Shelton Headley and Slide A Way Sally captured a world championship in Youth Stake Race 14–18--the mare's 19th championship overall. Shelton Headley and Slide A Way Sally race to win another world championship.
Slide A Way Sally is a bear in the alley way. Eighteen-year-old Shelton Headway doesn't mind, though, because the more antsy the 19-year-old mare is before she shows, the better she performs. She was in true form on June 29, powering through the Youth Stake Race 14–18 pattern with a time of :08.317, which was fast enough to capture another world championship for the pair. "Sally" beat Shelton's other horse, reserve champion Heza Bubba Boy. The Port GIbson, Mississippi, resident and Sally won the championship last year and in 2007. In all, the sorrel tobiano mare has won 19 world championships and 11 reserve world championships to date. The Paint Horse Journal caught up with Shelton behind the in-gate for the story.
Q: How does it feel to win?
Shelton: Great. It always feels good to win.
Q: Tell me about your ride?
Shelton: I was hoping I would win it on my other horse, "Bubba Boy." He had a pretty solid run, but she came in there and just really fast. She was running really hard. She just blew him away.
Q: How long have you had Sally?
Shelton: I’ve had her about five years. We’ve won a few times. She’s 19 years old. With 19 championships. It’s a good number.
Q: Are you showing tomorrow as well?
Shelton: Yes. I’m running these two in barrels and poles.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about your horse?
Shelton: She’s an idiot [laughs]. She’s dangerous back here in the alley, but that lets you know she’s going to run really fast.
Q: How was she acting this morning?
Shelton: Terrible. She was running me into these walls back here [laughs]. She acts pretty stupid back here, but once you get right there in the alley—she’s like a bomb. She just goes out there and runs.
Q: So is that an indication she’s going to do well?
Shelton: Yes, when she acts crazy back here at the in-gate, you know she’s going to do good. When she acts a little crazy, she’ll be all right. When she’s calm, that means something is really wrong, and she’s just going to walk through there.
Q: Are you going to do anything in Fort Worth while you are here?
Shelton: I don’t know. We’ve been roping all day. I will probably go back and take a nap and get something to eat.
Q: If your horse was a celebrity, who would she be?
Shelton: Mike Tyson. Because she’s mean.
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World Champion Stats Horse: Slide A Way Sally, 1992 sorrel tobiano mare
Pedigree: Olympia Joe x Spice N Ice
Exhibitor/Owner: Shelton M Headley, Port Gibson, Mississippi
Breeder: David Luckett, Brandon Mississippi
Total Class Entries: 8
World Champion Prizes: Gist buckle, courtesy of APHA; monogramed jacket, courtesy of APHA and Tioga Territory; insulated carryall, courtesy of Paint Horse Journal; $50 APHA General Store gift certificate, courtesy of APHA; and AjPHA letter jacket patch, courtesy of APHA
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