Kentucky State Fair World's Championship Horse Show
 |
 A class of American Saddlebreds and riders at the World's Championship Horse Show. | |
| Sanctioning body | American Saddlebred Horse Association |
|---|---|
| Second sanctioning body | United States Equestrian Federation |
| Location | Freedom Hall @ Kentucky State Fairgrounds/Expo Center |
| Held | Annually |
| Inaugurated | 1902 |
| Largest honor | World's Grand Championship |
| Divisions | Five-gaited, three-gaited, fine harness, road horse, road pony, harness pony |
The World's Championship Horse Show, held at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds in Louisville, Kentucky, in Freedom Hall, is a large horse show that includes the American Saddlebred, Hackney pony, Dutch Harness Horse, and Standardbred breeds. It is usually held annually in late August, coinciding with the dates of the Kentucky State Fair and in the middle of the show season for the three breeds. Any horse or rider who wins there earns the title of World's Champion (abbreviation: WC), and a second-place finish is identified with a Reserve World's Championship (abbreviation: RWC) title. In addition to the WC and RWC titles, a horse can also earn the World's Grand Championship (WGC) or World's Championship of Champions (WCC) title. The winner of a championship class which requires a qualifier is given one of these titles.
Competition
American Saddlebred horses, Hackney ponies and horses, and Standardbred horses compete in the World's Championship. In each division, there are always several classes specifically for amateurs, ladies, amateur ladies, and junior exhibitors. There are also specific age classes for younger horses, namely two- three- and four-year-olds, and for Saddlebred ponies and horses.[1]
The Saddlebred divisions of the show's classes contain about six to thirty classes each, and the number may depend on the number of entries that will be showing, since larger classes are usually split into two separate sections. Saddlebreds compete in the divisions found in most of their shows, including the three performance divisions, five-gaited, three gaited, and fine harness, as well as park and pleasure divisions. Saddle seat equitation classes are also offered for junior riders.
The Hackney ponies compete in four divisions, road, Hackney (cobtail), harness, and pleasure driving. Standardbreds are shown in only one division, road horses.
Multiple World's Championship titles are awarded, but there is only one World's Grand Championship in each division.[2] The most prestigious World's Grand Championship is for five-gaited Saddlebreds, meaning horses that perform the standard gaits of walk, trot, and canter plus two four-beat gaits, the slow gait and the rack.[3][4] Saddlebreds in the Three-Gaited World's Grand Championship compete at the walk, trot and canter, but are still judged on their breed type and animation.[5]
History
The World's Championship Horse Show has been held every year since it was founded in 1902 with only two exceptions. The first missed year was 1904, when no fair was held, and 1945, when the fair was cancelled due to World War II.[6] The World's Grand Championships were first held in a modern sense in 1914. It is one of the three horse shows that compose the Saddlebred "Triple Crown," in addition to the Lexington Junior League Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky, and the American Royal in Kansas City, Missouri. The schedule always ends on a Saturday night with the Five-Gaited World's Grand Championship, which carries prize money of $100,000.[7]
In 1953, the stallion Wing Commander, trained by Earl Teater became the first Saddlebred to ever win six World's Grand Championship titles, all in the five-gaited division.[8] After him, a mare named My-My matched his feat from 1963 to 1968, but she died before she could win a seventh title. More recently, a fine harness horse named Callaway's Copyright won his sixth World's Grand Championship in 2006 and retired shortly thereafter. In 1988, Michele MacFarlane became the first woman to win the Five-Gaited World's Grand Championship on Sky Watch. Since then, she has had two more wins of the same title, on two different horses in 1996 and 2007. The latter year was also notable, for another amateur woman, Mary Gaylord McClean, won the reserve title to MacFarlane. Some other horses that have made recent history with their performances are An Heir About Her, who became the first three-year-old Saddlebred to win a World's Grand Championship in 2002, and A Sweet Treat and HS Daydream's Heads Up, who won World's Grand Championships in both the three-gaited and fine harness divisions, which is particularly unusual and proves a horse's versatility.
In 2006, the Kentucky State Fair offered a western pleasure division for Saddlebreds and the hunt seat pleasure division was introduced in 2019. It also has begun offering futurity and junior park pleasure classes and a junior exhibitor park division.
