Sep 11, 2008

Gunslingers Guns & Roses A., with Geno Middleton up, put on a dazzling performance here last Saturday night to bring down the curtain on the 50th anniversary Show and Celebration of the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association. Owned by William and Brent Abbott, of London, Ark., Gunslinger was in charge of the class from the time the gate was closed and left little doubt that he would wear the garland of the World Grand Champion for 2008. This year’s Show and Celebration saw a total of 167 classes pass through the gates, including performance, model, and versatility classes. Showing began on Sunday evening, Aug. 31, and continued through the week, despite heavy rains that moved through the area during midweek. Missouri Governor Matt Blunt and his family attended Saturday night’s show. After visiting with folks in the Hall of Fame and headquarters office, and strolling around the show grounds, the governor, with his wife, Melanie, and son, William Branch, entered the show arena in a buggy owned by Ava Smith and her late husband, Billy, and driven by Billy’s brother, Pete Smith. Another brother, Charles, also tended the team while they were waiting to make their entry into the arena. After addressing the crowd of the 50th anniversary show, the governor took a seat with his family on the south side of the arena and enjoyed the opening classes of the night’s performance. Earlier in the day on Saturday afternoon, two promoters of the foxtrotting horse were inducted into the MFTHBA Hall of Fame. Inducted in the 4 o’clock ceremony were Floyd Hurst, of Rogersville, who grew up in the Wasola and Ava area, and the late Kerry Baker, who died during the past year of complications from a riding accident. Baker’s plaque was accepted by his family, widow Gwen, daughter Jazmin, brother Kyle, and parents Ed and Mary Baker, all of Houston. While waiting for the show to get under way Saturday night, Gov. Blunt visited with Luther Dowdy, of Eminence, who was recently featured in The Journal, the official publication of the Missouri Fox Trotters, for having attended all 50 shows of the association. Also in attendance Saturday night were Rondo and Virginia Prock, of Ava, who said they couldn’t recall missing a show. Rondo was the show announcer for some 20 years, as well as serving as a longtime officer and board member of the association. Watching the horses perform Saturday night from his box seat at the east end of the show arena, Prock said the quality of this year’s show was the best he has ever seen. Claiming the title of reserve World Grand Champion in the 5-years-and-older class was Sunrise Tradition, shown by David Ogle for Phillip Turner. Winning the amateur World Grand Champion title for 5-and-older, was A Fancy Floozy, owned and ridden by Lee Hackler of Alma, Ark. Reserve champion went to Red Ransom A., owned and ridden by Jan Alford, of Buffalo.