sees one. He’s
highly enthused over the future of the Walking Horse
Classic. "If these people handle this thing right, they
could have a springboard show leading up to the Cele­
bration,” he said. "They have a fine show ring, the
location near Interstate 55 is perfect and there is
leadership in the community to make such an event
click.”
Rain fell in Hernando on May 17 until shortly before
showtime, and an estimated 2,500 spectators sat
through a light shower that came about midway in
the show. The weather cut down the expected crowd,
and Mr. Howell said, "If the weather had been just
half-way perfect, I believe the show would have drawn
5,000.” The entries were not too badly affected by the
weather, however; a total of 105 horses entered the
show, with ten or twelve horses in each Walking class
— an exceptional turnout for a one-night show.
Joe Webb and THE ENTERTAINER gave a special
exhibition in their usual fine style for the pleasure of
the spectators. Among the viewers was Chester Coon
of Biggs, California, owner of THE ENTERTAINER
and a special guest of the show. Other entertainment
included a parade with eight bands and the Shrine
Mounted Patrol, a "concert” by the Shakey’s Pizza
Parlor Band, and a Color Guard from the local Nation­
al Guard Unit.
E. L. O Callaghan of Sherrill. Arkansas judged the
thirteen classes; O’Neil Howell was master of cere­
60
monies; and music was provided by Carrie Neal Foy.
George Black, General Chairman of the show, headed
a show committee that worked hard and accomplished
miracles.
In the Two-Year-Old Stallion & Gelding Class, Joe
Webb and NIGHT HAWK took the blue for Dr. Porter
Rodgers, Jr. of Searcy, Arkansas, with Jack Oliver’s
KING OF THE ROAD tying reserve with Jackie
Gardner up. SUN’S BLUE DIAMOND claimed the