Horses, music and barbecue

Horses, music and barbecue
Racking Horse World Celebration, Riverfest get under way Friday
By Nancy Glasscock, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily

Danny Odum works out Dancing with Evil in the show arena on a rainy Thursday as they prepare for this weekend’s World Grand Championship at Celebration Arena in Priceville. The horse was the Mare Gelding World Champion in 2008. Odum was the Men’s Amateur World Champion.
People can enjoy music, barbecue and nightly horse shows starting Friday at Riverfest and the Racking Horse World Celebration.
Horses and their owners were preparing Celebration Arena at Priceville for the search for a new world grand champion Thursday. Preparations were also under way for Riverfest at Ingalls Harbor. Both events draw participants from around the United States.
As many as 5,000 to 7,000 usually attend Riverfest, said Tiffany Brightwell, director of investor relations at the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce. Sixty-two professional and amateur barbecue teams from as far away as California will compete, cooking for prizes totaling $20,000.
North Alabama bands will perform at night.
“We tried really hard to make it a local event,” Brightwell said. “We wanted to make it a good, inexpensive family event.”
Riverfest gates open at noon. Musical entertainment begins at 4 p.m. with Southern rock by Dusty Winsett and Dusty French.
The event continues at 10 a.m. Saturday with a raft race for canoes and kayaks.
Food vendors and a children’s area with inflatables will be available.
Rain didn’t deter participants in the Racking Horse World Celebration from decorating barns and grooming and exercising horses at Celebration Arena. The rain did keep horses, owners and trainers indoors, which wouldn’t be typical in sunny weather.
Danny and Ava Odum of Odum Stables in Creal Springs, Ill., were among those preparing for performances.
“We decorate our barn, and each horse has to be bathed, trimmed and that’s basically what we’re doing,” Ava Odum said.
The Odums have several grand champions and the 2008 winner. They brought 15 horses, including Dancing with Evil, a world champion gelding, for this year’s competition.
“We have fun and fellowship and just have a good time, and winning is a bonus,” Odum said.
Glen Weeks drove from Houston, Texas. He and Bill Easley of Mount Vernon, Ill., were exercising horses and helping them get used to a new place, which Weeks said takes about 14 hours.
The indoor arena was open, so the rain was only an inconvenience, he said.
Racking horses are a family tradition for Bee and Connie McAdams of Shorterville.
“I was raised in it; my wife was raised in it,” Bee McAdams said. “My wife’s father (Larry Missildine) was the Reserve World Grand Champion in 1977.”
McAdams and others will show horses in more than 140 classes designed for children and adults, amateurs and professionals. The Racking Horse Breeders Association of America, headquartered in Decatur, also plans horse sales, a barn decorating contest, a golf tournament and activities for young riders.
The event continues through Sept. 26.
Riverfest schedule
Friday
Noon: Gates open
4-5 p.m.: Dusty & Dusty (Southern rock tunes by Dusty Winsett and Dusty French)
5-6 p.m.: Mike Roberts (Huntsville-based acoustic and rock singer/songwriter who plays with the band 5 O’Clock Charlie)
6-7:15 p.m.: Blackeyed Susan (Huntsville-based party band)
7:45-9 p.m.: Rearview Ghost (Huntsville-based modern hard rock band)
9:30-10:45 p.m.: Lynam (Birmingham-based rock band)
Saturday
10 a.m.: Gates open; raft race for canoes and kayaks
Noon-2 p.m.: cooking demonstration and book signing with Chris Lilly, author of “Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ Book”
3-4 p.m.: Trinity Mountain Boys (Trinity-based bluegrass, folk and country band)
4-5 p.m.: Barbecue awards ceremony
5-6 p.m.: Kosmic Mama (Huntsville-based R&B/rock/blues band)
6:30-7:30 p.m.: Black Label (Huntsville-based rock/alternative/metal band)
8-9:15 p.m.: Eyes Around (Huntsville-based rock/alternative/indie band)
9:45-11 p.m.: Bishop Black (Decatur-based Southern rock group)