Cache Valley’s communities have their yearly celebration or two; some coincide with the founding of the town or a national or regional holiday such as July 4th or July 24th. Other celebrations in the valley are definitely unique: Smithfield’s Health Days, Mendon’s May Day or Paradise’s Trout and Berry Days, to name a few. And then there is Clarkston’s annual celebration in June - Pony Express Days.
The main event of this celebration is a horse race that resembles the first mail delivery method in the old west. In its first format, the race course was rugged and remote. Teams comprised of up to 10 riders would traverse an approximately 30 mile course from a spot in the hills near Weston, Idaho, to Clarkston’s town square, passing the “mail” from rider to rider. In recent years the teams have been trimmed to 4 riders who carry a mail bag for one lap around a 3 mile course north of the cemetery, and the last rider delivers it to a mailbox at the finish line.
A few photos from this year’s celebration:
This morning, runners participated in the “Gun Sight Gallop”, named after a local designation of a peak in the mountain range near Clarkston:
Members of Clarkston Fire and EMS host a breakfast each year, the chefs are captured here:
Preparations before the race:
Competitors visit before the start of the race:
A flag ceremony and singing of the National Anthem are part of the pre-race agenda:
And they’re off!:
Riders of the red team after passing the mail bag:
Two competing riders have just received the mail bag from their teammate and begin their leg of the race:
Another handoff for the red team:
After receiving the mail bag, this rider for the blue team waves at the crowd as he begins his lap:
The rider for the winning team deposits the mail bag into the mail box:
The red team finished the 4 lap - 12 mile course in 28 minutes and 52 seconds, winning the race - and bragging rights until next year.
Other events planned for today included a parade, entertainment and games in the town square and a dance this evening.
Many communities in Cache Valley will gather together during the year to celebrate, but this annual horse race makes Clarkston’s Pony Express Day possibly the most unique gathering around.
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