Gaucho Derby rider to represent area

Morgan Williams is excited to be invited to participate in the Gaucho Derby. Known as the world's toughest horse race, it will be Feb. 8 to 17 in Argentina.

Williams, 40, of Cape Girardeau will be one of 40 racers from all over the world who will be racing 310 miles across wild Patagonia in Argentina.

Riders' horsemanship skills will be tested by drawing seven different horses out of a hat, a different one for each leg of the race. Riders will then pack everything they need to survive in their saddlebags and use a GPS and terrain map to navigate across the wild Patagonia.

Williams' call sign will be MWI.

Having earned degrees in agriculture and equine science with a concentration in dressage, Williams dabbles in everything from jumping to barrel racing. A lifelong passion for horses has given her incredible opportunities, including showing a Trote y Galope stallion internationally.

She admitted to being a "sucker for adventure" and has not only signed up for the derby, but has also completed the Gaucho Academy where she brushed up on her navigation skills.

"I'm feeling a little more confident I won't end up in another country," Williams said.

Williams has raised the $16,000 entry fee and the donations to her charity, K9s for Warriors, through fundraisers. Travel, equipment, insurance and all of her preparation costs are out of pocket.

During the race, fans can track riders live using the website at https://equestrianists.com/. By clicking on the three little bars at the top right of the website, users can look at the bios of the upcoming Gaucho Derby and find out more about the Equestrianists World Series.