LABOR DAY weekend 1974, Saturday, September 7. The city inhaled Celebration energy and exhaled excitement and anticipation. Nine days of hopefuls— present and future—had entered the ring, walked, cantered, and run-walked to the organ’s cadence as 112,499 spectators cheered them on ringside. “Let ‘em walk on” could be heard blocks away. Some of the 1,944 entries exited with platters, trophies, and ribbons, but all left the ring having experienced the spirit of The Annual World Grand Championship Show.
They were welcomed into town with billowing red, white, and blue buntings waving from local businesses and power poles—one of the first signs to residents that showtime was on its way to town. Sullivan’s, First National Bank, Shelbyville Super Markets, the Dixie Hotel, and the Scrub-A-Dub, among others offered their services and hospitality. Next was the arrival of the campers and horse trailers dotting the grounds behind Handy Dandy Market, the anchor of Madison Street and Celebration Way. Although the school year had barely begun, the sights triggered school kids’ anticipation of the traditional horse show break. Some knew family vacations were fast approaching, afforded by the visitors renting area homes for the show’s duration.
Shelbyville swelled for 10 days, like an expectant mother, with the final Saturday night delivering the pride and joy of the Tennessee walking horse industry—its national champion.
The clanking of the folding box-seat chairs marks the high school memories of countless students who earned spending money by setting them up and taking them down each night—all 11,472 of them. People pass on their Celebration box seats to their heirs.
Speaking of collections—at the field office of The Walking Horse Report, on the show grounds, Dr. Bob Womack could be found autographing copies of his new book, “The Echo of Hoofbeats.” The industry collectible hardback sold for $12 and documented the history of the Tennessee walking horse.
While in other towns, teens were cruising the strip listening to “Seasons in the Sun,” “Band on the Run,” and “Sweet Home Alabama,” Shelbyville teens circled under the grandstands to the rhythm of the Celebration’s organist. Wafting country ham, doughnuts, cotton candy, and burgers punctuated the trail—you could travel blindfolded and sense your exact spot.
Vendors peddled popcorn and peanuts in the stands as the ushers stood ready to offer seating directions to any lost souls. Bugs played in the bright lights spilling onto the track. Back and forth go the streams of people, visiting one last time before returning to their home bases near and far.
But tonight, the air is charged with change.
In the center ring, judges Benvis Beachboard, Robert H. Burris, Jr., Toby Green, A.R. Gordon, Jr., and Harvey R. Lefevers look over the grand championship class. The crowd’s favorites are evidenced by the waves of cheers and clapping as each horse circles the ring. Although the hour is growing late, no one here is worried about the time. The breed is about to have a new world grand champion.
One standout entry is rider/trainer Ronnie Spears and Another Masterpiece. In the Sept. 3, 1974, souvenir edition of the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, Monte Arnold reported, “The favorite on most lists of contenders is Another Masterpiece, the big, black six-year-old stallion owned by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Moore, [of] Monroe, Ohio.
Rider Ronnie Spears claims his horse is ‘real tough and ready for Celebration competition.’”
And Spears wasn’t just bragging.
The 1975 Blue Ribbon magazine changed its 1948 tradition of using only a headshot or a stripped shot of the prior year’s grand champion on its cover. The 1975 cover was a full shot of 1974’s national grand champion, Another Masterpiece. The issue reported:
“In his victorious year, Another Masterpiece completely dominated his division, winning in the aged stallion class and the grand championship with first-place ties on all three judges’ cards in both classes. Another Masterpiece is a physically outstanding example of a champion Tennessee walking horse. He is a 7-year-old black stallion weighing approximately 1,250 pounds and standing 17 hands tall. He is considered by veteran horse show observers to be one of the breed’s most natural horses and has proven he has the stamina to win against the toughest competition. It is rare for a horse his size to be considered a ‘pretty horse,’ but Another Masterpiece is one of the most physically attractive champions in years. Shortly after his two outstanding wins at the Celebration, it was announced that Another Masterpiece would stand at public service at the S.W. Beech & Sons Stables in Belfast, Tennessee.”
Bobby Beech of S.W. Beech & Sons Stables said, “Another Masterpiece might have been a horse that was a groundbreaker. When you compare the 1973 world champion to 1974’s, Another Masterpiece is so different and much better. He stepped higher and walked faster, which is the desired running walk, and he was absolutely drop-dead gorgeous—a big, black horse with a little smile and pretty ears who was very attentive to everything around him. He changed the gait; made it better. He was at the forefront of what we have in today’s modern horse, and he beat a good horse that year. Ebony’s True Grit was second—a good horse who became a world champion.”
At the retirement ceremony a year later, Another Masterpiece left one last memory etched in the hearts of all in attendance.
Beech said, “He came through the gate by himself, of course, with Ronnie Spears, who rode him around the ring. He did his three gaits, and they called him to the center ring and put a blanket of roses on him. Then the announcer said, ‘Now we want to ask the owners, Mr. Moore and his family, to hand the reins over to S.W. Beech for him to stand at stud at his farm in Belfast. S.W., would you take the reins?’
“And my dad took the reins, took the saddle and other gear off, and led him around the ring, which took a little while because so many people were trying to get pictures of him. But when he got to the entrance gate, my dad stopped and parked him. Another Masterpiece stretched his head up as the announcer said, ‘So long, Another Masterpiece. We thank you for being here tonight.’ The horse threw his ears and his head up and nickered. The crowd of over 20,000 went crazy, and cold chills ran up their backs.”
So one last time—so long, Another Masterpiece. We thank you for the memories! GN
