First woman to win the Mongol Derby

Lara Prior-Palmer became the first woman and first British horse rider to win the Mongol Derby, on 10 August 2013. The gruelling course is 1,000 km (621 miles), though once setting off on 4 August 2013 the riders had to make their own way between stations. The course is a recreation of Genghis Khan’s ancient postal system of 25 horse stations across the Mongolian steppe. American woman rider Devan Horn crossed the finishing line first, but her horse failed a veterinary test and a two-hour penalty handed victory to Prior-Palmer. The Mongol Derby also holds the record for being the longest multi-horse race.