SPIRIT OF MIDNIGHT came to the Celebration in 1959 and in a class of 52 two year-olds, won second behind SHADOW'S HEADMAN.  In 1962 he came back to Celebration and won third behind MACK K's HANDSHAKER and EBONY MASTERPIECE, both future World Grand Champions.  In 1963, SPIRIT won third in the Aged Stallion Class behind SUN'S DELIGHT and TRIPLE THREAT, both future World Grand Champions.  

Although SPIRIT never did win the Grand Championship, he did furnish his trainer, Steve Hill with some pleasant moments. One such incident involved Steve's close friend Pluck Miller. As Steve remembered the incident he, Steve, was riding SPIRIT at the barn when Pluck Miller drove up. Like most horsemen Pluck had some suggestions to offer as to the proper training routine. Pluck yelled out, "Steve, flat walk the horse, you hold him too tight, let him relax."

Steve knew some things about SPIRIT that Pluck didn't know. "I had a big long bit on him and it was already bent straight. I had two curbs on him so if one broke he couldn't take to the woods, so I said, "Get on him Pluck, he's working good now, show me how to ride him."

Pluck liked the idea and replied, "Yeah, let me ride him." Pluck was anything but an amateur when it came to riding horses, having ridden most of his adult life. The thing was, Steve didn't tell Pluck to hold his feet away from SPIRIT.