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SENSATIONAL SHADOW
was no stranger to the crowds at the 1971 Celebration, although few
were familiar with his early life. He was foaled April 15, 1963 in
Augusta, Georgia. He is by SHADOW'S SHADOW and was the only colt sired
by this horse, who died shortly after being bred to GO BOY'S MISS
BEHAVIN. SHADOW'S SHADOW was by GO BOY'S SHADOW, and MISS BEHAVIN was
by GO BOY AGAIN by MERRY GO BOY. Bred by J. L. Dye, Jr., the big
stallion was black with both hind and off fore socks, a star and a
snip.
The confident determination of owners Roy and Bonnie Davis was one of
the prime reasons that SENSATIONAL SHADOW achieved the mantle of
greatness in 1971. This, combined with the proven show ring abilities
of trainer C. A. Bobo, brought the championship to this eight-year-old
black stallion. In his fourth attempt to win the title, competing
against 21 other great horses before nearly 25,000 fans, SENSATIONAL
SHADOW etched his name in the record books with a championship
performance. 
The ownership of SENSATIONAL SHADOW has been restricted to four men.
The original owner, J. L. Dye, sold him to L. Frank Roper of Florida.
Roper sold him as a two-year-old to Roy and Bonnie Davis of Calhoun,
Georgia. The horse was first trained by Lightning Gregory in
Greenville, South Carolina, and was moved to the Davises' Bel Air
Stables in Calhoun following their purchase of him. Trainer Harold
Kennedy showed him only once as a three-year-old, winning the blue at
Cartersville; Georgia. When Harold left Bel Air Stables, the
Davises moved SENSATIONAL SHADOW to Wink Groover Stables in Etowah,
Tennessee along with another of their promising horses, ACE'S
SENSATION (1970 World Grand Champion). |
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Wink and
SENSATIONAL SHADOW had a good junior season but a disappointing
Celebration. The horse was then put in training with Steve Hill in
Beech Grove, Tennessee and campaigned as a five-year-old. However,
shortly before the Celebration Steve informed the Davises that he
would not be showing the horse at the Celebration, so they hastily
moved him to Wallace Brandon in Franklin, Tennessee.
Despite his late start with the horse, Wallace tied seventh in the
Championship. In 1969, Wallace and SHADOW became better acquainted
and had a great season leading into the Celebration. Wallace and
the great black stallion were up to the test and won the Aged
Stallion Class, but in the downpour that greeted the Grand
Championship they were adjudged Reserve World Grand Champions. |
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1970 was a great
season for the team, and they came into the Celebration high on the
list of favorites. However, they did not make one of their better
shows, tying fifth in both the Stallion Class and the Stake. Following
the 1970 Celebration the horse was moved to the C. A. Bobo Stables in
Shelbyville. Bobo and SHADOW got off to a running start by winning the
Montgomery Southern Championship and entered the 1971 season with a
large following.
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After winning blues
at Franklin, Eagleville and Lewisburg, Tennessee, they were among the
contenders coming into the 1971. Bobo and SHADOW tied third in the
Aged Stallion Class and knew they had their work cut out for them in
the Championship. This magnificent team proved up to the challenge,
sweeping the field of 21 others aged stallions to earn the 1971
World's Grand Championship. |
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