Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Spending a sunny Saturday with a fishing pole in hand may seem ideal, but for others a day on the ranch watching horse events and eating barbecue is sublime. Or perhaps your favorite horses are the kinds that give power to sports cars.

Whatever your fancy, there are a variety of events in Steamboat Springs on Saturday, including the Steamboat Optimist and Rotary clubs' 25th annual Fishing Derby and Package Breakfast, the Community Agriculture Alliance's second annual Cayuse Classic and the 19th annual Rocky Mountain Mustang Roundup.

The Huck Finn/Becky Thatcher Fishing Derby begins at 8 a.m. Saturday at Walton Pond with a free pancake breakfast. The fishing derby will start at 9 a.m. and conclude at 10:30 a.m. with the biggest fish contest.

Children of all ages are urged to attend the free derby, which will feature food and prizes for all. Derby participants will receive a free commemorative T-shirt, and prizes will be given for the best Huck Finn and Becky Thatcher costumes.

Bait and some fishing poles will be provided.

The second annual Cayuse Classic begins at 9 a.m. with registration for the horse events, which will kick off an hour later with a pair pace cross-country competition. Registration opens the morning of the event, but it will close when the maximum number of participants is reached. Marsha Daughenbaugh of the Community Agriculture Alliance advised participants to reserve a spot in advance by calling 879-4370.

The day-long event at Sidney Park Ranch also will feature entertainment by the Yampa Valley Boys, a barbecue dinner by Steamboat Smokehouse and a benefit auction. Tickets to the dinner cost $50. All proceeds from the Cayuse Classic will benefit the Community Agriculture Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the agricultural history of the Yampa Valley.

A veterinarian will be on-site to provide a health check for participating horses. All horses must have a health certificate before they can be unloaded. A simple form may be found at www.communityagalliance.org.

Other horse events include poker run trail rides, a ranch horse versatility competition and gymkhana for youths. From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. there will be a local champion's showcase featuring demonstrations by locals who compete in reining, dressage, halter and other competitions around the country.

Saturday also marks the showcase event of the annual Rocky Mountain Mustang Roundup - the Show 'n' Shine car show. More than 400 Mustang owners from a variety of Rocky Mountain Mustang clubs will show off their rides along Lincoln Avenue from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Spectators are encouraged to get up close and personal with the cars and talk to their owners. Admission to the event is free.

The Mustang Roundup features an Autocross event all day today at the Meadows parking lot near the Tennis Center at Steamboat Springs. More than 180 Mustangs will compete in the timed event. Spectators are welcome.