Australia: Wagin gears up for Tom Quilty Gold Cup

Waginargus.com.au - Full Article

By AMANDA RAYNER Oct. 1, 2014, 10 p.m.

IN 1966 Kimberley cattleman Tom Quilty and renowned bootmaker R M Williams had a bet in a pub that a horse could not be ridden 100 miles in one day.

Quilty donated 1000 and a gold cup was commissioned for the first prize.

The first endurance ride was organised as a national ride to perpetuate his wish that we should not lose the ability or pioneering tradition to ride over varying terrain for long distances.

The first ride was held in the Hawkesbury area in New South Wales with 26 riders starting in the event.

Gabriel Stecher, a Hungarian born engineer, won on his purebred Arabian stallion Shalawi. He rode all the way bareback in a time of 11 hours and 24 minutes. The Quilty tradition was born...

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