Splits announced for Celebration stallion class

It reads like a Who's Who in the walking horse world -- the Celebration has just released the names of the aged stallions who will be contending for this year's World Grand Championship. The first Saturday night of the Celebration is typically known as "Stallion Night" with the two divisions of walking stallions, 5 years of age and over, and over 15.2 hands. said Jimmy Burton, spokesman for the event.

The splits have been made for this year, and there are many familiar and favorite names filling out the two classes.

Class 81 A

It's Billy The Kid, Greg Bryant; Cadillac's Bum, Edgar Abernathy; High Dollar Silver, Billy Joe Hays; The Coach, John Allan Callaway; Mister Push Button, Scott Beaty; Armed and Dangerous Premier, Brock Tillman; Pusher's Astro, Joe Cotten; Ted Williams, Mike Hilley; Dumas Dandy, Link Webb; Blue Blooded Bandit, Billy Morgan; He's A Weekend Warrior, Knox Blackburn; Flash of Silver, Stephen Daniel; Watch It Now, Jimmy McConnell; King Of The Jungle, Charlie Green; and General's Show Stopper, Dick Peebles.

Class 81 B

Missed the Boat, Jason Day; Another RPM, Chad Williams; Silver Dollar's Donato, Rocky McCoy; Shangai Ritz, Allen McQuerry; Puttin Cash On The Line, Ray Gilmer; Star, Jimmy McConnell; Ironworks Tin Man, Chad Way; PGA, John Allan Callaway; Skywatch's Masterpiece, Bill Callaway; Gen On The Run, Link Webb; Palm Beach Ritz, Sandra Johnson; Push Too's Cowboy, Knox Blackburn; I'm Reagan, Tony Palomino; Up For Parole, Jimmy McConnell; Rowdy Rev, Bill Bobo; Jazz N Ebony, Carl Bledsoe; Steal Justice, Jack Way; and The Golden Sovereign, David Landrum.

With only a few weeks until show time, Dr. Doyle Meadows, CEO of the Celebration, announced entry numbers for this year's event. Pre-entries for the 71st Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration are 3,417 with more than 1,700 horses.

"With our economic downturn, we expected a drop in total numbers, but it is extremely gratifying to post such a solid number of entries," said Meadows in a press release. "The walking horse industry has faced some difficult challenges this show season and the credit for the continued success of our entries goes to all of the owners, trainers, and exhibitors from across the country that have helped make The Celebration one of the premier championship shows in the equine world. We are thankful and humbled by the number of entries."

Meadows and Entry Office Manager Margaret Eakin noted a steady number of entries in the owner-amateur division. With a class schedule of 171 classes it was necessary to split 20 classes, with two classes three ways.

Four new classes were added to the schedule for 2009 and they received strong support with an average of thirty (30) entries per class.

"We get a great deal of input from our exhibitors concerning the class schedule," reported Eakin. "We review each suggestion carefully, and try to come up with a schedule and class listing that accommodates the most exhibitors. We are extremely happy to see the strong support we received for the new classes added this year," she stated.

The Celebration is the longest continually running event in Tennessee. The 71st rendition kicks off with morning classes on Wednesday, Aug. 26 and the initial night performance in the outdoor stadium will be on Thursday, Aug. 27.

Ticket purchases can be made by calling (931) 684-5915. More Celebration information can be found at www.twhnc.com.

The Celebration takes place each year during the 11 days and nights prior to Labor Day. This year's event is scheduled Aug. 26-Sept. 5. It is the premier event for the Tennessee Walking Horse, culminating with the crowning of the World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse. More than $750,000 is given out in prizes and awards. Other activities include a barn decorating contest, a trade fair, a barbecue cookout, and a dog show.

The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' And Exhibitors' Association's annual Futurity Show will be Wednesday night at Calsonic Arena, featuring the young talent that may someday claim their place in the World Grand Championship class. The Coach won his two-year-old class at the 2006 Futurity and went on to win top honors in the four-year-old class at last year's Celebration.