Category: Press Releases

Celebration entries remain consistent

The 86th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration will be held August 21st through August 31st and will once again host over 2,500 entries.  The total number of pre-show entries was 2,536 matching the total from 2022, which was the first time in 12 years that the Celebration had topped 2,500 entries. 

The total number of entries is 34 entries higher than last year and the total this year is a 25% increase just five years ago.  “My goal the last two years has been to pass that 2,500 entries mark.  We did it first in 2022 and that was the first time to get above 2,500 since 2012. I’m thrilled we are over 2,500 and that we surpassed the last two year’s numbers. I can’t thank our trainers, exhibitors, and owners enough for supporting our World Grand Championship show” said Celebration CEO Warren Wells.

The Celebration added a late entry deadline this year for the first time.  The late deadline was used by 28 entries in total, 13 of which were Maiden entries at the International last week.  The Celebration previously announced that Maiden entries could use the late deadline with no penalty due to the fact that championship was not held until after the original Celebration deadline.

For more information on the 86th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration visit www.TWHNC.com

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Celebration makes accommodations for Maiden entries

The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration will allow any Maiden entry to enter by the late entry deadline of July 30th without paying any penalty.  Due to the Maiden Finals being held on July 24th which falls after the entry deadline for the 86th Annual Celebration on July 23rd, those entries will be allowed to enter up until the late entry deadline of July 30th and pay the normal entry fee.

The Celebration® moved the entry deadline up this year from the traditional date and will take entries in person at the Blue Ribbon Circle on July 22nd and 23rd until 5:00PM CST.  For years The Celebration® has been asked to create a late entry opportunity with an increased entry fee for those entries that were forgotten and/or for those that have had a change in their circumstances which would allow for them to enter at The Celebration®.

“I am glad we found a way to accommodate the Maiden participants and not penalize them for wanting to show in the World Championship show. I want to be clear, the double fee for late entries is not intended as an opportunity for The Celebration® to collect more revenue.  My hope is that no one takes advantage of the late entry deadline.  The late entry deadline and the increased fee came from requests from our customers.  The 86th Celebration is lining up to be another amazing show and we are thankful for everyone that plans to enter a horse in the show.” 

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Celebration releases tentative class schedule for 2022

2022 CELEBRATION TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE

The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration recently received its tentative class sheet back from its committee for the 84th Annual Celebration.  The class schedule has major changes as 2022 will mark the first Wednesday evening session of The Celebration®.  The TWHBEA Futurity, which has traditionally been held on the first Wednesday evening of The Celebration®, will now have its classes as part of the traditional Celebration classes during the 16 sessions.

The first Wednesday evening will still host four Futurity only classes in the yearling fillies and stallions and weanling fillies and stallions and will be held in Calsonic Arena meaning just as in previous years. Thursday’s evening session will be the first in the outdoor Celebration Arena.

“The move to incorporate The Futurity as well as add a 16th session will allow us to further spread out some of our classes, keep our session lengths manageable and increase the competition across our divisions,” said Celebration CEO Warren Wells.

Another new change that has received an overwhelming positive response is the addition of the Two-Year-Old Mares World Grand Championship on the second Friday evening.  The Celebration’s committee has also included an Open Canter class on the second Wednesday evening that replaces the 15.2 & Under Canter from previous years.  This class will be a qualifier to the Tennessee Walking Horse World Grand Championship.

“We would really like to thank our committee that worked so diligently on this task.  This year provided some unique challenges and opportunities with some of the changes that were incorporated so we are especially grateful for the committee’s hard work,” said Wells.

The class sheet committee is chaired by Jennifer Bingham and includes Nathan Clark, Justin Jenne’, Laurie Toone, Howard Hamilton, Amy Trimble, and Chris Hazelwood.  The Celebration® will send out the schedule to industry organizations, post on its web site and include in industry publications for trainers, owners and exhibitors to review and send in comments. 

All comments should be completed by Friday May 13th and sent to Connie Allen at callen@twhnc.com.

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2021 Fall Classic Schedule Released

The 2021 Fall Classic is scheduled to take place in Calsonic Arena Thursday, November 4th through Saturday, November 6th.

The show will be a triple-point Riders’ Cup show and culminate with the Andy Adkins Memorial Youth Championship on Saturday night which has been the tradition for the Fall Show. The youth division is featured heavily in the schedule, with five classes across the youth division.

In addition to the Andy Adkins championship class, there is a Youth Trail Pleasure, Optional Tack, Youth Riders on Walking Ponies, Youth Riders 11 & Under on Mares & Geldings, Youth Riders on Show Pleasure Mares & Geldings, and Youth Riders on Country Pleasure, Optional Tack.

Again, this year the class sheet features the Debut class for two-year-olds that have not shown in 2021. To add to the excitement, the Celebration has broken last year’s class into two classes, one for Mares and Geldings and one for Stallions. The prize money for the winner of both classes is $3,000 this year and is brought to you by Bush Hog and Eagleville Implement.

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The Celebration announces Fall Classic judges and class schedule

The Celebration will host the Fall Classic on November 4th-6th at the Calsonic Arena on the historic Celebration grounds. Again, for the 2021 Fall Classic, the Celebration will construct a show ring within the Calsonic Arena to allow for ringside tables. These tables were a much-loved aspect of last year’s Fall Classic and provided a close-up look at the action.

The tables will cost $1500, come with eight seats, eight meal tickets per night, and this year will include an open bar. The food each night will be provided by Southern Connections Catering. The tables also qualify for bronze-level sponsorship of the Fall Classic and one exhibitor parking pass.

Adjudicating the 2021 Fall Classic will be Paul Robbins, Sam Sorrell, and Amy Trimble.  The trio is a combination of one of the industry’s most experienced judges along with relatively new faces at Celebration events.  Sorrell will be the veteran of the group having judged The Celebration seven times, most recently in 2020.  Sorrell judged the FAST Spring Showcase, Christmas in July, and Belfast horse shows this year.

Robbins previously judged The Celebration in 2014 and most recently judged the show in Manchester, Tenn., earlier this summer.  Robbins has judged many of the industry’s major venues including the National Trainers’ Show, Money Tree Classic, Christmas in July, and Wartrace.  Trimble previously judged The Celebration Fall Classic in 2010 and although hasn’t judged as much as many others, she also judged the show in Cumberland County earlier this year.  Trimble has also judged the Money Tree Classic, Mississippi Charity, and Marshall County Horseman’s Association.

The show will be a triple-point Riders’ Cup show and culminate with the Andy Adkins Memorial Youth Championship on Saturday night which has been the tradition for the Fall Show. The youth division is featured heavily in the schedule, with five classes across the youth division. In addition to the Andy Adkins championship class, there is a Youth Trail Pleasure, Optional Tack, Youth Riders on Walking Ponies, Youth Riders 11 & Under on Mares & Geldings, Youth Riders on Show Pleasure Mares & Geldings, and Youth Riders on Country Pleasure, Optional Tack.

Again, this year the class sheet features the Debut class for two-year-olds that have not shown in 2021. To add to the excitement, the Celebration has broken last year’s class into two classes, one for Mares and Geldings and one for Stallions. The prize money for the winner of both classes is $3,000 this year and is brought to you by Bush Hog and Eagleville Implement.

“We are going to have a very exciting Fall Classic this year to build on the wonderful show season we have had in 2021, and I thank Bush Hog and Eagleville Implement for assisting in adding to the excitement,” said Celebration CEO Warren Wells. 

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