4 Aces nabs top prize in horse poker run

Betting on the horses is a long tradition in America, but gambling while on horses is part of the Wild Horse Plains Backcountry Horsemen Poker Run, held last weekend at the Historic Jones Ranch, nearly 10 miles northwest of Plains.

One hundred and fifty-eight riders registered for this year's 11-mile poker run Saturday, but when the trail dust settled, Jacob Byrne of Kalispell won the big prize with four aces, taking home a custom made horse breast collar by Ron Rude of Plains. Second place went to Cary Andrews of Thompson Falls, who won a Weaver headstall with three aces.

Participants came from throughout Montana, as well as Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, said Cindy Ray, the chief coordinator of the eighth annual poker run. Only about 25 percent of the riders were from Sanders County, said Ray, who is also the chapter's "trail boss" and the alternate state director. The Wild Horse Plains Backcountry Horsemen uses the poker run as a fundraiser to help maintain state and federal public trails. The Plains chapter was created in 2006 and also provides educational forums to youth and adults. In 2016 and 2017, the chapter hauled equipment and people to the Forest Service's historic Big Hole Lookout, which was being renovated for public rental. There are 18 chapters in Montana. The Plains chapter has 25 members.

The registration fee for last weekend's poker run was $25 for an adult, which included one poker hand and a barbecue dinner. It was $15 for youths. Participants could purchase additional hands for $5 apiece. There were five stations where riders would draw a card or cards, depending on how many they purchased. The stations were set between three and four miles apart and situated mostly on marked trails. Ray said it took an average of three and a half to four hours to complete the entire trip. Ray said it was successful, but they won't have their fundraising numbers until the chapter's June meeting.

Erik Delaney of Kalispell purchased 17 hands. Jim Giles, a friend of Plains residents Calvin and Kelly VonHeeder of Plains, traveled from Indiana to pan for gold with Calvin and participate in the poker run. Riders pulled cards from bags at the first four stations. At the final station, participants had the chance to show their shooting skills at the "BB Gun Shoot." Two targets were set up 25 feet away. Each target was 14 inches across, showing about one and a half inches of the joker, a wild card, in the bulls-eye. A hit of the joker meant the shooter could pick his or her card. If a shooter missed the entire target, they could draw a card from a bag.

"This has been people's favorite station," said chapter member Terry Collins. The poker run has done the BB gun station for three years and has held the event at the Jones Ranch for six years. Saturday had the largest number of participants since the chapter started the poker run, said Ray. The event included over 20 door prizes, a raffle, a 50/50 drawing, and for the first time, a silent auction, which fetched $125, said Ray. Jack Bodnar, president of the Plains chapter, and Craig Barton, both of Hot Springs, provided musical entertainment.

"They say it's getting better and better every year," said Ray, who added they'll have another poker run next May, although she's not sure where it will be. "They just loved the scenery here."