black two-year-old back in the stake because of an intestinal infection. He was very pleased with the show they had made in the class and actually felt that this was a better horse than he had won the
championship with the year before. CHUG-A-LUG had been " fit as a fiddle”, showing no signs of being sick, until Little Joe found him down in his stall the day’ after the class. He finally got over his ailment, but his owner, Mr. Bullard, decided that he didn’ t want to take any chances.
In the Age Stud Class on Thursday night, Lonny had purposely made a cautious show with BEAU GENTRY. He had argued all week with Dr. Greely and his supporters that he should hold the big stud back in the class and not cause too much stir, wait ing until the Championship to show ' em all he had.
Dr. Greely was a little disturbed that they had gotten tied fourth in the Stud Class and made no resby Charles Barry Sanderson
Lonny Barnes was beginning to wonder " what he was doing in the horse business” as he stood waiting for the gate to open for the world’ s grand championship stake class at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Festival. He was standing next to BEAU GENTRY, as far back in the shadows as he could get and still be in sight of the gate. Dr. Greely had just left to return to his box seat and Little Joe was busy rubbing and putting the final touches on this, the first horse he had ever groomed for the“ big stake.” Needless to say, young Lonny Barnes was a bundle of nerves. " Go over to the food booth real quick, Little Joe, and get me a cola,” he said, as he reached for the reins of the big black stud standing nervously next to him. Lonny tried to spit but there was nothing but cotton in his mouth. He lit another cigarette and made note of the way the smoke filtered the brilliant lights of the massive stadium as it rose in the crisp late-night air. Easing back on the fender of a car, he pondered the past seven days and remembered the conversation he had had with the men in front of his stable the first of the week. He remembered his parting words and the reply that he had received. He remembered all too well saying, " I don’ t put too much stock in all this talk about the ability of some people to get things done.” Now he was beginning to wonder! Lonny also recalled the statement made to him the first of the week pointing out that " they”- whoever " they” are- would not let him win two championships. He thought to himself that he only had one to shoot for now, and that maybe he had a chance after all.
Of the six horses he had brought to the Festival, only four had placed besides BEAU GENTRY. Little Carol Jones had tied seventh on her Juvenile horse and the Rutledge boy had tied third on his Walking Pony after letting him break in the last workout. Lonny had tied sixth on his aged mare and Reserve in the Two-Year-Old Stud Class on CHUG-A-LUG He still regretted that he could not show this fine
40 ervations in pointing out that this was the lowest that BEAU GENTRY had been tied since he was a colt. Lonny had convinced him, however, that it was important that they not cause too much concern for " the powers that be” and maybe they would not put too much pressure on him in the stake. This was his planning and NOW he would find out whether or not he was right. Lonny Barnes would find out a lot before the evening was over!
Little Joe came back with the cold drink and Lonny took a long gulp just as the tractor finished dragging the track and pulled out of the show ring. He heard the announcer build up the tempo and the excitement of the crowd that now numbered well over twentyfive thousand spectators. All of the twelve entries in the big stake had been briefed by a show official regarding the procedure for entering the ring in the big stake. Lonny didn’ t like it at all! The horses were to enter the ring in numerical order and in the running walk. Riding BEAU GENTRY with number 12 made him second on the list, and he always liked to be first or last on a top horse. The red-coated ring steward approached the entry gate and motioned for the riders to get ready to come in. This was his cue!
Lonny mounted BEAU GENTRY, who by now was getting awfully edgy and wanted to move around. The big stud knew something was going on and he wanted to " get at it.” He was tired of standing around. Lonny knew he had several minutes before the class, and worked his way out of the shadows toward the warm-up ring. OP BEAU hit the warmup ring in good form and was doing everything just right. Lonny was pleased. He worked him at a fast flat foot walk for two rounds and then reversed. As he made his second round he could hear the announ
cer call for the class in the background. As he pulle
up to the long fenced-in area leading to the ent. gate he heard the big organ strike up the popu >
re rain of " Dixie” and the crowd came to its f * with a thunderous response as the first horse enter
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking f