By Britney Brown
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – It was Wednesday night at The Celebration. A week of showing had already transpired as workers and attendees alike prepared for the last three monumental nights. For now, Wednesday would see some of the first world grand champions crowned. Furthermore, it was Pink Night in the Big Oval, wherein everyone wore pink to support the Bedford Cancer Foundation. An array of floral wreaths were displayed in center ring as Mark Farrar announced the arrival of Fruit Jar Alley and Ronnie Spears at precisely 7 o’clock. They bore the flag around to the west side. Then, Bobby McGee of Grace Baptist Church of Shelbyville said the invocation, and Jason and Jeffrey McGee of Shelbyville sang the national anthem. Thereafter, Senator Brent Taylor spun the wheel in center ring to determine the call judge. Steve Buttleman sounded the bugle call for the first World Grand Championship class of the evening.
The first of 11 classes on the evening’s schedule was 159. Owner-Amateur Fine Harness, World Grand Championship. Seven entries answered the gate call and got underway on the rail at a flat walk under the direction of Judge Sorrell. After an excellent class, entries lined up head-to-tail on the west side. In the end 12-time World Champion and now six-time World Grand Champion In Ted’s Image, a classic horse with Ron Lawrence driving of Lenior City wore the first set of roses for the night. In Ted’s Image won in 2026 at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Spring Fun Show, Red Carpet Show of the South and the Owner-Amateur Gentlemen’s Fine Harness World Championship on Monday night. Reserve world grand champion honors were presented to World Champion and World Grand Champion Jose’s Vindicator and owner Caroline Wesley Way at the whip. Jose’s Vindicator had 2026 victories at the Sticky City Classic and Cullman County Classic. Walking to a third-place finish was the Owner-Amateur Ladies Fine Harness World Champion on Friday Evening, My Tequila Sunrise, with owner Ann Marie Couch driving.
The next class down the hill was 154, Owner-Amateur Classic Horses 15 Years & Over. The bugle call beckoned 16 experienced show horses into the ring as Judge Williams called the gaits. These horses ranged from 15 to 22 years of age, but they did not let their advanced years stop them from each making a spectacular show. Wearing the blue streamer and neck ribbon for Ted Nichols of Ozark, Missouri, was A Neon Cowboy with Brian Nichols in the irons. A two-time World Champion, A Neon Cowboy has won this division two years in a row and had 2026 season wins at the Heart O’ Dixie Spring Showcase, the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, West Tennessee Strawberry Festival, Spring Fun Show and Heart Of A Champion. Second on the cards in the good class was four-time World Champion and World Grand Champion Joe Pa and Shane Porterfield, up for Harper Lorance. Joe Pa won in 2026 at the TWHBEA Academy Winner Tournament and the Upper Cumberland Show. Wearing the yellow streamer for Dr. Barbara Moersch and Julia Callaway was five-time World Champion and World Grand Champion Nevermore with Julia Callaway in the irons.
Class 155, Five & Over Mares & Geldings (Canter) was another deeply competitive class. Rollie Beard called the class of eight horse-and-trainer teams. Cheers erupted from the crowd as they chose their favorites. Making the victory pass out of the lineup, by unanimous choice, for Carole Baxter of Alexandria, Louisiana, was four-time World Champion Jimmer’s Country Girl with Josh Watts riding. They add this world championship to their titles after a year of wins at the Alabama Jubilee Charity, Heart O’ Dixie Spring Showcase and Spring Fun Show. Second place on the cards was I’m Charlie Daniels with Edgr Abernathy in the irons for Linda Stewart. Their 2026 victories included blues at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Mid-South Horse Show Association, West Tennessee Strawberry Festival and the Alabama Ladies Auxiliary. Finally, wearing home the gold ribbon for Harper Grider was Honor’s Roll Call and Brent Grider.
