1969 Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1969 August Voice RS | Page 140

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ring. Tommy Brynner was in his usual flippant frame
of mind and seemed to think that the whole affair
was "duck soup” to him. Carson Bean was somewhat
serious, though he didn’t appear to be nervous. After
the national anthem and the flag presentation, they
had a short prayer. Lonny didn’t hear any of the com­
ments made by a local Baptist preacher as he had a
prayer of his own: "Lord . . . this may not seem too
important to You with men being killed in Viet Nam
and men going to the moon. But to these folks it’s
very important. These people love horses and it looks
like You put 'em here for us to use and enjoy. Well, I
pray that You will help me to be alert and honest,
and to do a good job for all these good people.” He
missed his "Amen” as the announcer came on strong
before he looked up.
As his name was called, he moved forward a few
steps and removed his hat. He was surprised at the
response from the audience. They really clapped for
him and appeared pleased that he was a judge. He
hoped they would be as friendly after the show. The
time had come! They spun the color wheel and Lonny
was chosen "call judge.” His color was blue and he
felt as if this was some sort of omen, as blue was one
of his favorite colors. He picked up his cards, inserted
them in his pocket and turned to Carson Bean and
Tommy Brynner, saying, "Well, boys . . . let’s get out
there and tie horses. Right, Tommy?” Mr. Brynner got
a quizzical look on his face and headed for the track.
He was the referee in the very first class. "OPEN
THE GATE AND LET 'EM IN!”
Lonny was working hard as he tried to pick his best
stock. He found himself unconsciously glancing up to
see who was sitting on the horses that were hitting
the best lick. He thought to himself that he shouldn’t
pay any attention to the riders . . . just the horses.
"Give everybody an equal chance,” he said. "Look at
the horses.” He had split the class in two parts at the
beginning and had sent the first group to the rail.
Sixteen horses had been pulled in and the others re­
worked and dismissed. The second group of two-year-
old fillies was worked and twenty-two were pulled in
on the grass. Lonny glanced at his watch. Over forty-
five minutes had passed since they had come into the
ring, and they still had at least two workouts to go.
He made up his mind that he would work them easy
in the last workouts and try to cut them fast.
It was a good class of top fillies, and when they
lined up for the last time Lonny felt as if he were
really seeing the horses and riders for the first time.
The riders finally became living and breathing people,
many of whom Lonny knew well. A thousand thoughts
passed through his mind as he noted that he had tied
two trainers that he really didn’t like at all. He had
tied three men and one woman that he had never laid
eyes on before, and only four of his ten winners could
be called top trainers. He took off his hat and wiped
the rolling perspiration from his brow. He took an­
other look at his card, and his misgivings were many:
was he sure he had done it right? is that the horse he
really thought was the blue ribbon winner? Cowboy
Marion was riding a mighty good filly . . . should he
really be third? Lonny took a deep breath, handed in
his card and went to- sit down. As he lit a cigar, Car-
son Bean came over and sat beside him. "Who’d you
tie first, Lonny?” he asked, taking a plug of tobacco
out of his pocket. Lonny smiled a weak smile and
said, "I tied that little blue roan filly down near the
end. I really thought she won it -- she never broke
132
and . .
Carson stopped him and said, "Don’t apolo­
gize — I did, too! Who is that guy riding her?”
It took Tommy Brynner about ten minutes to tie all
the horses in the class and when he was finished and
had handed in his card, he came over to Lonny and
Carson. "Well, fellows . . . how’d it look to you?” With­
out waiting for an answer, he said, "I just had to tie
oT Roy Nettie on that filly by Mr. Bartlet’s stud. She’s
a good 'un.” Lonny and Carson looked at each other.
One had tied Tommy’s first-place horse ninth, and the
other had tied her sixth. When the winner was called
out, Lonny couldn’t help having a feeling of pride and
confidence. The best horse had won!
(Next month — Tying The "Big One”)
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IN
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FRIDAY. SEPTEMRER 5
#375 SCAT'S KING MAKER - Yearling Futurity.
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Consigned by R. L. Nev/num, M.D., Evansville, Ind.
Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse