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