Winners
This is a partial list of World's Grand Championship winners at the World's Championship Horse Show.
 |
| Year | Five-Gaited | Three-Gaited | Fine Harness | Road Horse | Road Pony | Hackney Pony | Harness Pony |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1902 | Preston | Gayety | Miss Peabody | Glennbrook | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1903 | Rex Peavine | Gayety | Kentucky's Belle | Mac Roberts | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1905 | Bourbon King | Gamelbar | The American Girl | Rex Arbuckle | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1906 | Indian Boy | Poetry of Motion | Nominee | Kentucky Peak | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1907 | Star McDonald | Jane S. | Top | Ashland Maid | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1908 | Red McDonald | Poetry of Motion | Kate Hamilton | Mattie Bond | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1909 | Edna May (BHF) | Princess Sonia | Golden Glow | Lady Pura | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1910 | Bourbon Prince | Gladys L. | Nazimova | Kenneth Mack | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1911 | Nickel Plate | Diana Of The Lea | Nazimova | Othaway Belle | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1912 | Rexola (Shown as Hazel Dawn) | Mildred C. | Jaqueline | Kenneth Mack | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1913 | Rexola (Shown as Hazel Dawn) | Kentucky's Selection | Kentucky's best | Rishata | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1914 | Jack Barrymore | Clara Belle (not registered) | Sun Flower | Trey Briggs | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1915 | Astral King | Mary Yandell Fox | Dixie Highway (not registered) | Cheetah | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1916 | Richlieu King | Pretty Baby (not registered) | Lady Beautiful | Cheetah | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1917 | Easter King | Happy Sybil (Shown as Shadow Lawn) | Lady Beautiful | Martha Wilson | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1918 | Cascade | Found at Last (not registered) | Maydan | Joffee | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1919 | Liberty Girl | The Answer | Lady Beautiful | Joffee | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1920 | Mass of Gold (not registered) | Twilight Hour | Lady Beautiful | Black Fox | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1921 | Mass of Gold (not registered) | In Demand | Lady Beautiful | Florence Adams | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1922 | Easter Star | Sporty McGee (not registered) | Phoebe Dare (Shown as Elizabeth Greis) | Todd McGryer | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1923 | Mass of Gold (not registered) | Smilin' Thru | Violet Heming | May Aubrey | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1924 | Edna May's King | San Marcos | Emily McCready | Black Fox | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1925 | Vendetta (BHF) | Bohemian Actress | Peavine's Dream | Black Fox | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1926 | Edna May's King | Jonquil | La Grita (not registered) | Jane Bossett | Class not held | Class not held | Class not held |
| 1927 | Dark Rex | Jonquil | Suttie Leigh | Saint Misrol | Class not held | Sir Eric | Edgeware Marvel |
| 1928 | CH Chief of Longview | Jonquil | Lulworth Victor | My Souvenir | Class not held | Fascination | Ovation |
| 1929 | CH Chief of Longview | Jonquil | Charming Gypsy | My Souvenir | Class not held | Orlando | Edgeware Marvel |
