By Nancy Brannon
On the last weekend in June (26-28), 2020 Lucky Dog Productions brought their first barrel race to Memphis after their May and early June events had been rescheduled. Show Place Arena manager Jamie White said this is the biggest barrel race the arena has seen. All their permanent stalls filled and he had to set up 150 temporary stalls, plus house the overflow at the Germantown Charity Horse Show grounds. Improvements have been steadily progressing at the arena, which is now air conditioned.
There were 1684 pre-entries, with additional onsite entries over the weekend. Friday’s Open had 651 entries; Saturday’s Open had 804 entries
The show featured $5,000 bonus money in the Triple Crown 100, Youth World Barrel Racing Challenge, $25,000 bonus money in the Future Fortunes Eastern Regional Championship, $1,000 added 4D Average, and $2,500 added Runnin’ With the Pack 5D Sidepots.
On paper, there were COVID-19 protocols in place, as required by the Shelby County Health Dept. for the event to take place: “All contestants must sign a COVID-19 screening waiver along with temperature check upon initial arrival to the show grounds. Social distancing would be practiced, with all individuals (and family groups) maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet or more between others, and frequently washing hands. Facial coverings were required in the indoor arena, except those coming in to compete. The indoor arena would be limited to no more than 400 people at a time. Concessions would be served in pre-boxed portions only.” [see: https://www.luckydograces.com/events/memphis-june-2020/] Shelby County and the City of Memphis require these precautions as part of Phase 2 of the Back-To-Business Framework. [see https://covid19.memphistn.gov/]
But in reality, when I went to the show on Saturday, very few spectators in the indoor arena were wearing facial coverings, nor were they practicing social distancing. I was one of a few wearing a mask but was surrounded by people not wearing them. Even the organizer and show staff, and vendors, were not wearing facial coverings or practicing social distancing. In fact, one show staffer, not wearing a mask, came up to me and asked if I would only take photos of people wearing facial masks so that they would not be shut down.
Over 2,000 show participants, plus their families, came from approximately half the nation: Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas.
This large gathering of people from multiple states came at a time when the number of coronavirus cases was on the increase. The week prior to the event there were 154 new cases in Shelby County, bringing the total to 7,244 as of June 16. The number of cases increased each week during Phase 2, up 5.6% May 17-23; up 6.8% May 24-30; up 7/8% May 31-June 6; and up 9.1% June 7-13. [Data from the Shelby County Health Dept.]
At the Mid-South Horse Review WE CARE about your health.
Lucky Dog Productions is scheduled to be back at the Show Place Arena July 31 – August 2.
Weekend Results:
Total Friday’s entries: 1369
Friday Open 1D: Ashley Thompson of Clayton, MI, Seis Shots of Crown: 14.288
Friday Youth 1D: Presley Garland of Gainesville, GA, DM Hard to Say: 14.521
Friday Adult 1D: Ashley Thompson of Clayton, MI, Seis Shots of Crown: 14.288
Friday Senior Sidepot 1D: Kendal Makovy of Purcell, OK, Confederate Smidge: 14.758
Friday Futurity Sidepot 1D: Brian Wheeler of Hattiesburg, MS, SBW Copy Cat: 14.729
Friday Derby 1D: Ashley Thompson of Clayton, MI, Seis Shots of Crown: 14.288
WBRC Long Go 1D: Melanie Green of Wildwood, MO, JDS Movin: 14.461
Youth Team East: Presley Garland of Gainesville, GA, DM Hard to Say: 14.521
Youth Team West: Melanie Green of Wildwood, MO, JDS Movin: 14.461
Total Saturday’s entries: 2032
Saturday Peewee 1D: Kanley Cooper of Jonesville, LA, Our Cool Levi: 15.555
Saturday Open 1D: Bailey Belcher of Brooks, KY, Pocket Coin Five: 14.498
Saturday Youth Sidepot 1D: Bailey Belcher of Brooks, KY, Pocket Coin Five: 14.498
Saturday Adult Sidepot 1D: Ashley Thompson of Clayton, MI, Seis Shots of Crown: 14.524
Saturday Senior Sidepot 1D: Christie Bilkey of Princeton, KY, Its Complicated: 14.772
Saturday Futurity Sidepot 1D: Dusty Pike of Caruthersville, MO, Mr. Cool Eddie: 14.820
Saturday Derby Sidepot 1D: Ashley Thompson of Clayton, MI, Seis Shots of Crown: 14.524
Saturday Runnin’ with the Pack 1D: Elaina McKinney of Carbondale, IL, Daddy’s Dollar: 14.563
Saturday Future Fortunes 1D: Ashley Thompson of Clayton, MI, Seis Shots of Crown: 14.524
Saturday Triple Crown: Chloe Gray of Yatesville, GA, Shake N Firewater: 14.646
Total Sunday’s entries: 1485
Sunday Pony 1D: Addison Davis of Oxford, MS, Keebler: 15.894
Sunday Open 1D: Elaina McKinney of Carbondale, IL, WRS Kool Memories: 14.415
Sunday Youth Sidepot 1D: Elaina McKinney of Carbondale, IL, WRS Kool Memories: 14.415
Sunday Adult Sidepot 1D: Dusty Pike of Caruthersville, MO, One Hot Stinson: 14.445
Sunday Senior Sidepot 1D: Lynn Akins of Byhalia, MS, Slick Water: 14.746
Sunday Futurity Sidepot 1D: Lindsey Netterville of Woodville, MS, Heaven Help Me Fly: 14.860
Sunday Derby Sidepot 1D: Bayleigh Choate of Cohutta, GA, Hail To Be Famous: 14.463
Sunday Runnin’ with the Pack: Elaina McKinney of Carbondale, IL, WRS Kool Memories: 14.415
For the weekend, Open Average winner was Marne Loosenort of Hazel, KY, Lovin Fame: 14.5015. Runnin’ With the Pack Average winner was Nicole Love of Morton, MS, JL Josie Bar: 14.5745
