Youngest female Tevis Cup winner releases book ahead of 2023 ride

Sanoma Blakely was 18 years old when she won the Tevis Cup in 2019, crossing the finish line at McCann Stadium in 14 hours, 12 minutes. Blakely was an underdog when she won the race, as she was neck and neck with former champions Jeremy and Heather Reynolds down the stretch. The story of Blakely's perseverance and resilience touched the hearts of endurance riding fans across the country, prompting her to write a book about her experience. Blakely started writing "Chasing Dreams: The True Story of the Youngest Female Tevis Cup Champion" in early 2020, and it was released July 25, 2023. The book will be available at Barnes & Noble and online at Amazon, Target and Walmart. Blakely says the book also will be available in select feed stores in the Auburn area. "It kind of started with me just wanting to write it down while the memory was fresh so that down the road when I'm older, I could relive that day," Blakely says. "It was an exciting day when I won Tevis and it really turned into a pretty long process." Blakely's story of winning one of the world's most famous endurance rides doesn't start in 2019 but in 2013, when she attempted her first Tevis ride at the age of 12. After an unsuccessful attempt, she tried the ride again in 2016 and again didn't complete the ride. Her 2019 winning ride was her first successful Tevis Cup finish, a feat she credited to her trusty steed, Goober. Blakely goes through the entire process of her Tevis Cup experience in her book but notes it isn't just for fans of endurance riding. "It's not necessarily just about the story of winning Tevis or racing horses," Blakely says. "There's a lot geared towards people that maybe have this dream that want to do something with it. It doesn't necessarily have to be a sports dream, just something that is attainable to people." She described the story is geared toward a younger crowd, especially those who are trying to accomplish something with the deck stacked against them, much like she did in 2019. "I really feel it is geared towards people that are kind of the underdog or like an underdog," Blakely says. "I think it's a great underdog story." On top of preparing for the release of "Chasing Dreams," Blakely is preparing for another go at the Tevis Cup this weekend. The Terrebonne, Oregon, native attempted Tevis last year but was pulled at Last Chance due to a lame horse. Her mom, Gabriella Blakely, won the ride. Sanoma will take on a new challenge in the Tevis Cup this Saturday, as she will ride a new horse, Boopsie, who has yet to complete a Tevis ride. Goober will be ridden by Blakely's father, Wasch. With Garbiella and Sanoma Blakely having Tevis Cup victories under their belts, they have joked with Wasch that his time is coming. "Between my mom and I, we try to tease him too much about it but he definitely got his fair share of teasing from us. We keep asking him when he is going to go get one," Sanoma says. "We would love to see him get a win, and I think he has a chance to. His horse is doing really well." The Blakelys will have a unique challenge, as they haven't had the high temperatures in Oregon this year typically seen in Auburn during the ride. "We've had a pretty cool spring and summer so far, which is great if you're not training for Tevis," Sanoma says. "It looks like it won't be a super hot year this year in Auburn, but we'll see what happens between now and Saturday. We can only hope for the best."