Nicholas Furlong was delighted to win his first ever World Championship title in Amateur Working Hunter with Executive Hotrodder, aka “Norman,” a 20-year-old gelding that he has owned for quite some time.

“Her class is one of the deepest classes of all the Halter. She’s got that little extra, and it all comes together when she comes in the pen. Everything fits together on her just a little bit better. She’s a perfect Quarter Horse.”

It might be hard to believe, but this is Gameday’s twelfth World Championship, and Ross has been a part of the horse’s career since the very beginning, leading him to wins as a weanling, yearling, two-year-old, three-year-old, multiple in the aged division.

“Gus” is by Invitation Only out of the multiple World and Congress Champion mare, Whatscookingoodlookn. This stallion is certainly striking with the pedigree and moves to match; but, for some reason, Andy feels more of a special attachment to this one than the others. 

Kristen Galyean had a bit of help for this evening’s Amateur Level 2 Western Riding in the form of her youngest daughter, 3-year-old Aislyn, who helped pilot VS Lady In Red to receive her awards. The 6-year-old red roan mare named “Lady” is by Kristen’s stallion, VS Code Red, and out of Cool Krymsun Lady.

It’s always exciting when a newly crowned Congress Champion can come fresh off a win and duplicate their performance at the AQHA World Show to be named a World Champion as well. That’s exactly what Maria Salazar did this afternoon at the 2019 AQHA World Show when she rode her 6-year-old gelding, “Moonlightin,” to win Amateur Equitation. However, this achievement is even more special for Maria, because it’s her first World Championship title. 

“For a stud, it says a lot about him. I’ve been around a lot of studs and trained a lot of studs, and I would’ve never thought that a stud would’ve gone around for several different riders. There have been a few of us show him here, and we all won trophies with him.”

“Great horses with great people can go on forever. It’s all about the way they’re started, the way they’re maintained, and the trainers making good decisions for the horse’s future, for a lifetime, not just for a year.”