The Chadron-Chicago Cowboy Race

John G. Maher, the jokester the plaque credits, made a habit of inventions. He came to the government land office at Chadron in 1887, read law there and wrote from the West for the New York Herald. Among his tales: a prehistoric petrified man found near Chadron, sacks of soda sunk in boiling springs to sell their healing water, and British warships steaming up the Niobrara to take Valentine and punish Irish O'Neill. He enlisted as a private in 1898, rode with Pershing in 1916 and is buried at Arlington.

What the plaque says

The Chadron-Chicago Cowboy Race America's longest horse race began here June 13, 1893. The 1,000 mile race ended June 27 in Chicago at Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. The race apparently was the idea of Chadron jokester John G. Maher. Seven of nine riders finished, some traveling up to ninety miles a day. Nebraska badman "Doc" Middleton was an entrant. John Berry won, riding Sandy and Poison, but was disqualified for having prior knowledge of the route. Chadron officials declared Joe Gillespie the winner. Nebraska State Historical Society

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Museum of the Fur Trade — 3.6 mi
  A museum of what traders and Native nations exchanged, from the oldest known point blanket to a Lakota leader's silver cross, beside the rebuilt Bordeaux trading post east of Chadron.
• The Heritage Center at Red Cloud — 27 mi
  A free gallery of Lakota art on the campus of the old Holy Rosary Mission, where Red Cloud asked for a school and is buried on the hill above it.

More markers nearby

• The First Church in Chadron — 0.2 mi
• Chadron State College — 0.7 mi
• Fort Robinson-Camp Sheridan-Pine Ridge Indian Agency Road — 1.5 mi
• The Fort Pierre-Fort Laramie Trail — 3.5 mi