Tillett Horse Races on tap Saturday

Cowboys and cowgirls will converge this week for the popular Crooked Creek Heritage Horse Races adjacent to Horseshoe Bend.

Now in its ninth year, the races will once again be a three-day event August 7-9 including a new long-range race on Friday, the main series of races on Saturday, a songwriting contest Friday/Saturday and cowboy church on Sunday.

The races are presented annually by Crooked Creek Racing and the Crooked Creek Cattle Company and will take place at 1009 Highway 37, on the west side of Wyoming Highway 37 just north of the turnoff to Horseshoe Bend.

A new six-mile race has been added to the event list this year on Friday. The Bessie F. Tillett Tuff Enuff Race will begin at 9 a.m. at the top of the Darnell Hills and will take competitors through terrain that includes hills, sagebrush, gullies and running water. The race concludes at the site of the shorter races to be held the following day.

Check-in will begin at 8 a.m. August 7.

Songwriting contest

The second Pryor Mountain Songwriting Contest begins with registration Friday at 5 p.m. Each contest entry costs $20 for up to two titles. Enter by simply showing up at the rendezvous site across from the Horseshoe Bend turnoff at 1009 Highway 37 to obtain a title to write about.

Saturday races and barbecue

The big day is Saturday when the old-time horse races will be held in honor of the late Sharron Kelsey, Dick Gifford and Wayne Ringler across the highway from Horseshoe Bend. 

Check-in will begin at 10 a.m., with racing commencing shortly thereafter.

Races include the Sharron Kelsey Youngsters’ Lead Race, pony races (14.2 hands or less at the withers) for adults and kids, beginner’s race, walking race, trotting race, short race, long race, bareback race, Houston race for larger horses, a surprise race and the Dryhead race for the Tillett family.