Cheyenne Man Makes History At World’s Longest Horse Race In Mongolia

At 70 years young, Bob Long continues to defy age. The Cheyenne native made history this week, becoming the oldest person to ever win the Mongol Derby, the longest horse race in the world.

Long began the grueling journey through the Mongolian mountains seven days ago, changing horses 28 times while traversing deserts, forests, rivers, salt fields, and wilderness. Along the way, riders consult with local nomadic tribes to tame the semi-wild horses and navigate the treacherous 650-mile trail once ridden by Ghengis Khan.

"There's nothing to it," Long joked as he drank a ceremonial cup of fermented mare's mile presented to the winner.

The retired former HealthWise executive is only the second American rider to win the race, finishing ahead of 42 competitors from around the world, including South Africa, the Netherlands, Australia, and Hungary.

Now in its 10th year, the Mongol Derby is hosted by The League Of Adventurists. In 2010, it was officially recognized as the world's longest horse race by the Guinness Book of World Records. It is also hailed among the toughest and most physically demanding events on the planet.

"This is a multi-faceted adventure, not just a horse race," The Adventurists described the derby on Facebook. "While they are pushed to their physical limits, riders need to look after themselves in extreme conditions, navigate independently, and overcome difficulties using their initiative."