The Clear Creek Cowboys are set to hold their third annual Pony Express charity ride, a much-anticipated event that brings the spirit of the Old West to life in Winslow and Holbrook. Scheduled to begin at 12 noon on Thursday, March 7, the event will kick off at the Winslow Chamber of Commerce with a lunch and a chance for attendees to meet and greet the riders. Adding to the excitement, at 1 p.m., the riders will be officially sworn in by the Postmaster General, followed by a demonstration of the mail handoff techniques they will use during the actual ride.
The charity ride itself will commence at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Mar. 9, with mail departing from Holbrook at Highway 77 and Apache Avenue, along the Territorial Road and making its way to Winslow. The culmination of this eventful ride is expected around 2 p.m. at the Standin’ on the Corner Plaza downtown, where the riders will deliver the mail and, following tradition, present a check to the Winslow Unified School District. In the days leading up to the main event, the Clear Creek Cowboys plan to visit elementary schools to educate students about the history and legacy of the Pony Express.
In a related development during the city council meeting where the donation was discussed, Tim Kelley, the president of the Clear Creek Cowboys Association, took the opportunity to recognize the contributions of various local entities that have made the ride possible.
Awards were presented to the Chamber of Commerce, the Winslow Police Department, the Winslow Fire Department, the Winslow Unified School District, and the city council itself. These acknowledgments celebrate the collaborative effort that has ensured the success of the Pony Express charity ride in past years.
The city council, in recognition of the Clear Creek Cowboys’ contributions to celebrating history and their charitable work within the community, passed a proclamation in their honor. This gesture underscores the significant impact the association and its events have on the local community, fostering a sense of unity and historical appreciation.
The organization had requested a $1,500 contribution for their annual ride but the council raised it to $2,000, highlighting the event’s growing importance and the community’s enthusiasm for supporting such a unique and charitable cause.
For those interested in supporting the ride or sending a letter the old-fashioned way, letters can be purchased from the Winslow Chamber of Commerce for $1, and postcards are available for $2.