| 1930 | Beau Wolf | CH Roxie Highland | California Star (Shown as Supreme) | Brunswick | Class not held | The Lark | Rio Saxon |
| 1931 | CH Sweetheart on Parade | Tee Caddy | CH Chief of Longview | Brunswick | Class not held | Dinarth Sunbeam | Fate Morgana |
| 1932 | CH Sweetheart on Parade | Mountain Echo | CH Chief of Longview | Signal Flash | Class not held | Explosion | Rio Saxon |
| 1933 | CH Belle Le Rose (BHF) | CH Roxie Highland | Fiery Crags | Fredrick | Class not held | Fascination | Rio Saxon |
| 1934 | CH Belle Le Rose (BHF) | Co-Winners:CH Roxie Highland (Three-Gaited Over 15.2 Hands) & CH Etta Kett (Three-Gaited 15.2 Hands & Under) | Allen Adair | Ax Moka | Class not held | La La Success | Rio Saxon |
| 1935 | Night Flower (BHF) | Co-Winners:Fiery Crags (Three-Gaited Over 15.2 Hands) & CH Miss America (BHF) (Three-Gaited 15.2 Hands & Under) | Allen Adair | Calumet Armistice | Class not held | King Of The Plain | Captivation |
| 1936 | Chief of Spindle Top | American Model | Allen Adair | Calumet Armistice | Class not held | Harviestoun Vina | Rio Saxon |
| 1937 | Astral White Sox | CH Moreland Maid (BHF) | Bourbon Genius | Class not held | Superlative | Captivation | |
| 1938 | Midnight Star (not registered) | Golden Avalanche (not registered) | CH Meadow Vanity (BHF) (shown as Vanity) | Class not held | Class not held | Superlative | Polly Ensign |
| 1939 | Lady Jane of Crebilly (Shown as Lady Jane) | Golden Avalanche (not registered) | CH Meadow Vanity (BHF) | Class not held | Class not held | Class Not Held | Class Not Held |
| 1940 | A Sensation | CH America Beautiful (BHF) | Noble Kalarama | Class not held | Class not held | Class Not Held | Class Not Held |
| 1941 | A Sensation | CH America Beautiful (BHF) | CH Meadow Vanity (BHF) | Easter Belle | Class not held | Highland Cora | Class Not Held |
| 1942 | No Fair Held Because of World War II | No Fair Held Because of World War II | No Fair Held Because of World War II | No Fair Held Because of World War II | No Fair Held Because of World War II | No Fair Held Because of World War II | No Fair Held Because of World War II |
| 1943 | CH Oak Hill Chief | CH America Beautiful (BHF) | CH Meadow Vanity (BHF) | Savage Sailor | Class not held | Class Not Held | Class Not Held |
| 1944 | Easter Serenade | CH America Beautiful (BHF) | CH Meadow Vanity (BHF) | Kitty Nique | Class not held | Highland Cora | Class Not Held |
| 1945 | CH Oak Hill Chief | CH Edith Fable | Captain Bird | Class not held | Highland Cora | Wensleydale Pilot | |
| 1946 | CH Oak Hill Chief | CH Edith Fable | Startling Kalarama | Savage Sailor | Class not held | Hawthorne Baskerville | Wensleydale Pilot |
| 1947 | Daneshall's Easter Parade (BHF) | Nellie Pidgeon (BHF) | CH Denmark's Mokanna | Sir Laurel Grey | Class not held | Cadet Commander | Class Not Held |
| 1948 | CH Wing Commander | CH My Smoke Dreams | Captain Dandy (Shown as Man Of The Hour) | Paul D. | Class not held | Cadet Commander | G.I. Joe |
| 1949 | CH Wing Commander | CH Magnolia's Ann Rutledge | CH Kate Shriver (BHF) | Paul D. | Class not held | Cadet Commander | G.I. Joe |
| 1950 | CH Wing Commander | CH Blue Meadow Princess | CH Kate Shriver (BHF) | Paul D. | Class not held | Ariel Song | Kings Commando |
| 1951 | CH Wing Commander | CH Blue Meadow Princess | Parading Lady (not registered) | Harveritle | Class not held | Glenholme Acrobat | Kings Commando |
| 1952 | CH Wing Commander | CH Blue Meadow Princess | Parading Lady (not registered) | Blythe Spirit | Class not held | King's Review | Kings Commando |
