Photos of Lord Fauntleroy aka "Leroy". Leroy was owned by Virl Norton and was 1st place in the 1976 Great American Horse Race.

To quote from the GAHR book: "Entrants would pay $500 plus logistics fees of five dollars per day over the race which would traverse the North American continent for 3,000 miles. Entrants would pay their own expenses during the contest which would last 100 days.

	A photo of Leroy taken in 1976 with Virl Norton and Lady Eloise. The Great American Horse Race of 1976 book can be ordered from Larry Lewis: 866-364-7575 email: aerc75@yahoo.com
	And here is a shot of his famous mug today (2003)
	Another photo of Leroy, now in Maryben Stover's care (see comments below). Leroy is now in his 30's.

Comments & additional information

I was fortunate to know Virl very well and I did spend a lot of time with him the last two years or so of his life. When he died I offered to give Leroy a home and he now lives with me and my horses and mule. He is 27 years old this year. Contrary to the history books, Leroy was 5 when he did the Great American Horse Race. He stays in the pasture out in the open all year around where he likes it best. We are only about a mile or so from Virl's old place as the crow flies so he is very happy. I would put him in a more protected area but wherever I put him he will stay for a day or two to humor me and then the next day he is back in the pasture again. He never breaks fences and Lord knows he can't possible jump them but he manages in his unique way to be wherever he wants to be. I sometimes have flights of fancy that Virl knows that Leroy is happy and healthy......Maryben

The Long Riders Guild has more information on some of Virl's adventures. This site also has a lot of information on equestrian travel and is also a great source for books on the topic.

In 1979 Virl Norton rode from Effingham, Illinois to Washington DC, USA, on two Arabs - 1000 miles.