Walking Horse Trainers’ Auxiliary Members, Class 156, was another class of seasoned world champions. Mr. Buttleman sounded the bugle call, and Judge Bonner called the gaits in the class. The 11 entries answered the gate call and each found a good spot on the rail. Once the cards were tied and the results were in, World Champion Beiga Cheval and Maria Bobo were called into the winner’s circle. Owned by McGee and Dickerson of Lenoir, North Carolina, Beiga Cheval won in 2026 at the Fayetteville Blue Ribbon Show. Reserve award in the class was presented to I Am Mighty Jose’ and Candy Green, riding for Shane Porterfield. A five-time world champion and two-time world grand champion, I Am Mighty Jose’ won this year at the Putnam County Fair. Riding out of the lineup to a third-place finish was I’m The Alamo and Karen Callaway up for Ridgemont Farm – Barbara Corbett and Lynn Hickok.
Class 157 kept the momentum going with Park Performance Five & Under. Fifteen entries competed fiercely under the direction of Judge Brooks. After much deliberation, World Champion and World Grand Champion Limbaugh and Jeff Laughlin were called to make the victory pass for the second year in a row for Jannie Chapman of Red Banks, Mississippi. This year, Limbaugh took home blues at the FAST Spring Showcase and Heart Of A Champion, as well as his second world championship last Wednesday night in the Owner-Amateur Park Performance Five & Under. Wearing the crimson streamer for Anne Evans was The Red Dragon and Chris Zahnd. The Red Dragon had a successful show year at Walking In The Smokies, the Spring Fun Show, Walking For Cancer and WHTA Fireworks & Freedom. Taking home third for Yellowstone Farm was the team of YS Hemingway with Clay Sanderson in the irons.
Show Pleasure Five & Under, class 158, was the last of the 2026 World Championship preliminary classes. Calling the class of 18 entries was Sam Sorrell. With such a large class, trainers fought for a good spot on the rail. In the end, it was Blast Off with Lake Weaver in the irons who took home the blue streamer and neck ribbon. This was the first world championship ride for Blast Off. He is the entry of Michael Inman of Shelbyville and won in 2026 at WHTA Fireworks & Freedom. Wearing the crimson streamer home for Joseph Abernathy and Ashley Say was Mighty’s Image and Chris Zahnd. Third award in the good class was awarded to Charlie Woods and Kayla Baucom for owner Robert Deutch.
Excitement filled the stands as class 160 entered the ring, Owner-Amateur Youth Country Pleasure Mares & Geldings, World Grand Championship. Steve Buttleman spun the wheel and bugled the call for the class. Eight entries answered the gate call and took to the rail under the direction of Judge Beard. These young riders competed with all they had. In the end, four-time World Champion and now four-time World Grand Champion Shipwrecked with Otis Hughes aboard wore the roses back to Russell Springs, Kentucky, for Jason and Dr. Shana Hughes. Shipwrecked has been undefeated since 2023, but this was the first spotlight ride for Otis. They had a successful show year with wins at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Spring Fun Show, WHTA Fireworks & Freedom and a world championship ride Saturday morning in the Owner-Amateur Youth 6-11 Country Pleasure class. Reserve in the good class went to five-time World Champion Thunder Storm In Dixie with Sterling Woodruff in the irons for Laurie Toone and Emily Woodruff of Shelbyville. Their 2026 accolades include victories at the FAST Spring Showcase, Spring Fun Show, Shelbyville Tennis Club, Woodbury Lions Club and a fifth world championship on Friday morning in Owner-Amateur Youth 12-17 Western Country Pleasure. Finally, third on the cards was four-time World Champion and World Grand Champion The Tiger Lily with Bentlee Baum in the irons for Lisa Baum.
