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Pictures of the 2008 Ride
The following pictures were taken by Chris Flynn.  Charlie Gauci riding 'Winocin' through the Windmill Farm outside of Sublette, KS.  George Price riding 'Flash'.  Charlie Gauci, in the front, followed by Helen Lynn and Margie Burton.  Tennessee Mahoney and Mike Urschel crossing the finish line in Clayton, NM.  Margie Burton and George Price cross the finish line in Clayton, NM followed by Dale Boatright.  Sunrise at the Pasamonte Ranch, NM  Rock formation on the trail.  Finish line of Day 2.  Old adobe house in the canyon.  At the wildlife reserve.  Susie Jones riding on Day 1 in the misting rain.  Becky McDowell coming across on 'One Eye' on Day 1.
2008 SFT Ride Rider Completions
Listed below are the rider completions for the 2008 Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race Endurance Ride. Tonya Bear 10 Days 3 horses 81 hours, 45 minutes Mike Urschel 7 Days 3 horses 54 hours, 29 minutes Helen Lynn 7 Days 3 Horses 62 hours, 45 minutes Charlie Gauci 7 Days 4 horses 63 hours, 7 minutes Tennessee Mahoney 6 Days 3 horses 43 hours, 1 minute Dale Boatright 6 Days 1 Horse 57 hours Laura Hayes 5 Days 1 Horse 41 hours, 2 minutes Becky McDowell 4 Days 2 Horses 28 hours, 3 minutes Joe Boatright 4 days 1 Horse 34 hours, 8 minutes Margie Burton 4 Days 1 Horse 35 hours, 28 minutes
Leading a horse 20 miles
On Day 7, Charlie Gauci of New South Wales, Australia, noticed his horse starting to become slightly lame. 8 miles out from Vet Check 2, he dismounted and leading the horse, he walked into the vet check. Leon C. Self, DVM, Head Ride Veterinarian, inspected the horse and determined that the horse was not so severe he could not continue. Charlie's determination to finish the 50 miles for that day meant that he would walk and lead the horse the next 12 miles to the finish in Larned, Kansas. When Charlie finsihed the 50 miles, the horse was no longer lame! (It is believed, had it been neccessary, Charlie would have carried the horse to get the completion.) Charlie had blisters the size of half dollars, and he himself was lame for the remainder of the event, but he continued to ride on.
2008 SFT Ride Best Condition Awards
The most 'Best Contion' awards were received by horses ridden by Tennessee Mahoney. The horses she rode received five of the ten 'BC's. This is quite an accomplishment over a 14 day period and 515 miles. The horse receiving the highest 'BC' score, "Shoguns Joshua Fadjir" was trained and conditioned by Mike Urschel of Wabash, Indiana. Listed below are the winners, horse, and score of each days 'Best Condition'. 2008 SFT Ride Best Conditions
Rider/Day Horse Score
Day 1
Tennessee Mahoney DWA Sabella 682.5
Day 2
Mike Urschel GE Lady 710
Day 3
Tennessee Mahoney DWA Sabella 713
Day 4
Tennessee Mahoney Shoguns Joshua Fadjir 762
Day 5
Tonya Bear Gypsy Lane Big Shot 730
Day 6
Tonya Bear Evening Edition 714
Day 7
Tennessee Mahoney DWA Pearl 746.5
Day 8
Tonya Bear Gypsy Lane Big Shot 740
Day 9
Tennessee Mahoney DWA Pearl 720
Day 10
Dale Boatright Sherbert 683.5
The Spirit of Comanche Award
 The Spirit of Comanche Award was won by Dale Boatright and his horse, 'Sherbert'. 'Sherbert' is a 6 year old Missiouri Fox Trotter mare. Dale and 'Sherbert' completed every day they started, which was a total of six days and was never pulled. On Day 10, 'Sherbert' won the 'Best Condition' with a score of 683.5. Dale, at the young age of 71, rode 57 hours in six days.
Dale and his younger brother Joe, had heard about the Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race Endurance Ride in 2007, and began their training and conditioning in early 2008. Both Dale and Joe qualified for the 2008 Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race Endurance Ride in Council Grove, Kansas at the Santa Fe Trail Spring Ride in April 2008.
Winner of the 2008 Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race Endurance Ride
 Tonya Bear crossing the finish line on Gambler in Clayton, NM The 515 mile Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race Endurance Ride was won by Tonya Bear, TBear, of Cleveland, Missiouri, with a time of 81 hours and 45 minutes. Tonya rode three different horses on this race. She rode "Kahlua", a Throughbred mare, "Gypsy Lane Big Shot", a.k.a. 'Gambler', a Tennessee Walking Horse, and "Evening Edition", a.k.a. 'Bo', an Arabina gelding.
In addition to winning the overall event, Tonya won Days 5, 6, and 8. Two of her horses also garned the coveted 'Best Condition' on three seperate days. For Day 5 the 'Best Condition' went to "Gypsy Lane Big Shot" with a score of 730, 'Best Condition' for Day 6 went to "Evening Edition" with a score of 714, and "Gypsy Lane Big Shot" won the 'Best Condition' again on Day 8 with a score of 740.
For more details, refer to "2008 Results" on the web site.
Ride Picture
 Sunrise at the Pasamonte Ranch, rural Grenville, New Mexico. Photo by Chris Flynn
Thursday at Wagon Mound Ride Camp
 The Burton RV and horse trailer at the base of Wagon Mound.  A triumphant Jim Burton has arrived in Wagon Mound, NM, after driving for three days.  Tonya Bear (TBear) heads out to exercise her mare, Kahlua on Thursday.  TBear visiting with Wendell Frever before she heads out riding.  Mike Urschel riding in on his stallion, Josh, from his morning workout.  Jane Huff riding "IBN Bint Knabbruk", aka "Moose" and Charlie Gauci riding 'Hassan'.
Topeka Capital Journal Newspaper article
Australian Rider
 Rob, in the black hat, with from left to right, Felicity O'Neill, Frank O'Neill, Jane Huff, Rob, Jan Baldwin, Jim Baldwin, DVM, Lee-Anne Gauci, and Charlie Gauci. The O'neill's and Gauci's are from New South Wales, Australia. Jane Huff is helping Charlie, and Jim Baldwin provided horses for Charlie to ride in the Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race Endurance Ride.
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Charlie Gauci riding 'Winocin' through the Windmill Farm outside of Sublette, KS.
George Price riding 'Flash'.
Charlie Gauci, in the front, followed by Helen Lynn and Margie Burton.
Tennessee Mahoney and Mike Urschel crossing the finish line in Clayton, NM.
Margie Burton and George Price cross the finish line in Clayton, NM followed by Dale Boatright.
Sunrise at the Pasamonte Ranch, NM
Rock formation on the trail. 
Finish line of Day 2.
Old adobe house in the canyon.
At the wildlife reserve.
Susie Jones riding on Day 1 in the misting rain.
Becky McDowell coming across on 'One Eye' on Day 1.
