SCENIC CITY ATTRACTS RECORD CROWDS AT SPRING SHOW
Chattanooga Pilot Club Horse Show Success
Chattanooga ... recognized as the " scenic center of the South ”... is obviously becoming a center for Walking Horse activity , also . If the recent Pilot Club Horse Show is any indication of the enthusiasm of the area , both from the standpoint of exhibitors and attendance , the Walking Horse business is on the move .
The first major show in the tri-state area of Tennessee , Georgia and Alabama , this annual affair is sponsored jointly by the Chattanooga Pilot Club and the Red Bank Riding Club for their specific charity projects . An addition to this year ’ s schedule of Walking Horse activities was a buffet sponsored by the VOICE Publishing Company between the afternoon and evening performances . Over 120 Walking Horse exhibitors and officials attended and it was an apparent success .
With three performances on the schedule , the activities got underway with a morning Pleasure Horse and Pony Show . The afternoon events started at 1 P . M . and the evening show started at 6:30 P . M . All three performances were handled smoothly and efficiently .
It appears that most major shows are taking more care in selecting their judges this year and this show made an excellent choice in Mr . BILLY LILES of Gibsonia , Pennsylvania . Billy tied an excellent show and did a creditable job from every angle . He tied " walking horses ,” keeping a close eye out for any infringement of the rules , and was a credi * to the business . We need more judges of the calibre of this man who will tie Walking Horses without bias as to the rider and who have the fortitude to tie horses according to the rules . The afternoon performance had four Walking Horse classes . The Walking Pleasure Horse eventsawMac ’ s Chieftain , owned and ridden by MRS . TOM MCCAR THY , take the blue , with Sycamore ’ s Pride taking second with LINDA LEE up . Third was VIRGINIA RAY on Spur ’ s Genius . The Ladies Amateur Class was a good one and BETHANY WARREN rode Bourne ’ s Gold Bond to the blue for JOHN D . BOURNE . Second was Caroline Caroline , with CINDY NELMS up for J . T . NELMS . Tying a close third was the popular Dream at Midnight , with DEBBY POLLARD up for E . C . NICHOLS .
Always one of the most interesting classes in early season shows , the Two-Year-Old Class here was no exception . Here is a class that exhibits the Champions of the Future and as the 22 entries came into the show ring the crowd took notice of the winter efforts of trainers from over a three-state area . WINK GROOV ER took to the rail immediately with Goldfinger , a golden sorrel with flax mane and tail that had already made one show in the Florida circuit . Close behind was a highly-regarded big bay stud colt named Big Shot ’ s T Bird , ridden by NELAN POTEET , who had taken over the reins of this particular horse for BILLY BRANTLEY during Billy ’ s illness . The Goldfinger colt showed timing and rhythm enough to v .' in the blue for Mr . and Mrs . CHARLES GUESSof Chattanooga , but the big , easy-going T Bird was close behind to tie second for Mr . and Mrs . BILLY JOE ROBINSON of Chattanooga . Third was Our King ’ s
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Merry Son with BOB McQUERRY up for PEGGY CALDWELL .
An added class , the Junior Mare event , had five entries . Gunsmoke Jose tied first with JACK WILSON riding for Wink Groover Stables up for R . M . WATTS . Second was Wink Groover on Snappy Gal for Mr . and Mrs . Charles Guess of Chattanooga , and getting the yellow ribbon was PECK STONE , riding Invasion Sailor Girl for Dr . J . D . BUSH . The Walking Studs and Geldings Class provided much excitement as Jack Wilson took the blue on a Groover Stables entry , Mack K ’ s Go Getter . This is a top horse that Wink purchased at the JIMMY WADDELL Auction and he pointed out after the show that he is for sale at a good price . Second was TOMMY HOWELL riding June ’ s Merry Boy for the Hal-Acre Farms , closely followed by RICHARD PATE on Frank ’ s Go Boy , owned by FRANK CRIMM . Always an exciting and crowded event , the Amateur Class was a good one . Sir Galahad C , owned , trained and ridden by FRED CONDRA of Madisonville , won the blue in fine form . This is a true Amateur Horse in that Fred has raised him and trained him personally , and we understand that on a given night this horse can b t almost anything around . Tying the red ribbon w Lil ’ s Major , owned and ridden by Dr . W . D . JONES of Fayetteville , and third was Midnight Blue , owned and ridden by CATHY THOMPSON of Shelbyville .
As the Walking Mares entered the ring , Peck Stone of Atalla , Alabama took to the rail and put on a top performance with Carol ’ s Choice , a beautiful sorrel mare owned by Dr . J . D . Bush . She won the blue and was followed by Hi Hat ’ s Shady Lady ridden by Richard Pate for DoubleJFarms . ThirdwasJOHN PRICE riding Sun Dust Maid for Anderson & Price , Jasper , Tennessee .
In the Juvenile Class , The Untouchable , a great mare with JUDY TILLET aboard , was just what her name implies : untouchable . This is a formidable team and should cut a path to Celebration honors if this show was any indication . Winning the blue was no easy task , however . Close behind was LEANN Mc- CLUEN with determination and a good horse in Rose Forever , who tied the red . The third and fourth place entries were not reported but BURT DAU- GHETT tied fifth on her Go Boy ’ s Joy , making their first show of the season .
Junior Stallions and Geldings aplenty hit the gate in the last event before the Walking Horse Stake . In a class of twenty horses , ELMORE BROCK took home the blue for MANUEL OFFICER on Sun ’ s Hi Fashion , a highly-regarded Junior horse that is Celebration material . He topped the class , edging out Wink Groover on another top Junior Horse named Money Motion owned by FRANK RIGGS of Athens . KENNY DICK SON , a popular young trainer from Athens , tied a close third on Son of Jet Parade , another Junior Horse with great potential , for BOB COOLEY , JR . of Madisonville , Tennessee .
In the Championship Stake Class , sixteen top prospects entered the ring . As the class began to settle down , it became apparent that several horses were crowding for the blue , including Shadow ’ s Security , a chestnut stud being shown the first time by Wink Groover ; the famous Shadow ’ s Red Warrior with VIC
( Continued on page 22 ) VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse