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Show i i - ' """- i - " " K " v i j Baton exchange during Pony Express Race I Express Race-Bicentennial Special t Of all the events at this year's Bicentennial edition of the Iron County Fair, perhaps none is more fitting than the Pony Express Ex-press Race. It is run each year as a memorial to the rugged cowboys of the Old West who carried the mail over desolate miles on horses not chosen for speed but for endurance. must still run two miles carrying a minimum of 165 pounds. Holding to the tradition of tough cow ponies, instead of thoroughbreds, the horses cannot have won over $50 on a registered track during the past year. ; Teams from all over Utah are invited to enter the race. See a bit of history. Spend a few minutes and watch the Pony Express Race Monday, at the Parowan Race Track. In 1959, when the race was first run as part of the Fair, riders saddled up in Cedar City and the ride progressed along the .side of the old highway, with relief riders stationed along the road at four-mile intervals. The race was conducted in this manner for several years, but people and cars and traffic necessitated a change. The second site, around Rush Lake, caused too many injuries to horses and had to be changed. Therefore, in order to allow a maximum number of people watch the race, it was moved to the Parowan race track, with riders changing horses and saddles on the track. Injuries occurred here, so saddle changing turned into baton passing. Horses chosen to run this race must still have a considerable amount of endurance as each one |