Ulaanbaatar
70-year-old racer wins in the Mongol Derby
Sports
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/
The Mongol Derby equestrian race annually organized by the Adventurists tour
agency of Britain with support from the Tengri Holding company of Mongolia wrapped up on
August 14. This year’s winner, 70-year old American man Bob Long successfully traveled
1000 km in a week on 28 semi-wild horses.
Launched in 2008, the race achieved the Guinness World Record title of longest multi-horse race and has now become an attraction to adventurists from around the world. The Mongol Derby was inspired by the world’s first long-distance postal transmission system set up by Chinggis Khaan back in 1224 and the ultimate goal is to finish the 1000 km race on the Mongolian steppe over the period of seven to ten days by changing steed every 40km and without sustaining serious injuries. It is apparently the world’s toughest horse race where only around 40 percent of the participants make it to the finishing line.
