HISTORY OF THE RIDE

           The history of the American River Classic (formerly the American River Ride) is almost synonymous with the history of AERC, and the existence of what today is called the modern from of endurance riding.

               It was early in 1972 in the town of Auburn, CA where a group of enthusiastic and passionate riders got together and decided to start keeping records on times, rider’s personal records, distances, and horse records. The group consisted of legendary individuals such as Phil Gardner, Kathy Perry, David Claggett, Hal Hall, Marion Arnold, Charles Barieau, Todd Nelson D.V.M., Rho Bailey, and Diana Claggett. The group decided that for the benefit of the horse, and in the spirit of fair competition, rules and regulations needed to be in place for record keeping. As well, the very first equine veterinarian parameters were established to accommodate the needs of an endurance equine athlete.  Phil Gardner was in charge of the newly formed AERC, and David Claggett was in charge of the American River Ride. In case you were wondering where the very first office of the AERC was ....learn this... it was first in the upper balcony at Hal Hall’s parent's pharmacy in downtown Auburn on High Street; years later it moved to Kathy Perry’s kitchen table! In the same house where she still lives today in Newcastle, CA.

              A popular meeting place for the group was the famous Linda’s Bakery on Lincoln Way in Auburn. Phil Gardner, Marion Arnold, and Charles Barieau went down to the State Capitol and filed the non profit corporation for the charter. In a unified agreement, the first bylaws were written and the first AERC officers were nominated with Gardner to be the first AERC president.

              The Donner Summit Trail Blazers was a trail riding group that was mainly a social trail riding club with members in the Auburn area. Their non-profit charter was not active for a long time, and the club membership was declining through the years, so the pioneers of AERC took the Charter of the Donner Summit Trail Blazers and reactivated it. In addition, the Western States Trail Foundation’s Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation were reviewed and portions of it used to design the same for the newly founded AERC organization. While all of this was happening, the American River Ride was being organized.

              The original start was at Cal Expo, with the number of entries over 250 horses. Yes, 250 !!!!!! Kathy Perry got car dealers to donate cars for car pooling; and The Sacramento Union, the local newspaper of the day, covered the event from start to finish. Negro Bar was the location of the first vet check, with Rattlesnake Bar the second and Auburn Overlook the finish line. Phil did not ride the first year being the first ride manager. He did stay with the ride until 1976, then he went to The Great American Horse Race. The American River used Cal Expo until 1981 when the fairgrounds decided to increase the fees for the stalls and the fairgrounds. The event moved to Negro Bar where it has started ever since.

              People like Phil Garden, Kathy Perry, Susan and Jim Remillard, Jeff and Janine Windeshousen, Jerry and Vicki Meyers, Marion Arnold, and Marilyn Hunter to name few served as ride managers through the years. In addition, the many volunteers that man the vet checks every year, and help with trail marking and other 'jobs' that is takes to put on a ride, have contributed a great service to the trail---the riders---the history of the event---the sport of endurance riding---and mostly to the horses. These efforts are highly appreciated by the thousands of horseman who have enjoyed this event.

              To the pioneers of AERC and the founders of the American River Ride that shared the vision and potential of an organized event that today we call endurance riding, we will always be grateful.

       Welcome to the Oldest Sanctioned 50 Mile Endurance Ride In the World,

The American River Classic.           

* Last updated Feb.15th, 2012