On July 24, 2021, 133 horses galloped out of Robie Park near Lake Tahoe in the 65th running of the 100-mile Tevis Cup. The vivid orange sunrise tinged with smoke from the California forest fires was the backdrop for the early miles as riders settled their horses into steady rhythms that would carry them towards Auburn.
So many riders return year after year to ride this spectacular trail. Some are contenders for the win, some are happy to get their completion within the allotted 24 hours, and some fall victim to this highly technical trail. This year’s completion rate of 47% was lower than normal. This could be attributed to the abundance of smoke in the area, a hold up coming through the canyons that put some riders who were already pressed for time behind even further, or it was just not that horse or that rider’s day. Even the best laid plans as far as pacing, time spent at the vet gates, or strategies to get through the canyons can bite you and your day is done. Why do people come back year after year? Well, I know far too well the lure of Tevis and how much one wants to be a part of the excitement. It’s hard to resist the challenge of