| 1953 | CH Wing Commander[9] | CH Blue Meadow Princess | CH Denmark's Mokanna (Shown as Regal Aire) | Blythe Spirit | Class not held | King's Review | Holiday Spirit |
| 1954 | CH Lady Carrigan | CH Blue Meadow Princess | Parading Lady (not registered) | Blythe Spirit | Class not held | King's Review | Holiday Spirit |
| 1955 | CH Lady Carrigan | CH Emerald Future (BHF) | CH Bit O'Chatter (Shown as High Button Shoes) | Blythe Spirit | Class not held | King's Review | Holiday Spirit |
| 1956 | CH Dream Waltz | CH Valley View Supreme | CH The Lemon Drop Kid | Venture Up | Class not held | King's Review | Holiday Spirit |
| 1957 | CH Lady Carrigan | CH Carol Carson (shown as Sunshine Carol) | CH The Lemon Drop Kid | Bombsight | Class not held | Cora's Mite | My Inspiration |
| 1958 | CH Lady Carrigan | CH Technistar | CH The Lemon Drop Kid | Bombsight | Class not held | King's Mystic Lady | My Inspiration |
| 1959 | CH Plainview's Julia (BHF) | CH Delightful Society | CH The Lemon Drop Kid | Bombsight | Class not held | King's Nanette | Red Letter |
| 1960 | CH Plainview's Julia (BHF) | CH Delightful Society | CH Colonel Boyle | Bombsight | Class not held | Little Gypsy | Red Letter |
| 1961 | CH Denmark's Daydream | CH Belle Of The Dell | CH Colonel Boyle | Bombsight | Class not held | Croftland Dainty Doris | My Inspiration |
| 1962 | CH Denmark's Daydream | CH Belle Of The Delle | CH Colonel Boyle | Night Flight | Class not held | Little Gypsy | Director |
| 1963 | CH My-My | CH Miss Helen | CH Colonel Boyle | Night Flight | Class not held | Little Gypsy | Director |
| 1964 | CH My-My | CH Local Talent | CH Colonel Boyle | Night Flight | Miss Sensation | Mr. Yank's Poinsettia | Diamond Victory |
| 1965 | CH My-My | CH Local Talent | CH The Thunderbird | Worthy Demon | Kentucky King | Poinsettia | Mr. Sandman |
| 1966 | CH My-My | CH Forest Song | CH Duke of Daylight | Night Flight | Hustlin' Harriet | Kenwil Lady Hollie | Mr. Sandman |
| 1967 | CH My-My | CH Bellisima | CH Duke of Daylight | Night Flight | Miss Sensation | Wing Commander | Carnation King |
| 1968 | CH My-My | CH Bellisima | CH Tashi Ling | Worthy Demon | Hustlin' Harriet | King's Rocket | Diamond Victory |
| 1969 | CH Valerie Emerald | CH Bellisima | CH Tashi Ling | Stingray | Miss Sensation | King's Rocket | Carnation's King |
| 1970 | CH Yorktown | CH Lover's Sensation | CH Tashi Ling | Worthy Demon | Git "N" Go | Last Edition | Carnation's King |
| 1971 | CH Yorktown | CH Sea of Secrets | CH Tashi Ling | Eyre Lad | Mr. Terrific | Dun-Haven's Inspiration | Tijuana Brass |
| 1972 | CH Yorktown | CH Forest Song | CH Supreme Airs (BHF) | Sundown Lad | Queen of the Road | Dun-Haven's Inspiration | Apollo's Heir |
| 1973 | CH Val-Dale's Surefire | CH Oak Hill's Dear One (BHF) | CH Glenview Mandala | Stingray | Just-A-Sensation | Apollo's Right "O" | Dun-Haven Inspiration |
| 1974 | CH Val-Dale's Surefire | CH Oak Hill's Dear One (BHF) | CH Reata's Virginia Wolf | Erye Lad | Mr. Terrific | Appollo Sand | King's Victorious |
| 1975 | CH Belle Elegant | CH Finisterre's Gift of Love (Shown as Gift of Love; formerly registered as Spring Valley's Gift of Love) | CH Ronald Reagan | Stingray | Holly Hocks | Fernwood's Dutch Director | Apollo's Heir |
| 1976 | CH Will Shriver | CH Finisterre's Gift of Love | CH Night Prowler | Stingray | Nakomis | Appollo Sand | King's Victorious |
| 1977 | CH Belle Elegant | CH Finisterre's Gift of Love | CH Melody's Winged Sensation | Stingray | Nakomis | Appollo Sand | Tijuana Brass |
| 1978 | CH Cora's Time | CH Finisterre's Gift of Love | CH Melody's Winged Sensation | Miss Dean Key | Speed Limit | Last Edition | Holiday's Image |
