Where are the Mongolian riders? In their absence it should be said that it was Mongolian horses that "carried" the day and that Mr. Morgan, who quite obviously is a kind and wonderful guy, was just along for the ride.
19
I'm struck by the number of comments (a minority, it is true) criticizing the race as an event affordable only by affluent white people. Have the critics contacted the Mongolian herdsmen to find support for their view? I presume there is no bar to entry for affluent Indians, Chinese, Arabs et al — and I imagine that the herdsmen and their families are very happy to receive the financial and economic spin-offs from the race. Why not just congratulate Mr Long and his fellow competitors, refrain from hypocritical virtue-signaling and steer clear of ludicrous charges of "cultural appropriation"?
32
The headline should read "Horse Wins Race Packing 70-Year-Old Man On His Back".
32
Great! That was my first thought too. Except that he was riding many different horses, so it wasn’t the ability of any one horse that caused him to win...
11
Mr. Long already won when he showed he knew how to appreciate his horses and his helpers and the course itself.
This is what sports is about to me, it made my day to read about it.
67
Awesome.
11
Is he wearing a bicycle helmet?
1
It’s a great achievement. But it reads like a paid advert for retired CTOs who want to buy into a share worthy story for back home.
2
Wait...did the writer just say the dude cheated to win the horse race?
7
The poor horses.
3
How is this news? The byline should read 'White Man rides for a 1000 miles' and it stinks of white privilege. The participants of this race are limited to foreigners who alone can afford the $13700 entry fee. There are plenty of older Mongolians who can ride equally well, but will not be recognized as they don't have the moolah of Bob Long and other westerners to participate in such races. Mongolia has a glorious equestrian tradition and focussing on races that have mostly European/American participants diminishes the achievements of Mongolians.
NYT needs to put a critical perspective on it's articles instead of naively celebrating a limited achievement.
27
@Swami Satyananda “white privilege”? Get a life.
11
@Swami. I came to the comments to see how long it would take for someone to trot out "white privilege."
7 posts. Just wow.
Simplistic, reductionist, shop-worn, clichéd.
9:39 a.m. 8/22/19
16
@Swami. 2nd try.
Zero-sum thinking would see this event as diminishing local traditions. Maybe the participants in the particular event are competitive types who appreciate the skills and traditions of the locals. There are plenty of local events that will continue. Who knows, the fees for this race might help the economy a bit.
The far left and the far right seem to share a sour zero-sum outlook that there is a winner and loser in Every transaction.
There is far too much genuine unfairness to be crying White Privilege at every single thing. I too went to college and can remember the popular interpretive schemes of the day. Freudianism explained everything until it didn't. I cannot begin to say how much damage is done to genuine social justice efforts by the vapid overuse of slogans du jour.
25
A must-read-it-twice story, so inspirational and full of light.
“Preparation trumps youth,” said Bob Long, the winner.
"Age IS diversity," said Chip Conley, author of “Wisdom@Work: The Making of a Modern Elder.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2NxVTRUKCk
16
One of the things that impressed me most about Mr. Long is his thoughtfulness: thinking to bring ribbons for the horses, little gifts his hosts and their children, and baggies with goodies as a way to thank or tip the herdsmen tells me he is a man who appreciates others, and chose to show this in a very down-to-earth way. That he took the trouble to think about what other people might enjoy made me admire him all the more.
57
Mr. Long proved that you're only as old as you feel and he obviously feels 70 years young! Congratulations to him!
19
Secretariat won the Triple Crown not the jockey. Seems like the horse should get the bulk of the credit here
6
@Antony Which horse? He said he rode 28 horses during the course of the race.
5
@Antony "The horse"? Which one, out of the 28 (I think) horses he rode?
5
I think the horse are the ones that won.
1
What a great story! Will find the documentary that inspired him. Hope he gets to bring his new horse home.
12
There is something so stop-in-your-tracks about what he -- what all the riders! -- accomplished in this feat. Really makes you realize the truth to that saying -- what lies ahead of us, and what lies behind us, are dwarfed by what is within us. Apologies to someone if I got that wrong. Anyway, great story, really really great. I'm 58 and started riding three years ago and find this absolutely riveting -- in so many ways. Blah blah blah compared to what these competitors have done... makes me realize life is about doing, not talking.
