1963-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1963 October Voice | Page 19

October TE INC H'19jltSE SUN'S DELIGHT ends SHOW CAREER in IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY SUN’S DELIGHT, crowned World’s Grand Champion of 1963 on Septem­ ber 7 at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville, Tennessee, was formally retired from competition in the show ring, Satur­ day night, September 14, at the Kentucky State Fair horse show in Louisville, This occasion was chosen for the impressive ceremony because Covington, Kentucky, is the home of the champion’s owners, Mr. and Mrs. Fray Escue and their daughter, Nancy. A throng of more than 18,000 en­ thusiastically cheered the retiring champion and his talented trainer and rider, Sam Paschal, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as they demonstrated in the ring of the famous Coliseum that per­ fection of form in the three gaits of the Walking Horse which has earned for SUN’S DELIGHT the highest honors attainable in his breed. Called by Pas­ chal, “the greatest horse I ever rode,” SUN’S DELIGHT gained new friends and admirers during this splendid ex­ hibition. When horse and rider had stirred the crowd with their performance, they were called to the center of the ring, beside the judge’s stand. There Paschal dismounted and ceremoniously stripped the saddle from the retiring champion. Then Mr. and Mrs. Escue and Nancy were introduced to the audience, as was Mrs. C. H. Paschal, mother of the only living trainer to have saddled three horses to World’s Grand Championships. To the thun­ derous applause of the crowd, Mr. Leon Simms, manager of the show, then draped across the champion’s back a blanket made of 1,500 roses, with the horse’s name spelled out in red against a white background. As the great champion docilely fol­ lowed his famous trainer toward the exit, he stopped upon command and parked in his best show-horse pose to receive the sustained applause of the appreciative audience. After the show Mr. and Mrs. Escue entertained well over one hundred guests at a dinner in the Sheraton Hotel. As a memento of his most coveted victories, Mr. Escue presented Sam Paschal with three minature horse shoes made of artificial roses, each Draped in ceremonial blanket made of 1,500 roses, SUN’S DELIGHT follows trainer Sam Paschal from the ring following impressive retirement ceremonies at the Kentucky State Fair Horse Show in Louisville. Owned by the Fray Escue Pontiac Company, Covington, Kentucky, SUN’S DELIGHT was crowned World’s Grand Champion at the 1963 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville, Tennessee, September ^rseshoc signifying a World’s Grand hampion that Paschal had trained id ridden. In addition to SUN’S DE- IGHT, Paschal trained EBONY [ASTERPIECE and rode him to the tie in 1962 and SETTING SUN in )58. With his victories in both 1962 id 1963, Paschal became the only ainer to win the big stake in con- cutive years on different horses. When asked about their reasons for •tiring SUN’S DELIGHT at age 4, hen he is just reaching his physical ?ak and very probably could be shown iccessfully for several more years, ith Escue and Paschal affirmed their ?lief that such removal of a World’s hand Champion from active com­ petition is “good for the breed.” (Pas­ chal has consistently retired his horses upon their becoming World’s Grand Champions, beginning with SETTING SUN in 1958). The owner and trainer also emphasized that they believe the retirement of champions is eminently fair to other exhibitors, trainers, and to judges. Their decision to retire SUN’S DELIGHT has caused much favorable comment from horsemen who love the breed. SUN’S DELIGHT has been return­ ed to Paschal’s City View Stables in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where visi­ tors are welcome to see the Grand Champion in his special “picture-win­ dow” stall next to Paschal’s office.