By Kim Skipton
It is a long road to get to Saturday Night at the Kentucky State Fair World’s Championship Horse Show and hope for the ride of your life, and it all begins with a breeder’s vision. In 1997 longtime breeder/trainer Dr. Alan Raun bred his mare Reedann’s Cascade to his stallion RWC CH Talk Of The Town. He was hoping for a foal with a little more motion than that of his high-headed, pretty dam. On Saturday August 23, 2008, it was apparent to the world that Dr. Raun had bred a colt with all that and more when the resulting foal, the now grown-up CH Breaking News, was declared the Five-Gaited World’s Grand Champion.
When trainer Peter Cowart and CH Breaking News (News) burst into Freedom Hall it was clear to all that they were "in it to win it." Eleven other top horses made up the field with such notables as mare class winner and last year’s RWGC According To Lynn, stallion class winner Calif First Night Out (SA), former WGC CH Five O’Clock and current Kentucky County Fair Champion Thunderstorm Warning.
The big, bold, brightly colored CH Breaking News separated his gaits to perfection and Cowart kept him just where he wanted him. The team had attempted to win this class twice before and this year Cowart was more determined than ever to show what his horse could do. There were two timeouts, including a thrown shoe, during the initial class, neither of which fazed the pair. Five were called back to the rail for additional work and here CH Breaking News showed what a sound and seasoned campaigner he is. Legged up to perfection by Cowart, CH Breaking News was more than ready to go back for more. The crowd picked up on the flashily marked gelding as he appeared to go into overdrive. Looking like a stake horse from start to finish CH Breaking News finally broke through to win the title World’s Grand Champion, proving the old adage "third time's a charm."
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