1964-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1964 August Voice | Page 25

to work with Jack Slayden. He was
with Jack for three years and says
that this is the man who taught
him the many fine points of train­
ing and showing Tennessee Walk­
ing Horses. While working with
Jack, Wallace won his first Cele­
bration blue in the Futurity. Some
of the outstanding horses that he
worked with, many of which are
now famous in the breed, were
GLEEM-OF SUN, MIDNIGHT
MACK K, SKIPPER SON OF
MIDNIGHT, MIDNIGHT MYS­
TERY, SUN’S DARK LADY, SUN
MAID AND G. I. JOE.
As in the case with most native
Tennesseans, Wallace Brandon re­
turned to hollowed ground and
Middle Tennessee to work for Mr.
H. L. Worrell at the famous Soli­
tude Stock Farm in Goodletsville,
Tennessee. For four years his ef­
forts here were well rewarded and
he produced SUN’S GAY BOY,
World Champion three year old
gelding, MIDNIGHT MINISTER,
the World Champion Junior Walk­
ing Horse, MIDNIGHT HELEN,
Reserve Champion Junior Mare
and the famous OKLAHOMA GIP­
SY, who twice won the 50 Year
and Over Amateur Championship
in 1954 and 1955.
Greener pastures called and Wal­
lace moved on to Little Rock, Ark­
ansas in 1957 to work with Mr.
Dutch O’Neal. Here he operated
his first public stable, taking horses
from people other than the person
for whom he was working. This
venture proved successful and he
produced REMEMBER ME, the
two year and three year old Geld­
ing Champion at the Celebration
and again working with the OKLA­
HOMA GIPSY, came up with the
Juvenile World Champion with
Bess Ann O’Neal in the saddle.
This started a succession of win­
ners in both Juvenile and Amateur
classes and in 1959 Nancy Lindsey
of Little Rock rode GO BOY’S JET
to the World’s Championship in
Juvenile Competition. He also had
STAR FACE, the World’s Champ­
ion three year old mare while he
was here. In 1952 “Doodles”
Thompson entered the ring under
Wallace’s guidance and the incom­
parable FAIR WARNING began a
(Continued on Page 28)
AUGUST, 1964
The Tennessee Walking Horse Na­
tional Celebration is again upon us.
As in the past 26 years, Walking Horse
lovers from coast to coast are looking
forward to this “show of shows.” As we
look back at the many memorable
events of the past we wonder at the
spectacle of the “Celebration” and
muse it’s attraction. It has been said
that the mass of Walking Horse lovers,
the rich and the poor, had rather spend
a week at Shelbyville the first week in
September, “jest whittling and talking
horses” than go to the New York
World’s Fair. I’m sure this is true, for
here there is an atmosphere of the
“country store" ... a feeling of re­
turning to the past and the dusty roads
of Middle Tennessee and once again
admiring our beloved “Plantation
Horse,” as we once knew him, and
marvel at his stamina, his manner and
the incomparable “way of going” that
has made him famous. Let’s return to
August 25, 1940, 24 years ago, and re­
view an article written by Percy Priest
of the Nashville Tennessean just prior
to the Celebration that year.
SHELBYVILLE, Term., Aug. 24,
1940—Bedford County changed its
gait from a running walk to a can­
ter tonight, shifting into the faster
stride in order to stay ahead of
the procession which already is
moving this way for the nation’s
“largest walking horse show" next
week.
A feeling of fall that followed
general rains in the bluegrass belt
this week helped to quicken the
tempo of activity here and in a
dozen nearby communities where
committees, working under the
supervision of Director - General
Gilbert M. Orr tonight reported an
“all-set” stage in preparations for
the second annual Tennessee Walk­
ing Horse National Celebration.
With the entry deadline still two
days off there was ample basis to­
night for the prediction that more
than 200 horses, including colts,
will compete during the three night
programs of the celebration which
starts Thursday afternoon.
GRAND CHAMPION EVENT
One week from tonight the cele­
bration will reach an applauding
climax with the crowning of the
grand champion walking horse.
The rider of the new champion will
receive the trophy from the hands
of Paul Whiteman, internationally
known orchestra leader and lover
and owner of Tennessee walking
horses. Whiteman will be here for
the last two days of the celebra­
tion.
But before witnessing the sweep-
stakes competition visitors who are
expected from more than 30 states
will see two big parades, partici­
pate in a free street dance, get the
feel of a walking horse on an eight-
mile rideathon, feast on Southern
barbecue, inspect antique and com­
mercial exhibits, and attend the
coronation of the queen of the
celebration at the royal ball.
When as many as two persons
found time tonight for a few min­
utes of leisurely conversation the
circumstance invariably developed
into speculation upon the possible
winner of the grand championship
this year.
1939 CHAMPION
There remained some doubt as to
whether Col. C. H. Bacon’s “Stroll­
ing Jim,” 1939 champion, will be
entered to defend his title, or
whether the big bay gelding will
give way to a stablemate, “Nellie
Gray.” Floyd Caruthers, trainer
and handler of both, is working out
a full year’s schedule for the Ba­
con horses, and has not decided
which one he will enter in the local
competition.
C. H. Eblen, chairman of the Tate
Field show grounds, completed the
building of a new barn with 38
stables today and after checking
the entry list with Horse Show
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