The Race was On...75 Years Ago

By Shane Dunning

http://www.redshalereflections.com

The Race was On...75 Years Ago

This June will mark the 75th anniversary of a most extraordinary Montana horse race. In 1947, the Range Riders Rodeo Association sponsored a 153-mile horse race, starting in Billings and ending at Miles City, just in time for the 1947 Range Riders Reunion. At 4:00 in the afternoon on Sunday, June 23, 1947, fifty-one horses and their riders gathered at the fairgrounds on Alkali Creek and started east along old highway 10 in a race

Before that time they had weighed in, man and equipment could not weigh more than 175 pounds. Pictures were taken and the starting gun fired. "They left on a gallop, some on a high lope, and some at a high trot." [John] Williams said.

This was not a casual-constructed event. The race would occur along the highway, with mandatory rest stops at Custer and Forsyth. The Montana Highway Patrol assigned 14 patrolmen between Billings and Miles City, who were instructed to ensure that "no motorist can park along highway" and no motorist could follow the horses "too closely." The horses were shod with rubber shoes. To keep "amateur riders out of the race," organizers set a $100 entry fee.

Race officials ruled that riders should use the same mounts the entire distance theorizing that it would be "easier on the horses in that they would not be asked for exhausting bursts of speed, common to relay riding." Stamina-that will be the telling point.

Race judges John Williams and Don Pyle of the Range Riders followed the lead horses in a car the entire race ensuring the competition's integrity. Highway 10 was selected because it was the road "best adapted to the race," because its grades were filled and the hills cut down. According to race organizers, visibility of the highway would also cut down on "fudging" such as sneaking in relief riders or hauling the horses in a trailer along sideroads.

Physicians were present at the checkpoints to care for riders. Veterinarians Dr. H.F. Wilkins (Helena), Dr. A.W. Elting (Miles City) and Dr. George W. Wright (Billings) also judged for the race, as did Kirby rancher Willis Spear, Jr. The purpose of these judges was to ensure the safety of both horse and rider.

The endurance race was carried out in spite of protests from the Humane Society and judges all agreed at its conclusion that only a suggestion to riders was necessary for them to drop out when judges told them the horses were tired. "True western sportsmanship showed up, for the riders without exception dropped out when we told them to and some of them dropped out of their own accord."

Two entrants quit at Pompey's Pillar. Another two did not get further than Custer, where the first of two mandatory breaks occurred. There, the veterinarians checked the horses. First to arrive at the check-station at Custer was Eugene Fuchs of Plevna, who arrived at 9:07. Fuchs and his horse exited the race ten miles from Forsyth, however. "Both rider and horse were played out," Williams was quoted as saying. At Forsyth, the three leaders (Clifford Hunter, Merle Hillyer, and Bud Hunter) rode into town at the same time and split a $100 purse.

Miles City radio station KRJF broadcasted the start of the race on delay the next morning. They reported the results coming out of Custer and Forsyth live. The portion of the race from Forsyth to Miles City was tracked by an airplane, with observers using short-wave radio updates to the radio station and the assembled crowd at the Miles City rodeo grounds.

The winning horse did not get to the lead until 20 miles west of Forsyth. Every hour and at the last part of the race, every mile, the horse was stopped, the saddle slid off. It was given a quick sponge, "braced" with liniment and witch hazel, given a sup [sp] of water, all within a minute's time by Larson and Harry Miller and Jack Wicker.

19 hours, 13 minutes and 14 seconds after the starting gun fired, Merle Hillyer of Sand Springs and his horse Bucky crossed the finish line at the Eastern Montana Fairgrounds in front of thousands gathered. Hillyer had been a last-minute substitute rider for Clem Larson, Bucky's owner. Coming in second was Lester Stovall of Billings, finishing in 19 hours, 25 minutes and 7 seconds. Also coming in the money was third place winner T.J. Saye (Miles City) at 21:12:12 and fourth place Clifford Hunter (Butte) with 22:31:18.

The winning horse's owner Clem Larson was thrilled with the win. "Bucky is home on the range and will never have another saddle on him." Weighing in at 1125 pounds, Bucky was eight-year-old, barrel-chested buckskin. Larson bought him as a three-year-old for $125. Larson picked his 36-year-old neighbor Merle Hillyer to ride Bucky in the race because "he is a good hand with a horse." Hillyer "used neither spurs or quirt during the race." The victorious rider and his mount rode a truck in the rodeo parade the day after the race. Bucky wore his winning wreath. The winning team took home $2080.

The picture taken at the start of the race is captioned "Start of First Marathon Race to Be Run in Montana. Covered Distance of 153 Miles from Billings to Miles City Along US 10 and 12. Time: 19 hours-13 min-14-sec. Sponsored by Range Rider's Reunion of Miles City." The claim to the first marathon race in Montana is debatable, but the 153-mile race was still quite an accomplishment. The Range Riders sponsored another endurance race, the "Hell Creek" the next year.

Today, endurance horse racing is still an active sport held under the auspices of the American Endurance Racing Conference. The AERC provides professional management of the sport with rules designed to protect rider and horse. Locally, the Fort Howes Endurance Ride occurs at Otter's Circle Bar Ranch. In 2021, Fort Howes hosted the AERC's National Championship 100-mile ride.

A lot has changed in seventy-five years.