Bits & Spurs
By Sharon Terry Box 1178 Stale College, Miss.
The last of November will bring the close of the show season for this year. The Jubilee and Montgomery shows will be the final ones of the season.
The Jackson Horse Show was held October 26-28 at the Coliseum in Jackson, Mississippi. 1 don’ t have all of the results, but I do have a few of the winners in the main classes. JIMMY HOLLOWAY won the Two-Year-Old Stake on Go Boy’ s Big Shot for Mr. C. D. MADDOX. The Junior Stake was awarded to Perfection’ s Shadow S. with JIMMY WADDELL in the saddle for Babcock & Tallant. LYNN DOUGHTY of Mobile made a nice ride on Go Boy’ s Rhoda to win the Junior Juvenile class, while SHERRILL MARKS on Go Boy’ s Jet carried away the trophy in the Senior division. MARJO RIE GILL and her Magic Knight took top honors in both the Amateur Stallion and Gelding class and the Amateur Stake, while my Shadow’ s Replica was reserve in both divisions. The Championship Stake was one of the most exciting of the season, for the judges put Go Boy’ s Sun Dust, with BUD DUNN up, and Go Boy’ s Royal Heir, with STEVE HILL up, on the rail for a breathtaking two-horse workout in which Royal Heir received the blue with Bud right behind him.
Highlighting the Jackson show was the personal appearance of Mr. JAMES DRURY, better known to television fans as The Virginian. Mr. Drury, accompanied by three of his associates, gave an interesting performance at each show including the matinee. An Appaloosa stallion from the Delta was borrowed for the act. Mr. Drury raises Appaloosas himself, and he has a herd of approximately forty, including three top stallions. Mr. Drury commented on the hospitality of the many Mississippians with whom he had been associated during his stay. He closed each performance with a rousing version of " Dixie.” Mr. Drury took time from his busy schedule to sign autographs for his many admirers at each show. I was very much impressed with the warm friendliness of The Virginian, and I sincerely hope that I get to see him again one day.
I had a long talk with WINK GROOVER at Jackson, and he tells me that his World’ s Champion Goldfinger is working fine. Wink made an excellent show on the big sorrel gelding. Sensational Sun Dust, to win the Gelding Class. Sensational Sun Dust, owned by Mr. SPENCER WALKER of Fitzgerald, Georgia, is quite a horse, and Wink is going to use him for his stake horse next year.
The Jackson horse show gave a beautiful Exhibitors’ Party after the show at Primo’ s Northgate. The decorations were gorgeous and the food was excellent.
A lot of folks may think I get out of contact with the horse world while at college, but I don’ t. West Point is only about fifteen miles away, and the well-known Circle R Stables are located there. Twenty-one-year-old trainer RONNY SPEARS has been working these horses since last February. Ronnie, originally from Scottsville, Kentucky, trained for a while in Orlando, Florida, for Mr. C. E. BRADSHAW. There he built quite a reputation for himself showing the black stallion Go Boy’ s Flying Cloud to win many blues all over Florida, including the Stallion and Gelding Classes and the Stakes at Orlando, Winterhaven, and Miami. The Flying Cloud was the high point horse in Florida last year.
Ronnie’ s pride and joy now, however, is a little bay three-year-old gelding owned by the ROBINSONS,
Pride’ s High and Mighty. This cocky gelding has a big way of going that will make folks turn around to get a better look. He has a long-striding, head-shaking flatwalk, a fast running walk with a lot of motion, and a rocking-chair canter. High and Mighty will be one of the top geldings out next season. The first time I saw him was when he won theStarkville show, and I have liked him ever since. Keep your eyes open, boys!
Ronnie is working a good two-yearold Bomb filly for Mr. TED MAJORS of Calhoun City. This filly is real loose, with a natural lick and a perfect back end. Ronnie alsohas Silver Star, BECKY’ S white mare.
Ronnie has a barn full of good Amateur horses as well as the professional horses. PETE Robinson’ s stallion, Go Boy’ s Fancy Pants, is working perfectly after a successful season and such blues as Amory, Pontotoc, Tupelo, Starkville, Aberdeen, and Okolona. Pete has a good coming-two-year-old by Fancy Pants. Pete also has a new mare who will be a Juvenile horse for one of his children.
LINDA Robinson’ s Go Boy’ s Challenger is better than ever, and her new black gelding. Beau Brummel, is going to make her a top Juvenile mount. Beau Brummel is by Old Glory, Jr., and he and Linda were third at Jackson at their first show together. SARA BETH came all the way over from Germany to show her mare, Candy Kisses, at the Celebration, and will return to Germany after the season is over. Ronnie will show this mare next year in the mare classes.
Among the two-year-olds that Ronnie is working is a full sister to High and Mighty. He also has a top Major Wilson filly for KENNETH Robinson.
Ronnie Spears is one of the upand-coming young trainers in the business. This next year he will have about as many good horses as any trainer. Ronnie and his mascot, Sam the Bloodhound, wish to extend a cordial invitation to visit the Circle R Stables.
The whole horse show world was shocked and grievedby theuntimely death of BERYL BETHEA of Laurel. Beryl has shown horses for many years and one of her favorites was Go Boy’ s Peacock. The VOICE extends sympathy to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. ROBERT BETHEA.
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse