The stands turn pink on the last night of preliminary classes
By Britney Brown

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The last night of world championship classes had arrived. Spectators crowded into box seats near the end of the cool, sunny August day. Tonight was Pink Night, and everyone was invited to wear their favorite, brightly colored, pink attire for a chance to win a gift card to The Palomino Hat Bar. Mark Farrar called to open the gate for White Diamond Dollar and hall-of-fame trainer, Vicki Self. They carried the colors around and parked in on the east side. Then, Bobbie McGee of the Grace Baptist Church gave the invocation; afterward, his sons, Jason and Jeffrey McGee of Shelbyville sang the national anthem.

The first class of the Wednesday night performance was 147. Six of 11 entries answered the gate call for the Fine Harness class. Judge Grider called the gaits in the good class as the drivers and their horses got underway at a flat walk. The competition was stiff, as the shiny carts and harness buckles glimmered around the ring. The horses lined up head-to-tail on the west side of the ring. Out of the lineup walked Cody James with Bill Cantrell at the whip for Billy Knight of Holly Hill, South Carolina. Cody James has won this year at The Horse Show in Franklin, Georgia, and is a first-time world champion. Reserve in the class went to In Ted’s Image and Bill Callaway driving for Ron Lawrence of Lenoir City. Four-time world grand champion and 10-time world champion, In Ted’s Image, was a winner at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Woodbury Lions Club and Red Carpet Show Of The South this season. Coming to accept the third-place honor was My Tequila Sunrise and Dickie Scrivner for Anne Marie Couch. 

Five & Over Mares & Geldings (Canter), class 148, was next on the agenda. These talented entries went head-to-head as Judge Sisk called the class. With many world champions in the ring, many of these horses were not strangers to the winner’s circle. The nine entries came down and into the lineup. The three-time world champion in this class, Me And Pocahontas and Tyler Baucom were announced as the world champions in the division. Me And Pocahontas is owned by Allyson Armstrong of Hickory, North Carolina, and won earlier in the season at Walking In The Smokies, the Spring Fun Show and Walking For The Angels. This was the sixth world championship for Me And Pocahontas. Wearing the crimson streamer in the class was four-time world champion, Jimmer’s Country Girl and Josh Watts, riding for Carole and Lee Baxter of Alexandria, Louisiana. Jimmer’s Country Girl is a Heart O’ Dixie Spring Showcase winner and earned a world championship with owner Carole on Monday night. Earning the third-place spot in the good class was A Dixie General with Bill Callaway for Laura Mauney. 

Class 149A was Amateur Owned & Trained Horses. The riders exhibited the bonds they had formed with their horses as they entered the ring. Ten of 13 entries made the gate call, and Chris Bobo called the gaits in the class. Working through the flat walk and running walk, these horse and rider teams made a good show, heading into the lineup with confidence. It’s Sirius walked to unanimous world championship honors in the class with Summer Compton in the irons for Rick Compton of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It’s Sirius was a winner this year at the Smoky Mountain Classic, Christmas In July and Walking For The Angels. This was the first Celebration world championship for It’s Sirius. Taking home the red ribbon to Hamilton, Alabama, for John Fikes and Chet Mills was Most Wanted MCF and Chet Mills. Most Wanted MCF won the Yearling World Championship and World Grand Championship in 2017, and won this year at the Heart O’ Dixie Spring Showcase, Cullman County Classic and Northside Lions Club shows. Third in the class was awarded to Offensive Line and Newton Parks for Legg, Williams and Parks.

The Three-Year-Old Geldings walked down the hill and into the ring for class 150. This included Futurity nominated Three-Year-Old Performance Horses. Judge Cortner called the class of 15 entries. With so many contenders fighting to stand out, the competition was fierce. In the end Commanding The Legacy and Sam Martin made the victory pass by unanimous choice for Floyd and Caryl Sherman of Shelbyville. They were winners at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show and Spring Extravaganza shows earlier this year. Commanding The Legacy also earned a world championship title in the Two-Year-Old Geldings class in 2024. In the second-place position was Swanky L with Winky Grover in the irons for Jacie Booth of Murfreesboro. Their accolades include wins this year at the TWHYA Summer Splash and a world championship in Section B of the Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Old Mares & Geldings on Monday night. Wearing the yellow streamer out of the lineup was Slim Power and Jeff Laughlin for Chuck Ramsey.

Class 151 was for Walking Horse Trainers’ Auxiliary Members. Five of 13 horses walked down the hill before the call came to close the gate and Judge Cortner took over calling the gaits. At long last, TN Lineman and Dru McCormick were dubbed the unanimous world champions, and made the good ride around the Big Oval for Debbie Marbry of Shelbyville. TN Lineman has had wins at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Upper Cumberland, Columbia Spring Jubilee, Walking For The Angels and Wartrace shows. TN Lineman also won the Owner-Amateur Ladies on Geldings World Championship on Saturday night. He is a world grand champion and is now a four-time world champion. In the second spot on the judges’ cards was I Am Mighty Jose’ with Candy Green in the irons for Shane Porterfield of Murfreesboro. I Am Mighty Jose’ is a two-time world grand champion and a five-time world champion, one of which he earned in the 15.2 & Under Stallions class Monday night. This year he won at Walking In The Smokies, the Woodbury Lions Club and Heart Of A Champion. Taking the third-place award was Title Defense and Samantha Green for the Evergreen Walking Horse Farm.

Class 152, Two-Year-Old Geldings was next. This included Futurity-nominated Two-Year-Old Performance Geldings. Judge Sisk called the class where 10 of 16 entries began the fierce competition. These young horses put on a show that equaled that of most aged horses as they vied for first-place honors. Wearing the blue streamer and neck ribbon was God Bless Texas! and Drew Graves for Nancy Groover-Hodges of Waco, Texas. God Bless Texas! won this year at Walking In The Smokies, the Cullman County Classic and TWHYA Summer Splash, and is sired by Honors and out of a JFK mare. Riding to second-place position was the winner at Come-Unity Cooperative Care this year, Yellow Creek with Ryan Blackburn in the irons for Susie Wolfgang of Lavelle, Pennsylvania. Rounding out the class with third was Gibbs Gibbs and Tim Smith, riding for Keith and Lorraine Rosbury. 

Class 153 ushered in the Mares & Foals world championship. Of the seven teams, all seven made the gate call as Chris Bobo called the class. These mare and foal pairs, with their handlers, put on a great show. Lining up head to tail on the west side, everyone waited for the winners to be announced. Adorable Diamond and Entourage’s Paparazzi, with Beverly Carter and Kelly Richards leading, walked to world championship honors. Adorable Diamond and Entourage’s Paparazzi are the entries of Beverly Carter of Shelbyville. Adorable Diamond won the Weanling Youth World Championship in 2012, as well as the Yearling World Championship and World Grand Championship in 2013. Entourage’s Paparazzi is her youngest foal, sired by Ritz Entourage. Taking home reserve in the good class were Armed Eye Candy and Sweet Eyed Dixie led by Mary Frances Way and Caroline Wesley Way for Mona McMillan and Mary Frances Way of Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This team won at the Petersburg Colt Show earlier this season. Sweet Eyed Dixie is sired by The Dixie Lineman. Finally, walking their way to third in the class were Melania and The Belfast Lineman with Jennifer Pendleton and Darien Williams at the heads for Debbie Williams.

Five & Under Park Performance contenders were next to the ring for class 154. This class included Futurity nominated Two & Three-Year-Old Park Performance Mares, Geldings and Stallions. Thirteen of 20 entries made the gate call as Judge Campbell called the class. The contenders were an exciting array of old and new faces to the division. In the end, the judging panel chose Limbaugh and Jeff Laughlin to wear the blue. Sired by Walk Time Charlie, Limbaugh is the entry of Jannie Chapman of Red Banks, Mississippi, and has had wins at The FAST Spring Showcase, TWHYA Summer Splash and the Marshall County Horseman’s Association in 2025. This was Limbaugh’s first Celebration world championship. Earning their way to a second-place finish was I Am Somethin and RM Kellett riding for Mike Nichols of Temple, Texas. Sired by I Am Jose’, I Am Somethin won this year at the Spring Fun Show and Christmas In July and earned a world championship in Five & Under Park Performance in 2024. Coming out of the lineup and into third was Feeling Tipsy with Ryan Gannon in the irons for Sherry Roberts. 

Class 149 was next on the schedule, the B split of Amateur Owned & Trained Horses. Of the 14 entries in the program, 11 stepped into the ring. Ross Campbell called the gaits in the class as they got underway at the flat walk. Making the trip to the winner’s circle was 2024 winners in this division, The Paddock Master and Kenny Smith, owner and up of Manchester, Kentucky. This was the second world champion ride for The Paddock Master, who is sired by Master Of Jazz. The second award in the class went to Cousin Bob and owner Shane Porterfield of Murfreesboro. Cousin Bob was the Owner-Amateur Stallions world champion in 2022 and had wins this year at Walking In The Smokies and the Woodbury Lions Club. Walking to a third-place finish was Diplomatic Immunity with Jack Rader for Jackie Rader. 

