MONTGOMERY SOUTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP HORSE SHOW ENDS WITH TOP PERFORMANCE
by David L. Howard
This is a troubled time in the Walking Horse business— a time when it is exceedingly difficult to separate fact from fiction; a time when it is impossible to distinguish between those who propose properly-motivated measures and those who seek simply to enhance their own personal interests; a time when it is a rare occasion when a horse show goes off without a whole host of real and imagined problems cropping up—" sore horses,” " lousy judging," or something.
With this in mind, the road to Montgomery seemed long indeed, as it appeared that this would simply be another show with its own set of hashed-over problems. Prior to show time, few people thought that Montgomery could escape with simply " having a horse show.”
Well, something must have happened, because all Montgomery did was have a horse show— but it was quite a horse show! It had everything a season-ending show needs, including a well-balanced and highly competitive field of horses and a relaxed and fun-loving atmosphere. There was plenty of work done at Montgomery... you cannot have this calibre of horse on the grounds and NOT work... and yet there was the usual dose( or was that a double dose?) of socializing.
SOUTHERN ' CHAMPION— Winner of the final class and the Grand Championship for the second year in a row were ACE’ S SENSATION and Wink Groover. ACE is owned by Randall Rollins of Atlanta, Georgia
The Thirteenth Annual Southern Championship Charity Horse Show at the Garrett Coliseum offered 62 classes in a five-day schedule. The show got underway Tuesday, November 11, and the last horse left the ring Saturday night, November 15. There were 27 Walking Horse classes: 16 professional, 5 amateur, 3 juvenile and pony, and 3 pleasure and colt. The show committee for the Southern Championship is one of the most experienced around and is headed by H. O. Davis, President. Other officers are. James E. Beasley, Jr., Vice President; Tine W. Davis, Vice President; and W. O. Crawford, Secretary and Treasurer. The show manager was Mrs. Ruth Bowers and the master of Ceremonies was veteran O’ Neil Howell of Memphis. The tough assignment of judging the Walking Horse classes was handled in good form by Sam Yarbrough of Pulaski, Tennessee. It is difficult for one man to judge a show with the number and calibre of horses as Montgomery, but Sam did a fine job.
The 16 professional classes witnessed eight trainers receiving blue ribbons, with Wink Groover heading the list with five first-place awards, four trainers each won two blues: Preach Fleming, Huck Moss, Herman Dot’ Warren, and Donald Paschal.
Other trainers to win blues were Jimmy Hicks, Doug Wolaver and Marianne Leech.
The two-year-old division witnessed the arrival of a top contender for next season, SHADOW’ S DOMINO, with Herman " Dot” Warren riding for Mr. and Mrs. George Dedmon of Ringgold, Georgia. This consistently good stallion won the stallion preliminary class and the stake in fine form. The preliminary gelding class was won by Preach Fleming riding R. D. Keene’ s SHADOWS DELIGHT. The filly preliminary was taken by Jimmy Hicks on SPIRIT’ S SATIN DOLL for Dr. Harry Blaylock of Birmingham, who also owns BLUE’ S MARY DOLL, the great mare that was retired at Montgomery. In the Two-Year-Old Championship class, George Witt riding DELITE’ S SOUL MAN won the reserve award. George and his horse were reserve in both stallion preliminary and stake.
Wink Groover won two of his blue ribbons in the three-year-old competition on EBONY’ S BLACK MAR KET for Billy Hale. This black stallion has now won four straight blue ribbons. Wink and this horse won their classes at Mobile two weeks before Montgomery and picked up right where they left off. The Three-Yearold Mare Class was won by Preach Fleming on MAJOR’ S MARY POP-
10 Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse