Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

One thing that struck me in several stories about the Great Santa Fe Horse Race(Ride?) winner is this - "
A Seattle man participating in his first horse endurance competition has won the 515-mile Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race."

His first horse endurance competition?

Here is Rule 10 from the GSFHR site: (
http://www.sfthorserace.com/rulesandregulations.htm)
ALL RIDERS MUST HAVE 
        COMPLETED A RIDE OF AT LEAST FIFTY MILES (80 KILOMETERS). PRIOR TO 
        STARTING THIS EVENT.  WRITTEN EVIDENCE MUST BE PRESENTED BEFORE 
        ENTRY APPLICATION IS COMPLETE.

So did this rule change?  What other kinds of ride would qualify him, if this was his first Endurance Ride?

Just a curious lurker,
Rosalie