By Sara Watts 

The first Saturday night of the Celebration is often viewed as a preview of what is to come on the final Saturday evening. Many of the sport’s top aged stallions make their qualifying rides with hopes of returning for the Tennessee Walking Horse World Grand Championship. The evening also features two special Celebration traditions, the Lead Line World Grand Championship and the Yearling World Grand Championship, giving fans a look at both the future of the breed and the next generation of enthusiasts. The 12-class session got underway promptly at 7 p.m.

All 12 entries made their way into the ring for the always adorable and highly competitive Lead Line World Grand Championship. Following rail work both ways of the ring, the lights dimmed and the spotlight began its search. Once the cards were tallied, the light fell on The Silver Lining and McKinley Cutshaw, with Danielle Cutshaw at the lead. The victory marked back-to-back Lead Line World Grand Championships for the trio. The Queen and Harrison Lapczynski were named reserve world grand champions with Amanda Manis at the lead. Leading Man, ridden by Rhea Simons and led by Rebecca Simons, earned the third-place ribbon.

Next into the ring were eight polished and poised yearling teams. Making the spotlight victory lap in the Yearling World Grand Championship with a unanimous decision was Bit Of Honey, with Robert Nelms at the lead for Lisa Teel and Lisa Washburn. Bit Of Honey remains undefeated through six classes in 2026. Nelms directed the striking contender to the National Futurity Fall Yearlings title Wednesday night, while Finley Reed earned the Youth 12-17 Yearling Fillies & Geldings title Friday morning. Oh My Darling Clementine and handler Kelly Richards Ward were named reserve world grand champions for Dr. Roger Richards and Bobby Jones. Cal Ripken RW and Marty Warren earned the yellow ribbon for Steve Smith.

Owner-Amateur Novice Youth 12-17 contenders were next into the ring, each hoping to leave Celebration Arena as a novice no longer. Earning the coveted title with a unanimous decision was the team of Rylee Nichols and Roll On Mississippi. The new World Champions headed back to Missouri with the blue after entering the Celebration with earlier-season wins at the Heart O’ Dixie Spring Showcase, WHTA Fireworks & Freedom and Heart Of A Champion. Super Time Charlie and Bella Parker earned the red streamer. The third-place award went to A Scout’s Honor with Brianna Rutledge. 

Class 96, Owner-Amateur Ladies on Geldings, was next on the agenda and boasted 30 horse-and-rider teams in the program. After the rail work was completed both ways, Debbie Marbry and TN Lineman were called from the lineup to capture the title for the second consecutive year. The pair entered the Celebration undefeated following wins at Upper Cumberland and Marshall County. Ole Rocky Top and Lilly Riddley earned reserve for the Alan Riddley family, while The Dixie Label and Casey Tracy rode to a third-place finish.

Class 97A brought the first of the highly anticipated Three-Year-Old Mares splits. A Gossip Girl and Sam Martin earned the unanimous World Championship for Presley Erwin of Olive Hill, Kentucky. The duo entered the Celebration following wins at the Spring Fun Show and Woodbury Lions Club. Honor N Grace and Derek Monahan earned the reserve World Championship for Sandy Brumbaugh, while Foolish Honor and John Allan Callaway received the third-place award for Mike Young.

Eight of the 11 scheduled entries answered the gate call for Owner-Amateur Youth 6-14 Ponies. I Am March Madness and Ryder Wright returned to Celebration Arena and marched their way to another first-place finish. The victory marked the second consecutive year the team earned the title for owners Ryder Wright and Regan and Debbie Woods of Lexington. Switchblade FSS and Ally Jo Jacobs earned the red ribbon for the Jacobs and McWaters partnership. Time To Tease and Otis Hughes took home the yellow ribbon for Horses To Go LLC.

Then it was time for the B split of Three-Year-Old Mares. After the cards were tallied, Capri and Herbert Derickson made the victory ride for Maria Bobo of Shelbyville. Capri is no stranger to either the Celebration or the winner’s circle. Her resume includes the 2025 Two-Year-Old Mares Division B World Championship and Two-Year-Old Mares World Grand Championship with Thomas Derickson, along with an amateur World Championship with Bobo. She’s Unlimited and Edgar Abernathy earned the reserve World Championship for the Molly Walters family. She’s A 10 and Sam Martin wore the yellow streamer out for the Erwin and Smith partnership.

Class 99 featured Owner-Amateur Novice Ladies on Stallions. Once the work was complete and the judges’ cards were tallied, Pia Broccard and Longing For Honors received the blue ribbon and World Championship title. For Broccard of Shelbyville, the victory marked her first show-ring appearance in well over 10 years and quite a way to make her return. Dixie Memorial and Tammy Barclay, winners earlier this season at Marshall County, earned reserve. The Reckoning WTC and Amanda Wright accepted the third-place award.

Owner-Amateur Youth 12-17 Show Pleasure contenders were next in class 100. Once Sam Sorrell completed the call, the entries headed to the lineup, where The Comanche and Harlynn Lorance of Murfreesboro received the nod for the victory pass. The Comanche was the 2025 Owner-Amateur Youth 6-11 World Grand Champion with Charleigh Goldman before being purchased by Walkabout Farms. Since teaming with Lorance, the pair has found success at the Columbia Spring Jubilee and Heart Of A Champion shows. Smoky Mountain Squire and Ivy Freeman stepped up for reserve, while Annie’s Lined With Cash and Khloe McSwain finished third.

Another duo shed their Celebration novice status when Slim Power and Chuck Ramsey bested a field of 19 horse-and-rider teams in the Owner-Amateur Novice Gentlemen on Mares & Geldings class. Slim Power and Ramsey earned a blue ribbon at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show earlier this season and added three strong reserve finishes before arriving in Shelbyville. Jackpot Of A Deal and Eric Sensat earned second for Eric and Skylar Sensat. He’s Whiskey Cavalier and Hayden Price rode to third for Bryson Price and Bruce Butler.

Then came what many had been waiting for all evening — the Aged Stallions splits. Five of the nine programmed entries answered the gate call in Section A, bringing plenty of talent into the Big Oval. When the work was complete, Tim Smith and Cavender were crowned the 2026 Aged Stallions Division A World Champions for Bruce and Robin MacDonald of Shelbyville. The team captured this same title in 2024 before returning on the final Saturday night to claim the 2024 Tennessee Walking Horse World Grand Championship. Spotlight On Jose 4G and Bill Callaway put on a strong performance to earn reserve for Bob Adcock. Jura THF and Michael Wright walked away with the yellow streamer for Darrell Oliver.

Six of the 10 scheduled entries competed in Section B of the Aged Stallions class to close out the evening. Another talented field kept those in attendance and watching online engaged from start to finish. Justified Honors and John Allan Callaway took another step toward a fifth World Grand Championship with a unanimous blue ribbon ride for owner Lisa Baum of Shelbyville. The victory marked their fifth consecutive win in the division, adding another chapter to the team’s history-making Celebration resume. Ohtani and Kenny Compton earned reserve, while I’m Choobacca and Sam Martin took home third.

As the excitement of the first Saturday night came to a close, fans made their way out of Celebration Arena while the horses returned to their stalls for a well-earned break. Sunday’s Celebration activities begin with the annual golf tournament and Lunch With the Legends, followed by the WHTA Auxiliary Dog Show at noon. The annual Sunday worship service is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the Big Oval before competition resumes at 7 p.m.