Mongol Derby: Birregurra Australia rider Warren Sutton saddling up

Weeklytimesnow.com.au - Full Article

FRAN CLELAND, The Weekly Times
May 23, 2017

BIRREGURRA horse trainer Warren Sutton is preparing for an adventure of a lifetime — the Mongol Derby.

He will be one of 12 men and 22 women from nine countries to compete in the 1000km race across Mongolia in August, with all riders mounted on semi-wild horses.

The event is featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest and toughest horse race, recreating Genghis Khan’s ancient horse messenger system.

The hardy native horses of Mongolia reprise their traditional role and the horse stations will be manned by nomadic herding families as they traditionally were.

Messengers will be riding up to 160kms a day, navigating independently and changing horses at 40km intervals.

Riders have 10 days to complete the course, with last year’s winner taking seven and a half days...

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