By ZOË HAGGARD - zhaggard@t-g.com
For veteran Celebration goers, the annual Tennessee Walking Horse event is pretty routine. But for the trainers, every night is different as they are always hoping for the best and watching how their horses are going to react.
Those stakes are even higher for those considered as World Grand Champion contenders.
John Allan Callaway of Shelbyville is no stranger to the Celebration. He showed Justified Honors, the 2021 World Grand Champion, in one class on the preliminary night Saturday. The now 5-year-old stallion is still a contender, Callaway said.
“It’s hard to do. It’s hard to win one of them,” said Callaway. He cited how the horse, I am Jose, won three World Grand Champions in a row between 2013 and 2015.
Some horses just seem made for grand championships, he said. “There are not many challenges working with Justified Honors. Just like any athlete, you have good nights and bad nights.”
Callaway is part of Allan Callaway Stables located off Highway 41A North. When contacted by the T-G on Thursday morning, he added that the Celebration is going great this year and said that he’s “showing against some really good horses.”
“Every horse is my competition. So however he shows up on Saturday, if he performs well, that’s the way I look at it. I feel good in my horse.”
But Callaway’s achieving moment during this Celebration had to do with his daughter, Julia, winning her first World Grand Championship. “That was the highlight of my Celebration,” said the proud dad.
Walk for Roses
Russ Thompson trained and showed the 2022 contender, Walk for Roses, which was sold Wednesday to an amateur rider. Thompson said Thursday, “I think he’s the best horse I’ve ever had. But he’s a really good protégé . . . beautiful animal. I think he’ll make a breeding horse out of this world.”
Thompson said they are going to start a “new venture” with one of their amateur riders—one he’s really excited to have in his barn this year. “We’re going to sit back and just enjoy what we do.”
Born in Alabama but raised in Nashville, Thompson runs Russ Thompson Stables in Shelbyville and Ontario, Calif. He said Thursday, “If I had to pick up Coke cans to get to the Celebration, I’d be here. I’ve been coming here a long time . . . my dream. This is my world series right here.”
R.M. Kellett
R.M. Kellett, 28, had similar remarks about coming to the Celebration every year of his life. “The crowd has been a lot of fun this time. It’s been a great Celebration so far and everything right now is on go,” he said.
Kellett is showing the horse, Mr. True Blue. He explained how the contender has natural ability and a presence. “He’s a talented animal,” Kellett said. “His presence—that’s the first thing that sticks out. And he enjoys it and likes the job.”
Mr. True Blue will be shown in the 4-Year-Old World Grand Championship and though he’s a great horse, Kellett says all you can do is hope for the best. “He does it all on his own. I’m just a passenger.”
