ARCHIVES

ARCHIVES

Rancheros’ historic ride canceled: New property owner won’t give permission

By Pat Murphy/Contributing writer

For the first time in 79 years, the Rancheros Visitadores’ traditional ride to the Santa Ines Mission for the blessing of the riders has been canceled.

Rancheros official John Balch said that a new owner of one of the properties that the riders need to cross has refused permission, though he hopes the ride can be resumed next year.

“We depend on the graciousness and generosity of the Valley landowners,” Balch said. “We greatly value those good relationships. However, this year the ride to the Mission and the parade had to be canceled.”

The group of hundreds of riders is still planning to camp from May 1 through May 8 at the Janeway property owned by the Visitadores, he said, but there will be no public parade. Last year, that included herding cattle up Alisal Road on the way to the mission.

Balch said the concerns of the new owner, whom he wouldn’t name, centered on vehicular traffic, not the horseback riders, because the Rancheros have to cross her property with their trucks and trailers to reach Jackson camp, where the ride begins.

“This is a sensitive issue because we relied on the hospitality and generosity of the land owners for the last 79 years to ride through properties. We respect them and their kindness to us. This is an unfortunate hiccup this year, which he hope to have resolved next year,” Balch said.

“The Rancheros crossed my property with no problems for 13 years,” said Maria Murdock, the former owner of the river-side property involved. “They were always complete gentlemen; they were quiet and tipped their hats when they saw me. They became like big brothers.

“It is really sad that the Valley will not be able to attend and enjoy this historic tradition,” she added. “Some of the members are elderly, and this may have been the last time they could attend his beautiful ceremony.”

Each year the Rancheros ride on horseback and in carriages from Jackson Camp to Mission Santa Ines after the Kentucky Derby broadcast. Many people in the Valley turned out to see several hundred riders coming across the fields and up to the mission to be blessed. Members of the group come from many states and several foreign countries.

Staff writer Raiza Canelon contributed to this story.