American Saddlebred's Biggest Stage Crowns New and Repeat World's Grand Champions
RELEASE: September 3, 2009
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Brice Carr
The 2009 World's Championship Horse Show (WCHS), held annually in conjunction with the Kentucky State Fair, was held at Louisville's Freedom Hall from Sunday, August 23, through Saturday, August 29.
There was plenty of excitement at WCHS this year, as new World's Grand Champions were crowned in the Five-Gaited and Fine Harness World's Grand Championships, while the 2008 Three-Gaited World's Grand Champion repeated as such in 2009. Among a formidable field of competitors, as in each class, Courageous Lord emerged victorious in the Five-Gaited World's Grand Championship, owned by Marsha Shepard and Bill Carrington of Shelbyville, TN, and ridden and trained by Merrill Murray.
In the Three-Gaited World's Grand Championship, for the second year in a row, CH Our Charming Lady won the top spot for owners Jack and Donna Finch of Greensboro, NC, once again ridden by Mary Marcum Orr.
The Fine Harness World's Grand Championship was won by CH Castledream, owned by Hillcroft Farm, LLC, of Paris, KY, and piloted by Larry Hodge.
To view the full results of all competitions held at the 2009 WCHS, visit the Kentucky State Fair WCHS section of the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) website, at
www.asha.net/WCHS-Results. Here you will find links to all class schedules, entries and results, as well as judges' cards. You will also find online versions of the
American Saddlebred Daily, a daily results magazine that includes competition results from classes held the previous day, editorial feature stories, and graphic photos of the previous day's events.
Additional 2009 WCHS coverage and content can be found on Club Equestrian's website, at
www.clubequestrian.com/coverage/worldschampionship_2009.aspx. This site provides media content of the show, including photos and videos, which include footage of this years events, as well as interviews with notable Saddlebred personalities.