6
"Each year, Mr. Morgan said, he spends months plotting the route, enlisting 300 to 400 Mongolian hunting families to work the race and about 1,500 horses to carry contestants across high passes, huge valleys, wooded hills, river crossings, wetland, dunes and open steppe in extreme temperatures.
It costs about $13,700 to enter, which includes a custom-made saddle, access to a medical response team and veterinarians to care for the horses, among other expenses."
.... so none of the native Mongolians can afford to enter, one presumes? Just white tourists who will come and go?
It would have been more interesting to read about the hunting families and how much they were paid for their work keeping the white people from killing themselves-- so that it would be possible to conclude if this stunt actually makes a meaningful positive local impact, or just takes advantage of the locals.
13
@Hilliard. This probably does help the local economy a bit. Confess I have not researched the Advenurists, the UK group that started and organizes this event. The horsemanship of the Mongols is legendary and the locals do have various events that draw many of the urban dwellers back to the steppes to compete, watch, or train their children and grandchildren. Saw an awesome Nat Geo piece about the skills of young kids and the pride of their families. Anyhow I think / hope this a win win. A good bit of the fee involves setting up and manning numerous check-in stations over the 1000k course. By temperament I an not a zero-summer so think this event can be held without "appropriating" or detracting from the centuries old local tradition(s).
10
"(There were zero horse injuries.) "
After 30 Thoroughbred horses died at Santa Anita Racetrack this summer, this was the best sentence in the whole article.
50
Heartwarming story with no self promotion, ulterior motives of politics.
3
Good story. I hope he gets his pony home.
6
What gorgeous landscapes! Bummer that he distributed cigarettes, though. I hope they were unfiltered.
3
@Present Occupant "Gorgeous landscapes," then the truth: What are you concerned about - health, liter, being generous? Cigarettes are currency the world 'round.
6
Cheaper than a week at the Ritz, I guess.
6
Congratulations to all!
What kind of saddle?
1
Why are the top finishers all white? Where are the Mongolian riders? Is this for those who can afford it? So, he is best of those who can afford to train? Not sure this is worth celebrating in my books.
6
Please correct the record: If you followed the instagram feed of this race, MongolDerby, you’d learn that some horses were in fact injured. At least one suffered a sore hoof and others were ridden so hard it took more than an hour for their heart rates to return to normal. In each case, the riders were penalized: they had to delay their resumption of the race. Mr. Long was not among the violators, probably due to his great horsemanship. However, the fact that he offered cigarettes and pocket knives to the herdsmen, who apparently flocked to assist him, signals to me how exploitative and unethical this event really was.
15
That’s just awesome!
Zero horse injuries? Certainly welcome news if it is true.
I just finished reading a book "Rough Magic: Riding the World's Loneliest Horse Race" written by Lara Prior-Palmer, a woman who won this race at around the age 18. She had never ridden in a race like this before, and if you believe what she wrote she did not "prepare" very much for it. So, I find the quote “Preparation trumps youth,” rather ironic. The book was reviewed by the NY Times.
3
Terrific story. I think I'll go saddle my horse right now.
2
Just curious, do any Mongols participate in this event or just tourists?
3
Tremendous story. This is why I have a subscription to NY Times.
We are just a few days past the anniversary of the death of Connie Reeves who was bucked off a "spirited" horse and broke her neck at the age of 101 in 2003. Must be something about those horses that give longevity!
Congratulations, Mr Long. From one septuagenarian to another, may the force be with you.
4
We should send Donald, the Greenland-dreamer, to ride in this Mongolia Derby so that he will have something to do, and won't be wasting our money in the White House...
He will probably discover some nice locations for golf courses in Mongolia...
8
Wonderful article. It's helpful, joyous and necessary to find such articles aside the dung pile of today's political droppings. Best wishes to the Long family and I hope he is able to retrieve Derby.
3
How inspiring!
1
How glorious and joyous! This story made me smile. How wonderful, what an acheivement!! Congratulations to Mr Long and all the intrepid riders. And to the Mongolians and their truly amazing horses.
