Story originally posted by: Katie Tims

The big boys and girls of the AQHA World Show were polished, primed and ready to go on parade in the Halter Division.

With 430 horses competing for a share of the $164,663 total purse, the 2002 entry count was 19 horses higher than last year's total. The prize money paid out was up $8,556 over last year as well. Mares highlighted the increase with 13 more entries going for a grand $66,260 cash payback. There were nine additional stallions this year and the purse stood at the $49,969 mark. The gelding count was down three for this time but the $48,433 money was just $22 off last year's total.





Ted Turner, Aubrey Texas, topped the World Championship count in the Halter Division, taking home five golds for success in the Yearling and 3-Year-Old Geldings, 2-Year-Old and Aged Mares along with 3-Year-Old Stallions. Currently second on the list of open exhibitors with the highest number of AQHA World Championships, Turner now has 46 gold titles and is within 13 of Jerry Wells' record 60 championships.

Buddy Laney was next in line with three 2002 championships in the Aged Geldings along with the Weanling and 2-Year-Old Mares. These lifted his World Champion count to nine trophies. Steve Ferguson finished up with two gold trophies by winning the Weanling Geldings and Yearling Stallions. His World Championship total also stands at nine.

With one gold title earned in the Aged Mares, Ross Roark took the silver Reserve an incredible seven times at this year's show. Those results followed up Roark's 2001 success when he won four World Championships.

Reprinted with permission of Quarter Horse News