Kentucky State Fair
World’s Championship Horse Show brings Excitement and Large Purses in its 115th Year
Contributed Courtesy ASHA, Photography by Howard Schatzberg, Courtesy ASHA
Celebrating its 115th year, the World’s Championship Horse Show was held at the Kentucky State Fair’s famed Freedom Hall from August 19-26. With purses over one million dollars,
the World’s Championship Horse Show is the crown jewel competition for American Saddle- breds, Hackney Ponies, and Roadster horses. Nearly 2,000 horses and ponies competed for the coveted trip down Freedom Hall’s victory lane, and exhibitors ranging from 7-year-olds to people in their late 80s, enjoyed every mo- ment with their equines at the show. Throughout the eight day long show,
the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA), was widely visible and busy. Each day, the ASHA honored Members of the Day from across the country who have tirelessly given back to the American Saddlebred breed and industry. ASHA staff also worked through each evening to produce the American Saddle- bred Daily publication, which featured results and judges’ cards from the previous days, as well as photos highlighting each day’s most exciting moments. The ASHA Youth Committee outdid themselves this year, producing the junior judging, golf cart decorating contest, selfie scavenger hunt, and the photo cutout backdrop, allowing all attendees a chance to “present” the 2016 World’s Grand Champions. The ASHA continued one of the show’s most special events again this year, the Inau- gural Exhibitor and Trainer presentation. On Tuesday evening, 120 first time exhibitors and six first time trainers were presented with First
Timer Ribbons and a group photo with How- ard Schatzberg. The
American Saddlebred Registry (ASR) was well-represented at the show, as well, awarded Breeder’s Award Medallions to the World’s and Reserve World’s Champions in many American Saddlebred divisions. As well as awarding prize money in the ASR Fu- turity and Sweepstakes classes. The World’s Championship Horse Show culminated on Saturday evening, known as Stake Night, to all those who hold the show at the highest affinity. On this night, tried and tested horses met their match with new com- binations, all vying for the top prizes. No stranger to the winner’s circle in equestrian competition in various forms, Misdee Wrigley Miller kicked off stake night by winning the Ladies Three-Gaited World’s Champions of Champions title with her be- loved mare, CH
HS Baby Steps. This was their
third year in a row to earn this title. Miller’s Niece, Ali DeGray also had a successful stake night, winning the Roadster Pony World’s Grand Championship with Twin Willow’s McDreamy, also for the third year in a row. Additionally, DeGray won the Hackney Pony World’s Grand Championship with Heartland High Tech. Another fixture of the American Saddle- bred community, Elisabeth Goth, scored two big wins on stake night, capturing the Fine Harness World’s Grand Championship with Here Comes the Boom, as well as the Amateur Five-Gaited World’s Champions of Champions title with CH
Fox Grape’s The Tiger Lily. Holli Hayes, of the ever successful Ma-
Here Comes The Boom & Elisabeth Goth, Fine Harness World's Grand Champions
jestic Oaks Hackney Farm, scored her first ever Harness Pony World’s Grand Championship with Mississippi Queen for owner, Charlotte Wrather. Debbie Foley and B52 scored their second consecutive World’s Grand Champi- onship in the Roadster to Bike division for owner Scott Ha- gan. Hagan competed himself on stake night to finish Reserve World’s Grand Champion in the Three-Gaited division with HS Daydream’s Heads Up.
Notable horseman and
author, Smith Lilly won the Three-Gaited World’s Grand Championship aboard Tango’s Token Kiss for owner Grace Ar- nold, a title they also earned in
6 SouthWest Horse Trader October 2017
Tango's Token Kiss & Smith Lily, Three-Gaited World's Grand Champions
2015. Barbara Goodman Manilow is always busy at the World’s Championship Horse Show presenting her string of top American Saddle- breds, this year was no different. Aboard her bay beauty, Espresso Noir, she won the Am- ateur Three-Gaited World’s Champion of Champions title for the second year in a row. A popular and successful owner and breeder for many years, Mary Gaylord Mc- Clean also had a wildly successful Stake Night. Paired for the first time this season, Vegas Moon and McClean continued the five- year-old mare’s undefeated career by winning the Ladies Five-Gaited World’s Champion of Champions title. Later in the evening, her homebred Top Of The Mark was crowned the Five-Gaited World’s Grand Champion with trainer, Tre Lee aboard, for the second year in a row.
The Five-Gaited World’s Grand Cham- pionship is the crown jewel of American Sad- dlebred competition. The scene is set for the much anticipated rivalry with each competitor entering the ring with a standing ovation to the tune of My Old Kentucky Home. The crowd was quick to choose their favorites, and after initial rail work and conformation evaluation, Honey Badger, presented by Matt Shiflet for the Athanasuleas family, (SA) Kalarama’s Ul- timate Choice with Tammy DeVore for Helen Rich, and Top Of The Mark with Tre Lee for Mary Gaylord McClean’s Golden Creek Farms were called on for additional work in an ex- citing work out. In the end, Top Of The Mark topped the field, with Honey Badger in second, and (SA) Kalarama’s Ultimate Choice in third. For full results and judges’ cards and
more, visit the American Saddlebred Horse Association at
www.asha.net. w
Howard Schatzberg
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