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World Grand Champion in 1984 |
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Delight Of Pride #795892 |
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To the thunderous
acclaim of the crowd and the unanimous vote of the judges, Delight of
Pride became the 40th Tennessee Walking Horse to wear the floral
horseshoe of the World's Grand Champion.
The five-year-old, liver-chestnut stallion was trained and ridden to
victory by Billy Gray, of Sand Creek Farm, Shelbyville. It was Gray's
third World's Grand Championship, with previous wins on Delight Bumin'
Around in 1973 and Pride's Secret Threat in 1982.
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Delight of Pride is
the son of super-sire Pride of Midnight and Delight Country Girl.
He was raised by Ron Inman and Don Stanley of Salem, Missouri, and was
started under saddle by Danny Forrester, who bought Delight of Pride
from Inman and Stanley in December, 1980, but re-sold him to Herb
Murrath later that same month. Gary Edwards of Carl
Edwards and Sons' Stables campaigned Delight of Pride successfully as
a three- and four-year old, winning reserve World's Championship in
the Three-Year Old Stallion Class at the 1982 Celebration.
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Dr. Sisk, his wife,
Linda, and three sons, Scott, Adam and David, became owners of Delight
of Pride shortly after the 1983 Celebration, ending a search for a
horse of World's Championship caliber. The payoff came more
quickly, and more handsomely, than anyone anticipated.
After his purchase by the Sisks, the horse was placed under the
guidance of Jimmy Holder of Columbia who showed him to a third place
in his class at the Alabama Jubilee in Decatur and to a blue in the
Four-Year-Old Class at the Florida Championship Show in Ocala.
When Holder's training barn was closed in January, 1984, Delight of
Pride and several other horses owned by the Sisks were transferred to
Sand Creek Farm in Shelbyville. In his first show ring
appearance under Billy Gray's tutelage at Gallatin, Tennessee, Delight
of Pride was awarded the blue in an impressive performance.
He also made the winner's circle at Columbia and Bethesda, Tennessee,
before making his bid for the World's Grand Championship at
Celebration '84. |
The team victory
for Delight of Pride, Billy Gray and owner, Dr. Andrew Sisk of
Columbia, Tennessee, was the outcome of a strenuous workout of
five stallions in the finale of the 46th annual Tennessee Walking
Horse National Celebration. The winning stallion also had won all
three first place votes of the judging in the preliminary class on
the previous Saturday night at the Celebration.
Billy Gray and Delight of Pride display the breathtaking action
that contributed to a unanimous decision of the judges and crowd
acclaim in winning the World's Grand Championship at Celebration
'84. |
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The sleek beauty of
Delight of Pride is outstanding. He has a beautifully arched
neck, finely tuned head with alert, pointed ears, flashing eyes, and
overall excellent conformation. In the show ring, his
action is breathtaking. His competitive show ring
appearances are over, however, limited henceforth to exhibitions.
After his World's Grand Championship win, Delight of Pride was retired
to stand at stud at Sand Creek Farm, under the supervision of Billy
and Tim Gray and stud manager Charlie Moore. |
| Interview with Billy
Gray |
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If you wish to print off
this pedigree, click
HERE
to load a black and white copy. |
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If you have a story or photos of Delight Of Pride
that you would like added to this page, please forward them to
Walkers West.
<==1983 1985==>
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