AQHA Professional Horseman Luke Castle of Wayne, Oklahoma, led the 2000 sorrel stallion, The Package, aka “Bubba,” to the world championship in open aged stallions. The horse also won the amateur aged stallions on November 9.

Bubba is no stranger to the World Show arena and has made the top-10 or top-five every time he’s appeared.

At the 2004 World Show, he was third in open and amateur aged stallions. In 2003, he was third in the amateur 3-year-old stallions and fifth in the open. As a 2-year-old, he was sixth in the amateur and open. And as a yearling, he was fifth in the amateur.

The Package and trainer Luke Castle take home 2005 World Show gold in open aged stallions. The horse also won amateur aged stallions.

“He’s a year older and more mature,” Castle said, regarding what made him a champion this year. “(There’s) more to him. He’s just really matured out. He’s probably a better horse than he was last year at this time.”

Kathy and Wayne Pettit of Sanger, California, bred and raised Bubba, and Kathy led him to his amateur world championship last week. They also stand the horse to the public at their boarding and show facility, Verde View Farms.

“(His foals) look really good, like him,” Castle said. “Big, up off the ground, pretty babies, real correct. He puts a pretty head on everything.”

It’s been a good show for Castle and his wife, Abbi. This trophy was the last of five 2005 world champions to come out of their training barn.

The Package won open and amateur aged stallions; Kids Keeping Cool won open 2-year-old mares (placing third in the amateur); Tribute To Pizzazz won open 2-year-old geldings; and Esharp won open 3-year-old geldings. They also had Prestigious Clu, who placed third in aged geldings.