History – 2000′s

Five-Gaited World's Grand Champion CH Boucheron with trainer Rob Byers up.

Eye-catching at the turn of the century was the increase in the number of women competing in championships. In the Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championship, Dena Tanner Lopez was triumphant with ^CHWild-Eyed And Wicked for New Millennium Equine Endeavor, Inc. in 2000 and again in 2001 for Sally and Joe Jackson. ^CHWild-Eyed And Wicked became the sixth horse to win the Five-Gaited American Saddlebred Triple Crown (Lexington Junior League, Kentucky State Fair World’s Championship and American Royal comprise the Triple Crown) and the second horse to win it more than once. In 2003, Nancy-Leigh Fisher and ^CHCallaway’s Forecaster became the third amateur team, and second lady/amateur team, to prevail. In between, Merrill Murray won his second World’s Grand Championship (the first in 1987 with ^CHOur Golden Duchess) with SS Genuine for the David C. Nierenberg Trust. ^CHBoucheron, a top contender for years, entered the World’s Grand Championship dimension with Rob Byers for Double G Farm in 2004 and became the sixth horse to win the Five-Gaited American Saddlebred Triple Crown.

In the fine harness division of the World’s Grand Championshsip, ^CHRadiant Success won for the third straight year in 2000 and claimed his second Triple Crown in three years for owners Walter and Jackie Stred and trainer Nelson Green. Setting a rare record was ^CHCallaway’s Copyright, Fine Harness World’s Grand Champion from 2001 through 2006 with trainer John T. Jones for Fox Grape Farms, Inc. ^CHCallaway’s Copyright became the first six-time winner of the Fine Harness World’s Grand Championship in the 104-year history of the Kentucky State Fair World’s Championship Horse Show, breaking the record of five consecutive set by ^CHColonel Boyle (1960-’64).

The Three-Gaited World’s Grand Championship saw Hollywood Excellence win for the third time in 2000 with amateur owner Elisabeth M. Goth. Sam Stafford and ^CHYes It’s True defeated all comers in 2001 for Blythewood Farms. In 2002, ^CHAn Heir About Her and Chris Reiser dominated, repeating in 2003 and 2004 for Hanes Chevrolet Company. With her win at three years old in 2002, ^CHAn Heir About Her was the youngest to win that class since ^CHForest Song in 1966. Her three World’s Grand Championships put her in the same echelon as Jonquil, ^CHAmerica Beautiful, ^CHBlue Meadow Princess, ^CHBellisima, ^CHFinisterre’s Gift Of Love, ^CHSultan’s Starina and Hollywood Excellence (BHF). ^CHAn Heir About Her went on to win the Three-Gaited American Saddlebred Triple Crown in 2004.

A winning tradition was continued for one notable bloodline in the 2006 Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championship with winner He’s The Man. His sire, ^CHMan On The Town, took home the Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championship in 1989 & ’90. ^CHMan On The Town’s sire, ^CHYorktown, can lay claim to three consecutive Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championships (1970-’72). And ^CHYorktown’s sire is the great ^CHWing Commander, winner of six consecutive Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championships (1948-’53).

Information provided by the American Saddlebred Horse Association, http://www.saddlebred.com