the chances of their favorite horse in the big stake . Remove the country-fair atmosphere and it would be similar to the events preceding any other world championship . At the crossroads of the Celebration ( that area where the entry gate and the practice rings merge with the large concession stand ), traffic was almost at a standstill as tired , dusty policemen tried in vain to keep everything moving . It was just two hours until the gates would open and the final night of the 1969 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration would get underway .
As showtime approached , someone remarked about the ominous dark clouds gathering in the northeast . " Looks bad over there . . . reckon it will rain ?” A companion took a long look at the gathering storm and said , " Naw . . . rain never comes from the northeast , it always comes from the southwest .” Obviously assured that the storm would not even get close to
the grounds , they continued on their way to join the long line of people slowly easing their way toward
the turnstiles . " Fifteen-minute call for the flaghorse ” . . . the familiar voice of Emmet Guy rang over the barn area . " Fifteen-minute call for the flaghorse .” He repeated his message as if he knew that it would be hard to get anyone ’ s attention over the din of anxious conversation that had settled over the showgrounds . There was an immediate surge toward the gate as spectators rushed to get inside before the show started . Occasionally someone would glance toward the northeast as they pondered the slow-moving mass of dark thunderheads .
The Two-Year-Old Championship got the final night off to a great start . There were 34 horses entered and they represented perhaps the finest gathering of young horses of all time . All eyes were on the winners of the qualifying classes as they made their way through the first workout . The final workout saw DELIGHT ’ S ADONIS , DELIGHT ’ S RED SHADOW and JOHNNY ’ S LITTLE MYSTERY , all blue-ribbon winners in previous classes , pick up a following . When the class was tied it was C . A . Bobo on DELIGHT ’ S RED SHADOW that carried away the blue with John T . Carter tying reserve on ADONIS . Another popular horse , MASTER COPY , Russell Pate up , was third . It was a good beginning for Stake Night .
Thunder began to roll over the countryside and from a vantage point on top of the pressbox it was evident that a real front was slowly moving in . Lightning cracked as the Walking Pony Class started . The little troupers of the showring were nervous as darkness settled over the Celebration grounds .
As the Walking Pony Class continued , a light sprinkle of rain began to fall . It didn ’ t hamper the performance of most of the young contenders as they put forth the maximum effort in a fine class . Several of the top-rated contenders were obviously more affected as they fell by the wayside . When the class was over and lined up , the rain had stopped . The blue went to Steve Hawkersmith on SCAT MAN ’ S KITTY KAT with MISTER SANDMAN tying reserve with Terry Vinson up . The third ribbon went to a pleased Priscilla Talley as she carried EAGLE ’ S ACE to a fine tie . Most people were convinced that the rain had " blown over ” and that they had seen the last of the bad weather as the ponies left the ring .
A large class of top amateur horses entered the ring in great form . It was a fine class and several of the top favorites showed early that they came to win . Suddenly , as the horses lined up for the first time , the rain began to fall again . It had started intermittently in the previous class and was beginning to affect the track . During the final workout the going really got rough . The determined amateur riders were proving , even under adverse conditions , that they were seasoned veterans of the showring and when they lined up
for the final tally , they did so in a driving downpour . By this time the grandstands were nothing but a
mass of color as all manner of raingear showed up .
It was a tremendous testimony to the dedication of Walking Horse enthusiasts that they stayed in the driving rain for the rest of this show . A few people left , but for the most part there was a concerted effort to " help each other ” as the crowd seemed to merge together for protection against the elements . An approving round of applause came from the muffled spectators as Burt Daugette pulled out of the line-up to get the blue ribbon marking the third World Championship for MOONGLOW , JR . Another round of applause greeted Patti Reams as she carried HUR RY SUNDOWN to a reserve honor . Another charming young lady , Janie Julian Beech , looked through rainsmeared mascara and a fallen hairdo to get her thirdplace ribbon on EBONY ’ S DOLLY .
By this time the crowd was beginning to wonder what was going to take place . The rain continued to fall as the Five-Gaited Championship entered the ring . It did not let up and the class was tied with the horses standing in water .
Mass confusion had broken out all over the showgrounds . Thunder and lightning began to strike all around the area and many people fled from the onslaught of nature . " Stake class or no stake class . . . I ’ m getting out of here ,” was the comment directed to the crow ’ d as one fellow left the steel grandstands . " What are they going to do ?” inquired another from under a plastic sheet . " Surely they won ’ t have it — not in this rain !” Out in the middle of the showring a shivering crowd of dignitaries was faced with a difficult decision : should they continue , or call off the show until Sunday afternoon ? Through some failure in communications no one . was directed to open the four drains in the center of the ring . The water continued to rise as the rain fell in sheets and the thunder clapped its warning . And the crowd waited !
The familiar strains of the music of Jimmy Richardson had long since been silenced . The big speakers were covered and the happy organ was hushed . All that could be heard was the sound of rain coming down in torrents , unlike anything in Celebration history . Perhaps it was due to the situation or perhaps it was the fact that each raindrop was filtered through the bright incandescence of the Celebration lights that made them appear to be much larger than they really were . The question still remained , " What are they going to do ?” The dedicated crowd sat in muffled silence as they huddled in little groups . By this time , all the spirits that had been brought for the occasion had probably been consumed and the chill of the night air was beginning to cause shivers . The rain continued to fall . The time was nearly 11:00 P . M .
September / October , 1969 83