Friday, September 21 – Sunday, September 23
- Friday – 6:30pm
- Saturday – 2:00pm
- Sunday – 2:00pm
Held in conjunction with the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days at the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds. And, as the website for the Walla Walla event states:
“The Walla Walla County Fairgrounds and Fair have a storied past ~ a place “where memories are made that last a lifetime” and while the name may have changed throughout the years, this great community event and tradition lives on, creating memories for the young and the young at heart!”
The sport of Indian Relay Racing is the #1 Native American extreme sporting event; involving the tribes of the Great Plains. It combines accomplished riding skills with evasive maneuvers that have evolved from the ancestral traditions of warriors and hunting parties.
Image Courtesy of horsenationsrelay.com
Each relay team consists of four members and three horses:
- Rider (mounted)
- Mugger (set-up man to position the horse)
- Catcher (to catch dismounted horse)
- Back Holder (to rotate the exchange horses)
Mounted team riders race around a ½ mile track at speeds of up to 40 MPH! They hardly slow, as they lap and prepare to make a flying leap to the next of a total of three horses, held be a Team Mugger; and make another high-speed lap.
Image Courtesy of horsenationsrelay.com
This is full, pedal-to-the-metal action; and it’s all based upon traditional, Native American Cultural history. No saddles, no boots, no spurs. Chiefs, Warriors, and Maidens ride fearlessly for the win.
There’s really no comparison to this action-packed sport; carried on by the descendants of America’s original residents.
The Horse Nations Indian Relay Council, (HNIRC), are bringing in the Tribes of the Great Plains and converging in Walla Walla, Washington for the “Championship of Champions” Finals! It is truly one of the most exciting races in the sport of horse racing.
CLN Insider Info: The Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days event, although held under different names and at different locations in the general area, is in its 152nd year. Characters from past events include the infamous Ruth Parton Webster (1895-1978). Known as “the mother of thoroughbred racing”, Ruth began her racing career on the Yakima Reservation as a young girl, racing Thoroughbreds. During her career, she earned the title of “World’s Champion Woman Relay Racer”. She eventually retired in 1929.
Ruth Parton Webster
Tickets Link: Horse Nations Championship of Champions Relay Race Finals
Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days Main Office: 509-527-3247
Tickets: 509-527-3250
Fairgrounds Address: 363 Orchard Street – Walla Walla, Washington 99362
CLN Community & Event Sponsor
You must be logged in to post a comment.