The World Grand Championship, also known as the "Big Stake" or "Rider's Cup, Canter" is the final class of the Celebration.
It is held late on the Saturday night before Labor Day, or more often, very early Sunday morning.
To compete in the stake, horses must qualify by showing in a class on the first Saturday night of the show.
Previous World Grand Champions are automatically eligible to compete again.
The competing horses enter the arena to the song "Flat Walk Boogie" which was composed and is played by official TWHNC organist Larry Bright.
Horses are required to perform the flat walk, running walk and canter twice each in two separate workouts.
Between workouts, riders dismount and unsaddle their horses so the judges can evaluate their conformation.
The winner is announced by a spotlight sweeping back and forth along the line-up of horses and then settling on the World Grand Champion.

The winner is awarded $15,000 in prize money.
The World Grand Championship, also known as the "Big Stake" or "Rider's Cup, Canter" is the final class of the Celebration. It is held late on the Saturday night before Labor Day, or more often, very early Sunday morning. To compete in the stake, horses must qualify by showing in a class on the first Saturday night of the show. Previous World Grand Champions are automatically eligible to compete again. The competing horses enter the arena to the song "Flat Walk Boogie" which was composed and is played by official TWHNC organist Larry Bright. Horses are required to perform the flat walk, running walk and canter twice each in two separate workouts. Between workouts, riders dismount and unsaddle their horses so the judges can evaluate their conformation. The winner is announced by a spotlight sweeping back and forth along the line-up of horses and then settling on the World Grand Champion.
The winner is awarded $15,000 in prize money.
Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration