Nearly 1,000 years ago, the great Mongol leader Genghis Khan created the largest land empire in history. To do this, he required a huge army. One of his many challenges was to be able to keep in touch with his soldiers. He created a postal system with stations set 30-40 kilometres apart. At each postal station were Mongolian horses and riders. Riders would cross the empire carrying messages, changing horses at each station.
Mongolia is one of the loneliest places in the world. The local horses are not as big as most horses you usually see. They are short, yet exceptionally strong. They are also able to run for long distances in any kind of weather. In Mongolia, temperatures can -be as low as minus 40 or as high as plus 30 degrees Celsius. Nothing seems to worry them.
Every August, a very special horse race called the Mongol Derby takes place in Mongolia. Over ten days, 40 riders race over a 1,000-kilometre course. To take part, riders have to apply. All applications are carefully reviewed. Invitations are sent out to those considered to be strong enough for this long-distance race. Each successful applicant has to pay an entry (参赛) fee.
Before the race begins, riders are given two days of training. Each morning, the riders set off early. They will race to different horse stations where they will be able to change their horse before continuing. At the end of each day, a camp is provided. There are no beds but each tired rider falls down onto a sheet on the ground and quickly falls into a deep sleep.
Up to 400 Mongolian hunting families come to work during the race, helping to look after the horses and riders. On the final day, there is just one winner. In 2019, the Mongol Derby was won by a 70-year-old American, Bob Long. He raced for 100 hours in 7.5 days on 28 different horses. You may think that his age provided him with the experience to win, but in 2013, Lara Prior-Palmer was the winner. She was just 19 years old.
