Mountain River Wins Championship at P.C. Fair!!!

The 108th Phillips County Fair Indian Relay and Chariot Races held on Saturday, August 5, featured plenty of excitement as the Men's Championship Race and Chariot Races both ended in a photo finish.

After further review, it was determined that hometown favorite Mountain River Relay (Lodgepole) crossed the finish line first, beating runner up Bird in Ground by the length of a hoof.

The PCN caught up with Mountain River Relay's rider Nolan Werk, who won the championship in Dodson for the first time in his career.

"It feels pretty good to win it here," Werk said. "We finally got a hometown win and I finally got a win."

He said that the key to victory was keeping things smooth, calm, cool and collected.

River Road was third in the championship, followed by Buffalo Jump Express at fourth, Charges Strong took fifth, and Starr School who was disqualified.

River Road had a good jump at the starting line and led for the first lap with Mountain River following.

At the first exchange, Mountain River and Bird in Ground were able to pass River Road with Mountain River taking a large lead.

The crowd went wild.

"I just put my horse where I needed him," Werk said of the first exchange. "I trusted my teammates and everything came together. All thanks to the Creator and all glory to Him for giving me this victory today."

The second exchange went as well as the first for Mountain River and Bird in Ground. Mountain River led by ten horse lengths according to announcer Kennard Real Bird. By the time the teams reached the final turn, Mountain River had maintained the lead, but Bird in Ground made up space and worked hard to catch Mountain River Relay.

Bird in Ground's effort was tremendous as the team nearly caught Mountain River in the end.

After further review, Werk and his horse passed the finish before Bird in Ground by a hoof.

"I just trusted my horse," Werk said. "Just rode him as best as I could. Keep his head up, give him his feed, and the rest was all up to the Lord."

The Men's Consolation Finals race was won by Young Money. Old Elk was second, Black Rock was third, Whitetail was fourth, Red Bone was fifth and Holds the Enemy was disqualified.

Holds the Enemy was involved in a crash into the arena gate and though the team's rider Payton Riddle was injured, Phillips County Ambulance Service safely transported him to Phillips County Hospital. He was checked out and released to rest and recover at home according to the NorthEast Corner Committee's social media page.

Old Sun won the Women's Relay Championship followed by runner up Amyotte. Young Money was third, DTM was fourth, and Timentewa was fifth.

The PCN caught up with Old Sun's rider Logan Redcrow after the race. She was asked how it felt to win in Dodson.

"It feels really great," Redcrow said. "I came here last year and placed second. It made me hungry for this year."

She was then asked what the key to the team's victory was.

"Just believing in the horses and believing in ourselves," Redcrow said. "We worked really hard for this all last year, and we were hungry for a win."

Young Money had the best jump at the starting line and lead of the first lap of the race, followed by Timentewa. Old Sun actually had the last position heading out of the gate.

Old Sun's exchange turned the tables and Redcrow gained the lead. Timentewa who led for most of the first lap was unable to make an exchange.

The Chariot Race provided the fans with another photo finish as Bill Main crossed the finish line one split second before Chase Cole.

Pat Ditmar was third and Andrew Cole was fourth.

Chris Carlson of Buffalo Jump Express of Browning, Mont. won the 2023 Michael Dean Ball Chief Race. Tyree Cloud of Leads Strong Horses was second, and Werk of Mountain River Relay was third.

Autumn Charges Strong of Young Money won the Women's Memorial Race.

Hernan Tendoy of Beegup Relay won the Warriors Race followed by Lane Kirkaldie of Mountain River Relay.

The Kid's Chariot Race was won by Dodson's Emmitt Lonebear. Piper Phillips was second.

The Kids Relay was won by Mini Money. Leads a Strong Horse was second. Little People's Creek was third and Whitetail Express was fourth.

The event was announced by longtime legendary announcer Kennard Real Bird, a member of the Crow tribe, who will soon be featured CBS' 60 Minutes this fall as well as ESPN in an Indian Relay Documentary. Real Bird has previously been on CNN's Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.