1962-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1962 July Voice | Page 4

July, 1962
2
Texas Circle T Pair Called Celebration Favorites
by ben a . green
Twin Constellations of Horseflesh—including Shadow’s Luminaire,
pictured on the cover of this magazine—have emerged from the
spirited Southwest Horse Show Circuit competition for 1962 with
records unblemished and horizons unlimited. Luminaire and the,
twin competitor—Shadow’s Gay Lady—carry the flag for Circle T
Ranch and Mr. and Mrs. J. Glenn Turner of Dallas, Texas.
Authorities who have followed the four-state circuit for the last
two months declare competition this year at a new peak of intensity.
They report the Tennessee Walking Horse as a breed of superior
show animals reached a new height in public appreciation and ring
performance—setting precedents in the famed horse territory.
A major contributor to this relent­
less march of the breed in recent years
has been the ]. Glenn Turner Circle
T Ranch located at Roanoke 2S miles
from Dallas. This expanse of many
hundreds of acres has become truly a
national institution in recent Tennes­
see Walking Horse show history.
Seldom has an operation of this
type been carried out with such sus­
tained dedication in a veritable cru­
sade for excellence of the Tennessee
Walking Horse in the show ring.
This year, many experts agree, the
great Circle T brigade of shock troops
poised for continued action excels in
numbers and quality the battalions
sent into show battle during previous
years.
Luminaire and Shadow's Gay Lady
are already nominated by some ob­
servers as prime favorites in top
championship competition for the
Tennessee Walking Horse National
Celebration at Shelbyville, Tenn.
Aug. 26-Sept. I.
Luminaire Best In 5 Years
On the record, Luminaire appears
to be at his very best in five years of
existence—and at the Celebration he
will be showing within little over a
mile—beeline—from a practice track
where he received much of his early
training. This horse is a "late colt” in
breed language, as he was foaled on
August 16, 1957, and such autumn
dales for colts are "late” because of
the Jan. 1 birth date for all show
horses. Right now—men who have
known the breed for generations—
point to Luminaire in his present
proved form as "the best of the Go
Boy Shadow-sired show horses to this
lime.”
Also on the record, Shadow's Gay
Lady—a scintillating 3-year-old mare—
evidently is reaching a state of per­
fection that makes her threaten to
place a queen on the Junior World’s
Championship throne at the Cele­
bration. Last year a stallion occupied
this position—he being Spur's Merry
Man for Dr. and Mrs. G. J. Meshew,
Mounds, 111. In 1960 a queen was in
this role, Fair Warning for Mr. and
Mrs. Joe Bales of Thomasville, N.C.
Incomplete show records from the
Southwest indicate the Shadow's Lu­
minaire-Gay Lady combination has
"walked to a championship waltz in
duel track tune” in several shows
against the most severe competiton.
Two Veterans Trainer-Riders
Two of the nation’s most experi­
enced trainer-riders—veterans of many
Celebration triumphs—have been
showing these contenders for Circle
T. Harold Kennedy, trainer at the
Roanoke establishment, has primed
Luminaire into top shape and ridden
him to major triumphs.
Wallace Brandon of Little Rock,
Ark. was given the assignment on
Shadow’s Gay Lady and he has
brought out the show qualities of this
brilliantly beautiful mare in superb
fashion.
At both Houston’s famed Pin Oak
Show and the popular Spindletop
Charity Horse show in Beaumont the
high-stepping Luminaire and the
smooth-flowing Shadow’s Gay Lady
swept the boards. Luminaire took the
Stallion-Gelding Classes in both in­
stances then seized the tricolor first
place ribbon in the Big Champion­
ship Stakes. Shadow’s Gay Lady won
the Junior Mare Class in each show,
then Lriumphed for the first place
tricolor in the Junior Stakes.
At Greeneville, Miss, this mare with
rare spirited showmanship but gentle
disposition look both the )unior Marc-
Class and the Big Junior Champion­
ship Slake tricolor to complete the
sweep.
Stallion Sweeps The Boards
Wins for Luminaire this season
have also included:
Arkansas State Horse Show, Little
Rock—First in the Stallion-Gelding
Class and first in the Big Champion­
ship Stake;
Grenada, Miss.—First for the tri­
color in the Big Championship Stake;
Yazoo City, Miss.—First for the tri­
color