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Celebrate New Mexico: Billy The Kid Tombstone Race

Celebrate New Mexico: Billy The Kid Tombstone Race
ROYA:LE MOST PEOPLE KNOBIW LLY THE KID’S TOMBSTONE IS IN FORT SUMNER. BUT DID YOKNU OW IT’S BEEN STOLEN TWICE? TODD: THAT HAS NOW LED TO THE BIG EVENT FOR THE TOWN’S DOL FORT DAYS CELEBRATION. WELL, YOU N CACATCH A LOOFT BILLY THE KID STORIES OUT HERE IN EASTERN NEW MEXO.IC WHAT WE KNOW FOR SURE, THIS IS HIS TOMBSTONE RIGHT HERE, AND THAT TOO HAS A TALE OF ITS OWN. FIRST THING YOU NOTICE, THE TOMBSTONE LOOKS TO BE IN JAIL. TWO SETS OF PROTECTIVE BARS. >> THIS TOMBSTONE HAS BEEN STOLEN TWICE. TODD: YEP, SHE SAID TWICE. TH E MORE RECENT TIME 40-PLUS YEARS AGO THEY FOUND IT IN CALIFORNIA. >> ARE SHERIFF FLEW THERE, PICKED UP THIS TOMBSTONE, LIKE THIS, PUT IT IN THE SEAT BESIDE HIM ON A SOUTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT AND BROUGHT IT BACK HOME. TO:DDHI TS STRANGE AFFAIR LED TO THE STAPLE EVENT IN FORT SUMNER SINCE THE LATE 1970’S. AT OLD FORT DAYS, THEY DO THE TOMBSTONE RACE. 100 YA RRDACE, 50 YARDS JUMPING HURDLES, AND 50 YARDS JUMPING HURDLES WITH AN 80 POUND TOMBONE.ST TWO HURDLES EACH TIME, BECAUSE WHEN THEY STOLE THE TUALAC TOMBSTONE, THEY HAD TO JUMP OTW FENCES TO GET OUTSIDE THE GRAVEYARD. >> IT IS MENTALLY CHALLENGED AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGING. TODD: LOCAL AARRON CHAVEZ RAN IT LAST YEAR. THEY DO IT EVERY JUNE IN FTOR SUMNER. THEY EVEN HAVE A LITTLE BRITCHES RACE, THE KIDS JUMP HAY BALES WITH A WOODEN OR STYROFOAM TOMBSTONE. >> I WAS PROBABLY FIVE YEARS OLD THE LAST TIME I DID IT. COMING BACK TO LAST YEAR, GOING FROM STYROFOAM TO AN 80 POUND TOMBSTONE, IT IS A BIG WAKE-UP CALL. TO:DD BUT IF YOU CAN DO IT BIG PAY DAY TO THE WINNER, $2500. JUST RUNNING THE CHALLENGING RACE GETS YOU THE SHT-IRT. CAN’T BUY ’EM, ONLY EARN THEM, SAME SHIRT SINCE 1979. PAYING HOMAGE TO THE PAST WHILE KEEPING THE REAL TOMBSTONE PUT. OLD FORT DAYS IS THIS WEEKEND. AND THEY SAID THEY WANT OUIDTSERS TO COME TRY THIS RACE. THE RECORD IS 32 SECONDS. IS AT:0 60. SATURDAY THERE’S ALSO A COUPLES, LADIES AND MEN OVER 35 GROUPS, WHERE YOU USE A 20 POUND TOMBSTE.ON ERIC: THAT SOUNDS BETTER. [LAUGHTER] TODD:US JT CALL THE FORT SUMNER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THEY’LL ALSO HAVE A RODEO, PARADE, FLEA MARKET AND FO.OD IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO THIS WEEKEND, STOP BY FORT SUMNER. ER:IC YOU CAN PICK UP $2500. THAT DOES NOT LOOK EASY. ROYALE: YOU SHOULD SEND THE WRESTLERS. [LAUGHTER] ERIC: THAT IS A GOOD IDEA. TO:DDHE
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Celebrate New Mexico: Billy The Kid Tombstone Race
In this week's Celebrate New Mexico series, Todd Kurtz travels to Fort Sumner to look at a race that's unique with ties to the wild west. The Billy the Kid Tombstone Race remembers a moment in history when the wild west outlaw's tombstone was stolen. Watch the video above to learn more.

In this week's Celebrate New Mexico series, Todd Kurtz travels to Fort Sumner to look at a race that's unique with ties to the wild west.

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The Billy the Kid Tombstone Race remembers a moment in history when the wild west outlaw's tombstone was stolen.

Watch the video above to learn more.