Im writing this column after watching television coverage of the exciting Labor Day All American Futurity at Ruidoso, New Mexico. It was fun to see the New Mexico racing icon Mine That Bird led by his trainer Chip Wooley to lead the Post Parade of nine fast qualifying horses. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson commented, Mine That Bird has put New Mexico on the map and made us proud.
Interestingly, Mine That Birds connections Dr. Blach and Mark Allen also had a horse qualified for the All American, Winners Cartel which went to the gate at five to one. It wouldve been the perfect racing stable fairy tale for them to win the All American on top of winning the Kentucky Derby, but that was not to be.
The Paul Jones-trained, Utah-bred Running Brook Gal by Brookstone Bay carried off the win. This makes three All American wins for Jones, who kept to his usual good-luck protocol by watching the race from the kitchen in the jocks room! Shesa First Ratify came in 2nd and First Corona Call finished 3rd for good shares of the $1.9 million purse.
The father and son training team of Blane and Trey Wood felt lucky coming into today, with an amazing three horses qualified for the All American, including Love Samba who ran the fastest qualifying trial at 21.20. Unfortunately their horse slipped and nearly went down breaking from the gate in muddy track conditions; so repeating the All American win that Blanes father Leo Wood chalked up 30 years ago did not happen this time. I have a feeling the Woods arent going away and the All American will see a lot more of them . . . someday in the winners circle.
A lot of interesting events are coming up in our area as summer is winding down. Many of you may have grown up on Will James stories and pictures, so youll be delighted to learn about the 17th Annual Will James Gather coming to Hardin, Montana, next weekend, September 17 20. This is a rare opportunity, since these Gathers travel across America the last two having been held in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, and Durango, Colorado. Who knows where the next one will be but the 2009 event is right here in good ol Tri-State Country, and itll bring at least 100 dyed-in-the-wool Will James fans and aficionados to Hardin.
Now dont fret, we realize this is a horse news column . . . an maybe this is a good time to remind you that most of Will James books and artwork involved horses. The Will James Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the works and memory of great western author and artist Will James. The 2009 slate of officers hail from Alabama, Pennsylvania, Colorado, California, Arizona, Washington and Massachussetts. They aim to serve as a catalyst for those interested in Will James, and in cooperation with the Will James Art Company and Mountain Press the Society promotes the reprinting and redistribution of James works to schools and public libraries. Original Will James art, books and memorabilia are available for viewing and purchase at the annual Gather.
Will James resided in Montana for 15 years, and the Rocking R Ranch on East Pryor Creek in Big Horn County, Montana, was the site of his greatest productivity. Inside his studio there, he created much of his best art work and wrote many of his books and articles. That very studio and two other cabins from the ranch have been acquired by the Big Horn County Historical Museum, (with cooperation from the Will James Society for the past two years) and moved into Hardin, where theyll be dedicated on Saturday, September 19th.
A variety of entertainment and several tours to ranches, museums and art centers of the area are planned for those attending the Will James Gather. All events are open to the public, but some require preregistration due to limited space. To learn more go to www.WillJames.org or call the Big Horn County Historical Museum at (406) 665-1671.
Rural community is just so special, and neighbors helping neighbors has been a way of life since these plains and prairies were first settled. One more example of that is a benefit scheduled at the Senior Services Building in Newcastle, Wyoming for Saturday, September 19. Silent auction items will go on sale at 5 pm, therell be entertainment, a spaghetti supper at 6 pm and a live auction following the supper. The benefit is for area resident John Crabtree, an accomplished cowboy poet many of you may have heard, whos currently battling melanoma, pancreatic cancer, and huge medical bills. Donations for the auctions are appreciated, and can be picked up if youll call Susan at (307) 749-2218.
Those of us whose lives have been heavily involved with cattle and horses often figure theyll be the death of us . . . and if youre like me you think itd be a good way to go. The Nebraska ranch country lost a good cowgirl that way August 29th as 77-year-old Beverly Gail Nutter of rural North Platte was checking cattle and water near her ranch home. When she didnt show up to go to a sale with her daughter they went looking for her and found her dead of head injuries a half mile from her birthplace and childhood home, the Chamberlain Figure 2 Ranch. One of the founders of the Nebraska Cowgirls Rodeo Association, Beverly had been their State Champion and their President. She bred, raised and trained barrel horses and competed her entire life and was also involved in horse racing, English dressage and jumping competition, training and driving draft and light horses, and even built her own wagons and buggies while in her 50s. A lifelong rancher in Thomas, Lincoln and Frontier County of Nebrska, Beverly also loved her working cowdogs. An online guestbook is available at www.odeanchapel.com.
A Colorado-born cowboy many of you may have known rode over the Great Divide the last day of August. Harold Pink Peterson grew up in Colorado, lived many years in Wyoming, rodeoed all over, and had most recently hung his hat at Pahrump, Nevada. Funeral services were at Rappels Arena near Gill, Colorado on Wednesday, September 9th. Pink requested any memorials go to the Casper College Rodeo Team. Checks need to be made out Casper College Foundation c/o Casper College Rodeo; then have In memory of Pink Peterson on the memo line. They can be mailed to Casper College Foundation, In Memory of Pink Peterson, 125 College Drive, Casper, WY 82601. Condolences can be sent to Lance Peterson at 3554 Meadow Lark Drive, Casper, WY 82604 or Cody Peterson, 28121 Highway 392, Gill, Colorado 80624.
Pink will long be remembered by all who knew him.
Looks like thats the end of this ol lariat rope once more.
