Anne Marie Biron of Overtime Farm and trainer Tim Roesink with the 2011 World Champion Mare, Jungle Love. (Photo © Abbie Trexler)

Shelburne, VT — The best of the best in the Morgan breed is being celebrated in Oklahoma City for the 39th edition of the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show®. Since 1973, this show has represented the pinnacle of achievement in the Morgan horse world. More than 1,000 of the world's finest Morgan horses from across the United States, Canada, Austria, and Great Britain are in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to compete in over 250 classes for $400,000-plus in prize money.

For the fifth year in a row, Fred Nava of Kingston, Massachusetts, is the show's manager, and this year, C. A. "Tony" Lee III of Birmingham, Alabama, serves in the capacity of show chairman.

"Every year, Morgan enthusiasts from across the country look forward to these two weeks in Oklahoma City as a time to celebrate their love for this wonderful breed and this year is no exception," Lee said.

Nava, along with a dedicated and hard-working show committee and staff, joins an impressive list of sponsors, officials, and volunteers who continue to make the largest Morgan horse show one to remember year after year.

Overtime Farm had a lot to celebrate Saturday evening, as they own both the World Champion Gelding and World Champion Mare! The three-year-old gelding Cimi's Avant Garde was shown to top honors by trainer Tim Roesink. A new filly on the show scene, Jungle Love, also a three-year-old, took top honors in the mare division, again with Roesink leading. In a battle between two multi world champion stallions, Mastroianni returned to the Oklahoma stage to win his third World Champion Stallion title for owner Sheryl Bartolucci. He was led to victory by brothers Mark and Whitney Bodnar of Merriehill Farm. Reserve world champion was the four-time World Champion Stallion, LPS The Boogie Man, who returned to the Oklahoma In-Hand division, led by longtime trainer, David Rand, for owner Nancy Ramsey.

The Youth of the Year Contest begins on Thursday and has 16 competitors this year. The winner of this prestigious contest will be announced Saturday evening and she will receive a unique custom-designed prize package valuing $2,500. The winner's award is generously sponsored by the Cynthia Elaine Epperson Trust.

Motivated by the desire to give back to the Morgan community and to bring AMHA youth together under a common cause, the national Morgan charity mission named Justin Time For a Cure was established in 2009 by the AMHA Youth Council. Monies raised throughout the show season and at the Grand National benefit the Shirley Bowman Nutrition Clinic, located in Oklahoma City. Everyone is encouraged to wear lavender on Friday, October 14, to show their support for this worthy cause.

Competition continues through Saturday, October 15. Show times are 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 7 p.m. each day. Admission is free throughout the week.

Founded in 1909, the American Morgan Horse Association is a non-profit organization serving more than 50,000 Morgan horse owners, breeders, exhibitors, and enthusiasts throughout the United States. AMHA serves as a parent organization to more than 90 recognized Morgan horse clubs and national service organizations. It also provides an important link to foreign Morgan horse registries and clubs.

Working in conjunction with AMHA is the American Morgan Horse Institute (AMHI), a charitable organization dedicated to educations and historical Morgan activities. One of the activities of the AMHI is conducting the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show®, the breed's premier show.

For more information and updates on the Morgan Grand National, go to www.morgangrandnational.com.