In 1955, for the second time in the history of the Celebration, a three-year-old horse won both the Junior Class and the Junior Stake as well as the Grand Championship.  That year Go Boy’s Shadow was tied first in the junior stallion event, the Junior Champion of the World, and in a dramatic climax to an eventful week, was presented with the roses in the final class, making an unprecedented sweep of the entire field.  The 1955 showing also marked the second time in Celebration history, that a horse foaled on the farm of Dr. Porter Rodgers of Searcy, Arkansas was the winner of the World Grand Championship.  The first of the Rodgers-foaled winners was Old Glory’s Big Man in1950.

 Go Boy’s Shadow was sired by Merry Go Boy, out of the black mare Merry Walker.  Winston Wiser bought Shadow from Dr. Rodgers as a four month old colt and started him under saddle in the late spring of 1954.  Soon after E. H. Padgett of Miami, Florida purchased a half interest in the promising youngster.

As a Junior, Go Boy’s Shadow also won both the Senior and Junior events of the Tennessee State Fair in Nashville, the Pennsylvania National at Harrisburg, and at Miami, Florida.

 Shadow was shown twice during the 1956 season before Celebration time.  He won at the Shelbyville PTA Show and at Wartrace, TN.  Both of those shows had several of the best horses in competition and his wins there further increased his fame as a champion.

 At the 1956 Celebration, Shadow made his first showing in the Walking Stallions, Four-Years-Old and Over.  With his exciting action, exceptional speed and wonderful style, he easily defeated a field of nearly thirty entries.  He repeated this spectacular performance during the Stakes event, and was for the second year in succession, declared to be the World Grand Champion.  Shadow was the third World Grand Champion to be exhibited by Winston Wiser, and Wiser’s fifth Grand Championship winning ride.

From: Cole, Jeremy

To: 'walkerswest@walkerswest.com'

Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2000 12:36 AM

I HAVE A LITTLE TO TELL YOU ABOUT  GO BOY SHADOW,  AFTER HE WAS PUT FOR STUD AT S.W. BEECH STABLE, THAT MY  GRANDFATHER TOOK CARE OF HE TILL THE DAY HE DIED.  MY GRAND FATHER LOVED  THAT HORSE AND THERE WAS NOT A THING THAT HE COULD NOT MAKE HIM DO
AND IF I AM NOT MISTAKING I THINK THAT GO BOY SHADOW IS BURIED AT THE BARN WHERE MY GRANDFATHER WORKED FOR 40 YEARS. 

THANKS JEREMY COLE