By admin 
Jeremy Reynolds and his horse, Treasure, won the 2026 Tevis Cup on Saturday night, leading a successful 70th running of the historic 100-mile endurance ride through California’s Sierra Nevada despite intense heat that tested both horses and riders.
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Reynolds crossed the finish line in Auburn at 10:52 p.m., completing the course in 15 hours and 37 minutes to earn his fifth Lloyd Tevis Cup title.
The James Ben Ali Haggin Cup, awarded annually to the horse judged to be in the best condition among the top finishers, went to CH Fancy Finesse, known as “Finn,” ridden by junior competitor Tierney Beloberk. The award is determined after veterinary evaluations conducted Sunday morning, when the top 10 finishing horses presented for inspection before the Veterinary Committee and Western States Trail Foundation Cup Committee.
Known as “the granddaddy of all endurance rides,” the Tevis Cup is considered the original endurance competition. Horse-and-rider teams have 24 hours to complete the 100-mile route along the historic Western States Trail, traversing some of the Sierra Nevada’s most rugged and scenic terrain.
This year’s event drew 102 horse-and-rider teams to the starting line in Truckee. Fifty-one teams completed the ride to Auburn, producing a higher finish rate than in recent years despite the intense summer heat.
“It was a tough ride; the heat made sure of that,” said Ride Director Chuck Stalley, who oversaw his final Tevis Cup after 15 years in the role.
Stalley credited riders for adjusting their strategies to the weather and putting the welfare of their horses first.
“Riders heeded the heat warnings and took good care of their equines. We are proud of them,” he said. “Still, there is a rock out there for all of us.”
One of the ride’s most dramatic moments came when Gianni, ridden by Jennifer Fisher of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, became trapped among boulders in the Granite Chief Wilderness.
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Fisher dismounted to help free the horse, but after Gianni escaped, he disappeared into the wilderness. Unable to locate him despite searching in the heat, Fisher was escorted by volunteers to the next veterinary check while rescue teams used the GPS tracker attached to the horse’s saddle to locate him.
When rescuers determined the horse was in terrain too difficult to reach on foot, a Butte County helicopter carrying a veterinary team was dispatched. Gianni was airlifted to French Meadows Campground before being transported by trailer to Foresthill for evaluation and reunited with Fisher. He was later transferred to Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center, where he was treated for cuts and bruises sustained during the ordeal.
Sunday’s awards ceremony also recognized Stalley and his wife, Pam, with the Drucilla Barner Award for their years of dedication and leadership. Named for Drucilla “Dru” Barner, the first woman to win the Tevis Cup in 1961, the award honors exceptional service to the event. Throughout Stalley’s tenure, Pam and the couple’s daughters, all Tevis finishers themselves, played key roles in supporting the ride.
Reflecting on his final year as ride director, Stalley wrote to the Tevis community, “Why do we do it? It’s the Tevis, and there is nothing like it in the world. We do it for you.”
Several milestones were celebrated during the anniversary ride.
Auburn resident Hal Hall matched Barbara White’s record of 34 Tevis buckles, awarded for successful completions. Jeremy Reynolds, Kristine Hartman and Karen Donley each earned the coveted 1,000-Mile Buckle for completing the ride 10 times.
Sixteen first-time finishers received complimentary buckles through the generosity of Lynn Marks and Tom Noll, while five junior riders successfully completed the course.
Five horses earned recognition with the Wendell Robie Award for completing the Tevis Cup for the fifth time, while two additional horses surpassed that milestone.
Behind the scenes, approximately 800 volunteers staffed veterinary checks, aid stations and support operations throughout the course, helping riders and horses navigate one of endurance riding’s most demanding events.
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