1969 Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1969 May Voice RS | Page 31

events and has several acts that are great entertain­
ment for both young and old.
Dixie Goble, riding MERRY MAN MIDNIGHT for
P&G Stables, got the show off to a great start as she
captured the blue in a fine class of lady riders. From
Osceola, Arkansas, Dixie established herself as a con­
tender for other top honors this year. A companion
rider, Barry Phillips, going the route on PERFECT­
ION’S PIONEER, cut a path in the Amateur Open
Class which should lead him to future honors. Also
from P&G Stables, Barry took an impressive blue in
this class.
Two-year-olds are always of great interest this time
of year and at Searcy there were several top young
horses. In the filly class, it was COPY’S COQUETTE
with Jimmy McConnell riding for Pace and McConnell
who took home the top spot. This fine black filly
showed a lot of motion and ability, and should be in
the limelight as the season continues. Two-year-old
Stallions & Geldings produced a lot of excitement as
Jackie Gardner took the blue on KING OF THE
ROAD, a big-lick sorrel stallion that can really walk.
Riding for owner Jack Oliver of Little Rock, Mr. Gard­
ner made note that he intends to put Tarkington
Stables on the map this year. He is off to a good
start.
It was DELIGHT’S MASTERPIECE and Russell
Pate that came to the top in the Three-Year-Old
Class. Riding for Norman and Parnell, Mr. Pate show­
ed this fine stallion to beat a good class of young hor­
ses. Watch for him later this season.
It didn’t take much of an expert to note that SPE­
CIAL DELIVERY, the beautiful chestnut stallion by
SUN’S DELIGHT, was in great form to take the Jun­
ior Class. With Buddy Hugh up for Hank Sheely of
Dallas, Texas, this top stallion showed all indications
of again being a top contender for championship hon­
ors in 1969.
The Juvenile Class was won by the ever-present
contender, MERRY MELINDA, with Brenda Bramlett
up. Riding out of the Russell Pate Stables, this charm­
ing miss is a fine rider who always manages to get
the most out of her fine mount. We will see a lot of
them again this year.
Neil Robinson and SUN DUST REBEL MAID were
singled out in the Age Mare Class. This fine contender
•v
TENNESSEE
WALKING HORSES
Training - Showing - Selling
Trainer: David Welsh
WELSH-LOVETT
STABLE
is owned by Sharon Terry Love, Cleveland, Mississippi,
and she showed a lot of class and ability to defeat a
class of top age mares. Neil will make a lot of trips
to the lights with her this year.
Mr. and Mrs. Leo Baum of Ixonia, Wisconsin were
obviously pleased that they made the trip south as
they witnessed a top performance by their contender,
SUN’S HOLIDAY, in the Championship Stake Class.
With trainer Buddy Hugh up, HOLIDAY served warn­
ing that he is a genuine threat to all comers in open
competition. He is big and black and has three per­
fect gaits to match his fine conformation. Don’t forget
this horse when you start thinking about contenders
for 1969.
Complete results are elsewhere in this issue.
CARL EDWARDS RIGHTS WRONG AT SEARCY
A blue ribbon goes to Carl Edwards for the splendid
job he did as judge of the Searcy Horse Show. We
witnessed a display of sportsmanship and good con­
duct in the Two-Year-Old Stallion and Gelding Class
that merits some comment for both the judge and a
particular stable.
The lighting was a problem at Searcy, since they
have lights on only one side of the ring. Judge Ed­
wards was having difficulty seeing into the bright
lights and inadvertently put down the wrong number
as one of the top winners. When this number was
called out, the announcer, O’Neil Howell, noted that
there was no such number in the line-up and the ring­
master was sent to check on the number. You’re right
. . . he checked the wrong horse, and only after the
ribbons were given out was the error discovered.
Judge Edwards was intent on personally giving the
rider his prize money but this gesture was graciously
refused. The rider was Odell McConnell and the horse
was COPY’S DEACON and they gracefully accepted
the comments of the announcer who explained the
situation and apologized for the judge and the man­
agement.
It was a testimony to good sportsmanship that the
large crowd applauded the news that