Class 161 was the Owner-Amateur Lite-Shod World Grand Championship. Six entries came down the hill to compete for the roses. Judge Brooks called the good class as they got underway at a flat walk. After fierce competition, 14-time World Champion and now 13-time World Grand Champion Roscoe Jenkins and owner Susan Coleman of Unionville wore the floral wreath home. They won at the Money Tree Classic in 2026, and Roscoe Jenkins turned 15 this year, making him a classic horse now. Taking home the reserve world grand championship was 11-time World Champion and three-time World Grand Champion Big Time Bandit and Lisa Baum, the owner and rider. They had 2026 wins at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show and the Spring Fun Show. Wearing the gold streamer was four-time World Champion and World Grand Champion Coachman with Blake Cammack for Jackson Cammack and John Lawwell.
The Owner-Amateur All Day Pleasure Five & Under World Grand Championship constituted class 162. Walker Wells spun the wheel on the west side to determine the call judge. With nine entries answering the gate call, the class got underway under the direction of Judge Brooks. Out of the lineup came two-time World Champion Villainous and Andy Stooksberry to wear the roses. Owned by Andy Stooksberry of Shelbyville, Villainous had 2026 victories at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Spring Fun Show and WHTA Fireworks & Freedom. In addition, they had a world championship ride in the Owner-Amateur Four & Five-Year-Old All Day Pleasure on Thursday morning. Second award in the class was presented to the talented team of One Knight Rodeo with Maggie Moore, the owner and rider. One Knight Rodeo had 2026 victories at the PWHAT Fun Show and the FAST Spring Showcase. Third on the cards was World Champion Vivian, with Kaitlyn Rippy in the irons for owner Andy Rippy.
Class 163 brought Owner-Amateur Country Pleasure Five & Under into the ring to contend for World Grand Championship honors. With Rollie Beard calling the gaits in the class, five entries got underway at a flat walk. Delight filled the stands as the crowd cheered on their favorites. Making the spotlight ride for Perry and Kimberly Walden of Shelbyville was three-time World Champion and World Grand Champion Jalapeño with Kimberly Walden riding. Jalapeño had 2026 victories at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Walking In The Smokies, the FAST Spring Showcase and WHTA Fireworks & Freedom, as well as his third world championship on Monday morning in Owner-Amateur Four & Five-Year-Old Country Pleasure class. Since winning the Maiden in 2023, Jalapeño is undefeated in his show career. In reserve on the cards was two-time World Champion Hit List and Dr. Blake Everett riding for Bruce and Lee Sinden. Hit List won at the Low Country Classic and WHTA Fireworks & Freedom earlier in the show season, with a Monday morning world championship in the open Country Pleasure. Wearing the yellow ribbon for SP AZ LLC was three-time World Champion Talkin’ Tennessee and owner Sherri Pollack.
The last class of the night, 164, was the Park Pleasure World Grand Championship. Sister Milligan spun the wheel to determine the call judge as the bugle sounded. This exciting class woke up the crowd as the best of the best competed to make the spotlight ride. Judge Sorrell called the class of nine entries. Coming out of the lineup to wear the floral wreath was two-time World Champion One Special Poison with Jonathan Baskin up for Lisa Shockey of Moorefield, West Virginia. This was the first spotlight ride for both horse and rider. After making a second world championship ride on Monday morning in the English Park Pleasure, One Special Poison added a world grand championship to his titles. Two-time World Champion The Holy Roller and Ryan Gannon finished in reserve in the good class. The entry of Caroline Elliott, The Holy Roller won in 2026 at the Money Tree Classic and on Friday morning in the Western Park Pleasure World Championship. Finally, placing third was five-time World Champion and two-time World Grand Champion Dose’ with Patrick Thomas in the irons for Lisa Baum.
This concluded Pink Night at The Celebration. The preliminary classes were over and the first floral horseshoes of 2026 had been awarded. The next night would see more spotlight rides around the Big Oval and more dreams coming true. It would also be Throwback Thursday Night. It would honor Betty Sain, the first woman to be crowned World Grand Champion 60 years ago this year. Until then, spectators grabbed their last-minute donuts, while grooms worked tirelessly to clean up and put their horses away for the night.