The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race Endurance Ride was developed to bring attention to the Santa Fe Trail and to assist in developing tourism along the trail. It is a 14-day equestrian event with riders retracing part of the most famous trail in America.

This trail was first traveled by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado in 1541. He brought the first horses to this part of the world and it was on this trail that Native Americans first saw horses.

The Santa Fe Trail was the first of America's great Trans-Mississippi routes. Including the Mountain and Cimarron routes, the Trail stretched 1,200 miles from Franklin, Missouri, to Santa Fe. The route played a critical role in the westward expansion of the United States. From 1821 to 1880, it was an important two-way avenue for commerce and cultural exchange, fostering a transfer among Spanish, Native American, and American cultures.

The first Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race Endurance Ride took place September 1-15, 2007. The winner of the first ride was Scott Griffin of Seattle, Washington, who rode multiple horses over the 10 days of riding and completed the ride in a combined time of 62 hours. The winner of the event riding one horse the entire 515 miles was Karen Fredrickson of Kneeland, California. Her winning time on her horse "Murphy" was 86 hours.

The 2008 riders will spend the first day, August 31, traveling from Wagon Mound to Roy. Then it is on to Yates September 1 and Clayton September 2. The riders leave New Mexico September 3 for stops in Boise City, Oklahoma; and Elkhart, Hugoton, Sublette, Dodge City, Spearville, Larned, Pawnee Rock, Lyons and Canton, Kansas, before arriving in Council Grove on September 13.

For more information visit SFHorseRace.com

Adapted from information provided by New Mexico Tourism Department

Photos courtesy of New Mexico Tourism

Annual Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race Endurance Ride Saddles Up in Wagon Mound The New Mexico Tourism Department and the New Mexico Sports Authority - a program of the Tourism Department - are co-sponsors of the second annual Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race Endurance Ride, a 515-mile ride, which will start in Wagon Mound Sunday (August 31, 2008) and end in Council Grove, Kansas September 13, 2008. The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race Endurance Ride was developed to bring attention to the Santa Fe Trail and to assist in developing tourism along the trail. It is a 14-day equestrian event with riders retracing part of the most famous trail in America. This trail was first traveled by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado in 1541. He brought the first horses to this part of the world and it was on this trail that Native Americans first saw horses. The Santa Fe Trail was the first of America's great Trans-Mississippi routes. Including the Mountain and Cimarron routes, the Trail stretched 1,200 miles from Franklin, Missouri, to Santa Fe. The route played a critical role in the westward expansion of the United States. From 1821 to 1880, it was an important two-way avenue for commerce and cultural exchange, fostering a transfer among Spanish, Native American, and American cultures. The first Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race Endurance Ride took place September 1-15, 2007. The winner of the first ride was Scott Griffin of Seattle, Washington, who rode multiple horses over the 10 days of riding and completed the ride in a combined time of 62 hours. The winner of the event riding one horse the entire 515 miles was Karen Fredrickson of Kneeland, California. Her winning time on her horse "Murphy" was 86 hours. The 2008 riders will spend the first day, August 31, traveling from Wagon Mound to Roy. Then it is on to Yates September 1 and Clayton September 2. The riders leave New Mexico September 3 for stops in Boise City, Oklahoma; and Elkhart, Hugoton, Sublette, Dodge City, Spearville, Larned, Pawnee Rock, Lyons and Canton, Kansas, before arriving in Council Grove on September 13. For more information visit SFHorseRace.com Adapted from information provided by New Mexico Tourism Department Photos courtesy of New Mexico Tourism © 2008
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Annual Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race Endurance Ride Saddles Up in Wagon Mound