 By 2000 Cash for Keeps had made several bids for the World Grand Championship, and the Brawners had publicly announced that if he did not win that year, they would retire him.When Cash for Keeps won, Gilmer had been training for 28 years and had never thought he would actually win the World Grand Championship.Following the World Grand Championship, Gilmer and Cash for Keeps made appearances at multiple horse shows across the Southeast and signed autographs at the Celebration Grounds.