One horse can come in first, but if the horse behind it gets to to 60 quicker, they'll win. Linahan describes the shorter run as a training race for the more difficult 50-mile run, in which competitors earn points toward national championships. Because of the more difficult pace of the longer distance, horses are checked for a pulse of 64 beats per minute. The goal is for animals to be properly conditioned so that the team can come out in front without causing too much physical stress on the animal. For Saturday's race, Florida residents used to flat terrain and deep sand appeared to have the edge.
Every week there is an endurance race somewhere in the region.
The type of horse can also play a role. Linahan said about 90-percent of the entrants are Arabians, which have been bred for centuries for their endurance. But just about all the major breeds of horses find their way into the competition. While national wins are important for some of the competitors, for most people it's primarily a fun, family outing. Linahan said the 124 competitors included 15 juniors, the division for ages 8 to 16.