Grouse Creek 4th of July Horse Races

Compiled from the Facebook Group, “Memories of Grouse Creek, a Place like No Other” 

Wynn Roy Covieo 

Who remembers the horse races on the 4th of July and did you race in them?

Who was it whose horse gave out one year and he had to run the last couple of miles on foot leading the horse?

Delma Kimber Smith

Oren Kimber did. I’m not positive but I think he rode one of Dad’s stamina horses on the last leg. I remember being very excited to see him come in.

I remember the horse races over t Mides Pond and also when they race up the main road. I really liked the races. Ray Kimber would always get the crows stirred up by going around betting on the horses. One year Alan decided he wanted to race. The horse was too fat and was not a race horse but he practiced and then he did get to race. I must say he didn’t do too badly. He didn’t win but what the heck he got to race. One time Ted Kimber was racing up the main road and when he got to the corner he slid off his horse and grabbed for his heart pills. The excitement almost done him in

Verna Richardson

I think I have Bryan on tape talking about one of his races.

Claine Tanner

I remember them and even raced a few times. However Dad was apposed to using the saddle horses for racing. It gets into their blood and they want to do it when they are not supposed to. I remember Ray Kimber and Merlin and others doing some friendly wagering. Grant Kimber always had some fast horses but was pulled both pro and con as to whether to race his working saddle horses. There were several times that some one got run over…….can’t remember who but I don’t think there were serious injury. Remembered a child out on “race track” and all the screaming……..someone rescued him before the horses got there.

Wynn Roy Covieo

I don’t think Winfred ever ran a horse on the 4th; nothing he had was fast enough. It was a 1/4 mile from the corner by the rodeo grounds to the finish line at the store and they typically would run two horses at a time. One year a horse ran away with I believe Don Tanner and headed for the store and a bunch of spectators. I think the following year is when they moved it over at Mide’s.

Verl Smith

The reason they moved it to Mides was that the road in front of the store had been paved and the shoulders were rounded.

Alan Smith

I ran a couple of grandpa’s horses over at Mides. I ran the little black mare one year and a horse named Dee who had some thoroughbred in him.

Claine Tanner

Maybe Dee had some Thoroughbred in him too hehehehe

Barbara Dougherty

My brothers won a race, and I have a picture to prove it. It was one of the most exciting things I have ever attended. Darrell, Don, and Goob. Maybe it was in Oakley-not sure.

Wynn Roy Covieo

The little black mare and Dee were the horses that ran away with me and Kim and if it wasn’t for the wood gate by Pine Creek reservoir we probably would have ran all the way back to the corral. That day they were certainly fast enough to race on the 4th.

Claine Tanner

Speaking of Bryan, He won the 100 mile marathon in Roosevelt one year. From then on we all remembered that horse as Ole Roosevelt. It was a pretty prestigious race and Bryan received a lot of recognition for winning.

Wynn Covieo

Who from Grouse Creek entered teams of horses in the races over to Burley, I know Merlin did and also Bryan because I remember helping Paul Blanthorn getting their team in shape.

Delma Kimber Smith

I remember the horse races over at Mide’s Pond and when they raced up the main road. I really liked the races. Ray Kimber would always get the crowd stirred up by going around and betting on the horses. One year Alan decided he wanted to race. The horse was too fat and was not a race horse but he practiced and then he did get to race. I must say he didn’t do too badly. He didn’t win but what the heck he got to race. One time Ted Kimber was racing up the main road and when he go to the corner he slid off his horse and grabbed for his heart  pills. The excitement almost did him in.

Verl Smith

I believe it was the same day Ted got excited that Doyle Simpson fell off his horse in middle of the road in front of the store and almost broke his neck, it was a good thing he was drunk.

Judy Kimber

I remember the races that must have been in what you are calling Mide’s. It was a dirt track back behind town. Merlin Tanner had a stud that he always raced but it never won by more than a nose. Didn’t matter if it was racing against one of the kids on a Shetland pony or one of the fast horses.

Todd Richardson

I remember the races and I remember Grandpa racing one time too. Dee was a good horse but a little ornery at times. He darn near killed me over by Etna one day. I was fairly little and stuck with Silver (grandpa’s other horse) from then on.