4
"On the third day of the race, Mr. Long took a shortcut and pulled ahead of the other riders", I think most people call this cutting corners OR cheating. I don't remember such practice being allowed in races such as marathon.
By the way, thank you NYT for giving my home country some coverage with this article but tell your readers please don't come to Mongolia! We would like keep our pristine country to ourselves not to get overrun by tourists who want be thrill seekers.
10
@Real Mongolian Mongolian reader living in California tells foreigners not to visit Mongolia? With all due respect, you don't own the place - and don't get to make that call.
17
What a great story! Especially grateful for the picture of Mr. Long and his horse on Day 6. The horse looks a lot like the one I rode while serving as a Peace Corps forestry volunteer in Niger, West Africa. The few pictures I had of "doki," the Hausa word for horse, must have ended up in one of my mother's yard sales.
Our Nigerien counterpart for our initial three-month orientation (zero chance I'd be helping plant the trees I'd studied at the Univ. of Mass.), said that 50 years ago, which would have been mid-1920's, that most of Niger used to be lush Savannah. Perhaps not so different from the grassland Mr. Long traversed during his sixth day in Mongolia.
The article reminding me, as well, of day spent driving across Wyoming. From sunup to sunset, one beautiful valley after another. Maybe we can talk Mr. Long into helping organize a horse race across his beautiful state. But, not just for the "essence of an adventure...," as Mr. Morgan noted. For our children and their children. For an opportunity to maybe, one day, experience as well.
10
Congratulations! What a wonderful and uplifting story. So much for ageism!! Thank you for giving me the courage to continue to pursue my dreams...even at 64.
18
What a wonderful, uplifting article! Bob Long's words brought tears to my eyes.
11
Congratulations to you and all of the riders! This story fills me and my family joy!
9
Brilliant!! Bravo Mr. Long. This is amazing land, a wonderful tradition and hope the event says relatively pure. So inspiring... would love participate.
20
The story is inspiring and the photos are superb!
38
Mr. Long's spiritual connection to his mother and ancestors makes this story magical.
43
Awesome trial of endurance. Bravo. Old age and experience beats youth and strength! Gives me hope for my elder years.
45
Fantastic. I'm going to see if I can find the documentary that inspired Mr. Long to pursue this amazing accomplishment. Glad to hear that there were no significant human or equine injuries. Even to complete this course deserves a gold star!
32
What an uplifting story. Mr. Long seems like quite an admirable person, someone I'd like to meet and talk to. All the riders and staff seem happy and engaged. Thank you for this story about an adventure with beautiful horses in a faraway land.
56
@Madeline Conant Hoping for a book!
@Madeline Conant
Great to read such a happy story about an older person. With all of the horrible stuff we find in the Times every day, it is a pleasure to hear about the brave and the strong.
2
How exciting for Mr. Long. I am so green with envy. A great adventure and congratulations to the amazing horses.
50
It's quite a feat for Mr. Long and the other riders. Despite Ms. Prior-Palmer's remark, it isn't comparable to the Tour de France. In France the human cyclists do all the physical work; in Mongolia the horses do almost all.
21
@Martha Shelley—that’s completely untrue. The riders have a truly arduous task to complete this race.
55
@sparrowhawk
Agreed, I do both bikes and horses.
Bikes are exercise, horses are a partnership.
37
@sparrowhawk completely agree! I have done week long horse riding trips of 6 hours per day and can attest to the fact that riding a horse is not the same as sitting on a horse for ex on a trail ride. Riding requires athleticism for both the horse and the rider. The rider must have balance, muscle control, mental clarity and focus, stamina, and patience to guide a horse properly.
29
From the photos it looks like there were a lot of female riders. In Lara Prior-Palmer's memoir “Rough Magic" it seemed like there were not that many women riding. I wonder if that has changed since she won in 2013?
Regardless its nice to see yet another person who is not the typical racer win. With these endurance races and including running races it really opens up the field to who can win, with the mental aspect and maybe luck playing much more of a factor that raw brawn...
44
Thanks for the story. Very inspiring, and very interesting.
69
@Richard Johnston
Bob Long, you are indeed an inspiration, as are your 26 athletic horses.
So very glad none of you were injured...well done!
3