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Johnny Vardeman: Horse lovers got their kicks from City Park shows
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Madge Martin Harper presents a ribbon to Gloria Bloodworth Colter as show manager Marvin Moore watches during a 1950s horse show at City Park in Gainesville.
Horse shows at City Park in Gainesville once were a highlight of the year, especially in the 1950s. Large crowds would attend, and there was wide participation not only from horse enthusiasts, but from civic club members, vendors, volunteers, high school students and just people who liked to watch well-trained horses strut their stuff. J.K. Crumley, who owns a 200-acre farm near Clermont, showed Tennessee Walking Horses and at one time had more than 50 horses.