Class 155 brought Walking Mares & Geldings into the ring. Judge Cortner called the class of 15 entries. The preliminary to the Walking Horse Specialty World Grand Championship, this sizeable class boasted many world champions and world grand champions. The contenders took a deep seat and let their horses go as they found a good spot on the rail. The heat turned up in the cold night air as the crowd got excited. After the cards were tallied, She’s Lined With Love 4G and Thomas Derickson took the blue ribbon home to Shelbyville for Maria Bobo. A FAST Spring Showcase and Columbia Spring Jubilee winner, She’s Lined With Love 4G won the Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old Mares & Geldings World Championship on Tuesday night with owner Bobo. This brings She’s Lined With Love 4G to five world championships. She is undefeated this season under the direction of dedicated trainer, Thomas Derickson. Out of the lineup next came Smoking and Kayla Baucom, wearing the red streamer for Allyson Armstrong of Hickory, North Carolina. Smoking is a four-time world champion, with wins this year at the Spring Fun Show and Columbia Spring Jubilee. Smoking’s latest world champion honor was in the Elite Owner-Amateur Ladies on Mares & Geldings class. Walking to third-place honors in the good class was World Grand Champion and five-time World Champion Nevermore, with John Allan Callaway up for the Rolling Hills Farm, Dr. Barbara Moersch and Julia Callaway. 

Five & Under Show Pleasure, class 156, was next. This class included Futurity nominated Two & Three-Year-Old Show Pleasure Mares, Geldings and Stallions. Of the 25 entries, 19 made the gate call. After Judge Grider had finished calling the good class, they went into the lineup. Fist Full Of Cash and Drew Graves were chosen to wear the blue for Janson Patterson of Meridianville, Alabama. A first time world champion, Fist Full Of Cash also won this season at Walking In The Smokies, the Spring Extravaganza, Upper Cumberland, Spring Fun Show, Christmas In July and Let Freedom Ring. This was the first year of showing for Fist Full Of Cash, who is sired by Jose’ Jose’ out of a Lined With Cash mare. Walking to a reserve finish was the dynamic duo of Risk It and Jeff Laughlin, in the irons for Sister Milligan and Jason Joseph of Panama City, Florida, and Winchester, Kentucky. Risk It is a successful show horse, winning at Walking For The Angels this year, and taking the world champion honors in Owner-Amateur Five & Under Show Pleasure with Milligan in 2024. The third-place award was given to They Call Me Carlos and Hayden Burks, riding for Herschel and Mary Ann Blessing of What A Blessing! Farm.

Class 157, Owner-Amateur Riders on Classic Horses, showed after that. These classic horses are 15 years & over. Of nine entries in the program, eight answered the gate call were the gaits were called by Judge Sisk. These horses did not let their age stop them. Their talent and skill in the showring were timeless. Only one could make the victory lap, however, and that was A Neon Cowboy and Brian Nichols for Glenda and Ted Nichols of Ozark, Missouri. A Neon Cowboy won the Owner-Amateur Novice Gentlemen on Mares & Geldings world championship in 2019, and has won at the Heart O’ Dixie Spring Showcase, The FAST Spring Showcase, West Tennessee Strawberry Festival, Columbia Spring Jubilee, TWHYA Summer Splash and Heart Of A Champion shows in 2025. Earning second in the division was Samsung and Karen Callaway riding for Allan Callaway of Shelbyville. Samsung adds this to many accolades, including three world grand championships and six world championships. He also won at Christmas In July earlier in the year. The third ribbon in the class went to two-time World Grand Champion and three-time World Champion, Pro V1, and Gayla Kail riding for Ben Kail.

The last class of Wednesday night was also the last world championship preliminary of The 87th Celebration. From henceforth, there would only be world grand championship classes. Class 158 on the program was Walking Horses (Canter). The crowd cheered as seven entries came stepping down the hill and into the ring. Chris Bobo was the call judge. The Greatest Showman and Casey Wright took their first world champion ride as a team to the winner’s circle to wear the blue streamer and neck ribbon. The entry of Terry Lowman of Shelbyville, The Greatest Showman is sired by Walk Time Charlie. Ram Jam CTF and Charlie Green came next in the class. The entry of Dr. Steve Powers of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, Ram Jam CTF is sired by I Am Jose’. Finally walking to third was I’m Choobacca and Sam Martin, in the irons for Floyd and Caryl Sherman.

Pink Night drew to a close, and with it, the preliminary classes. Relishing in the brisk night air, spectators, trainers, owners and grooms made their way back to catch a few hours of sleep before preparations began for the last three nights.