| 1979 | CH Mountain Highland Encore | CH Happy Valley Treasure | CH La La Success (BHF) | Stingray | Speed Limit | Appollo Sand | Tijuana Brass |
| 1980 | CH Imperator | The Finest Hour (formerly registered as Danville Dandy and Seymour's Finest Hour) | CH La La Success (BHF) | So Lovely | Reverend Mr. Black | Centerfold | Tijuana Brass |
| 1981 | CH Imperator | CH Home Town Hero | Sultan's Santana | So Lovely | Speed Limit | Rag-A-Muffin | Bi-Mi Supreme Jubilation |
| 1982 | CH Sky Watch | CH Home Town Hero | CH Shadow's Creation | Nonstop | Sling Shot | Poinsettia's Reality | Second Sourvenir |
| 1983 | CH Sky Watch | CH Sultan's Starina | CH Night Prowler | Nonstop | Perfect Impression | Tijuana Princess | Second Souvenir |
| 1984 | CH Sky Watch | CH Sultan's Starina | CH Vanity's Showcase | Nonstop | Perfect Impression | Poinsettia's Reality | Flamethrower |
| 1985 | CH Imperator | CH Sultan's Starina | CH Vanity's Showcase | Nonstop | Andiamo | Poinsettia's Reality | Flamethrower |
| 1986 | CH Imperator | CH Sultan's Starina | CH Vanity's Showcase | TNT | Andiamo | Debonaire's Lady | Cherry's Dream Boy |
| 1987 | CH Our Golden Dutchess | CH Sultan's Starina | CH Captive Spirit | RPM | Andiamo | La Louisianne | Cherry's Dream Boy |
| 1988 | CH Sky Watch | CH Black Irish | CH Buck Rogers | RPM | Andiamo | Poinsettia's Reality | Cherry's Dream Boy |
| 1989 | CH Man On The Town | Gimcrack | CH Foxfire's Prophet | My Heart | Andiamo | La Louisianne | Cherry's Dream Boy |
| 1990 | CH Man On The Town | Cameo's Angel Wings | CH Simply Mahvalous B.R. | My Heart | Andiamo | Dun-Haven High Time | Mark of Success |
| 1991 | CH Callaway's New Look | CH One For The Road | CH Roselawn's Secret Rhythm | The Natural | Andiamo | Dun-Haven High Time | Flamethrower |
| 1992 | CH Callaway's New Look | CH One For The Road | CH Roselawn's Secret Rhythm | The Natural | Speed "N" Spirit | Tijuana Starlet | Dunhaven Desiree |
| 1993 | CH Protege | CH Memories' Citation | CH Be Happy | The Natural | The Cajun Cat | Dun-Haven High Time | Brass Lass |
| 1994 | CH Onion | CH Spring High | CH Be Happy | Shining Brightly | I've Arrived | Mark of Excellence | Vindicator |
| 1995 | CH Onion | CH Spring High | CH Roselawn's Secret Rhythm | The Invader | I've Arrived | Centerfold | Ballet |
| 1996 | CH Memories' Citation | CH Winter Day | CH A Sweet Treat | Private Party | The Cajun Cat | Night Passage | Brass Lass |
| 1997 | (SA) Zorvoorbij Commander in Chief[10] | CH Hollywood Excellence (BHF) | CH A Sweet Treat | Private Party | I've Arrived | Ooh La La | Ballet |
| 1998 | CH Garland's Dream | CH Hollywood Excellence (BHF) | CH Radiant Success | Private Party | Desert Prince | Heartland Rain Song | American Flyer |
| 1999 | CH Garland's Dream | CH A Sweet Treat | CH Radiant Success | Brave Heart | Desert Prince | Heartland Equality | Heartland Heiress |
| 2000 | CH Wild-Eyed and Wicked | CH Hollywood Excellence (BHF) | CH Radiant Success | When & Where | Free Willy | Heartland Equality | American Flyer |
| 2001 | CH Wild-Eyed and Wicked | CH Yes It's True | CH Callaway's Copyright | Power Ranger | Lamborghini | Fancy Ribbons | Bruschetta |
| 2002 | CH SS Genuine | CH An Heir About Her | CH Callaway's Copyright | Invincible Summer | Heartland Production | Fancy Ribbons | Heartland Special Special |
| 2003 | CH Callaway's Forecaster | CH An Heir About Her | CH Callaway's Copyright | Invincible Summer | Desert Prince | Heartland Equality | Heartland King Of Kings |
