Virl Norton – (1916 – 1995) In addition to completing the grueling Tevis Cup endurance ride eight times, Virl won the Great American Horse Race, a trans-continental endurance ride which stretched from New York to California. Virl became a Long Rider when, in the winter of 1979 he set out to ride a thousand miles from Effingham, Illinois to Washington D.C. Though he endured record cold temperatures, Virl completed his journey when he rode up to the White House to see President Jimmy Carter.  For more information about Virl, please click here.