| 2004 | CH Boucheron | CH An Heir About Her | CH Callaway's Copyright | Power Ranger | Desert Prince | On The Mark | Shake Don't Stir |
| 2005 | CH Five O'Clock | CH Manila Thrilla | CH Callaway's Copyright | Big Red | CH Calvin Hobbs | Nabucco | Par Excellence |
| 2006 | CH He's The Man | CH Manila Thrilla | CH Callaway's Copyright | Big Red | CH Free Willy | Nabucco | Sweetheart of Success |
| 2007 | (SA) CH Casey's Final Countdown | CH Grande Gil | CH Along Came A Spider | Big Red | CH Free Willy | Lord Ovation | Heartland Expectation |
| 2008 | CH Breaking News | CH Our Charming Lady | CH Mother Mary | Big Red | Beulah Jean | On The Mark | Heartland Expectation |
| 2009 | CH Courageous Lord | CH Our Charming Lady | CH Castledream | Big Red | Beulah Jean | Heartland High Tech | Dun-Haven Phenomenal |
| 2010 | CH Courageous Lord | CH Grande Gil | CH Lace's Last Tango | Emerson | Beaulah Jean | Heartland Fortune Maker | Heartland Expectation |
| 2011 | CH Courageous Lord | CH Real Action | CH Wild Carrissima | Emerson | Regal's Lightning Strike LF | Nabucco | Giselle |
| 2012 | CH Bravo Blue | CH Platinum Moon | CH Wild Carrissima | Emerson | CH Calvin Hobbs | Nabucco | Giselle |
| 2013 | CH Callaway's Annabel Allison | Sir Silver Knight | CH Wild Carrissima | Emerson | Twin Willow's McDreamy | CH Heartland Globe-Trotter | Giselle |
| 2014 | CH The Daily Lottery | CH Macadamia | Nutcrakers Nirvana | Emerson | Twin Willow's McDreamy | Heartland Majestic | Giselle |
| 2015 | Marc of Charm | Tango's Token Kiss | CH Lady Mandolin | Track Star | Twin Willow's McDreamy | Craycroft Matador | Heartland Expectation |
| 2016 | Top of the Mark | CH Don O'Neil | CH Wild Carrissima | B52 | Twin Willow's McDreamy | Craycroft Matador | Giselle |
| 2017 | Top of the Mark | Tango's Token Kiss | Here Comes the Boom | B52 | Twin Willow's McDreamy | Heartland High Tech | Mississippi Queen[11] |
| 2018 | CH The Daily Lottery | Tango's Token Kiss | Madeira's Code Red | Live Action | Twin Willow's McDreamy | Heartland Jamin' | Giselle |
| 2019 | CH The Daily Lottery | Callaway's Ivanka | Madeira's Code Red | Live Action | Prime Time's Choice LF | Craycroft Matador | Heartland Bejeweled |
| 2020 | I'm Lookin At You | HS Daydream's Heads Up | Soul Desire | Divide N Conquer | Twin Willow's McDreamy | Heartland High Tech | Crystal Creeks Knight Raider |
| 2021 | Bourbon Select | The Crowd Went Nuts | HS Daydream's Heads Up | GR CH My Casey | Unexpected 2 | Heartland Majestic | Handsome Harry |
| 2022 | Epoque Kiss NKF | The Crowd Went Nuts | Soul Desire | Divide N Conquer | Unexpected 2 | Heartland Secret Weapon | Handsome Harry |
See also
- Saddle seat
- Horse Show
- Kentucky State Fair
- List of attractions and events in the Louisville metropolitan area
References
- ^ "World's Championship Horse Show".
- ^ "World's Championship Horse Show".
- ^ Chas. l. Cook, Jr (2015-03-04). Historical Memories of American Saddlebred Visionaries. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781935538097.
- ^ Kleber, John E. (2015-01-13). The Encyclopedia of Louisville. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813149745.
- ^ "World's Championship Horse Show".
- ^ American Saddlebred Magazine, Volume 25, No. 1, January–February 2007
- ^ "Merrill Murray and Courageous Lord Earn Third Consecutive Five-Gaited World's Grand Championship".
- ^ http://www.imh.org/exhibits/online/wing-commander-great-american-show-horse
- ^ http://www.imh.org/exhibits/online/wing-commander-great-american-show-horse
- ^ "Redd Crabtree".
- ^ "World's Championship Horse Show Brings Excitement and Large Purses in its 115th Year | US Equestrian".