American Folk Figure. Known as an extraordinary horseman, he rode dispatch for United States Army Generals Nelson A. Miles and George C. Crook, was a buffalo hunter and a mail courier. He competed in over 400 endurance rides during his lifetime and claimed to have been in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. His most acclaimed ride was in the 1890 3,000-mile race "The Ocean of Fire," a grueling test of endurance in the Arabia desert. With his western-bred mustang stallion Hidalgo, he raced against the very best of pure Arabian desert horses and won. Although many of his exploits are the subjects of controversy, his ability as a horseman and the significance of his connection with the mustang horse remain a focus of inspiration. In May 2004, Touchstone Pictures released the movie "Hidalgo, a film based on his life and the Arabian 3,000-mile desert race with actor Viggo Mortensen in the title role as Frank T. Hopkins.
American Folk Figure. Known as an extraordinary horseman, he rode dispatch for United States Army Generals Nelson A. Miles and George C. Crook, was a buffalo hunter and a mail courier. He competed in over 400 endurance rides during his lifetime and claimed to have been in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. His most acclaimed ride was in the 1890 3,000-mile race "The Ocean of Fire," a grueling test of endurance in the Arabia desert. With his western-bred mustang stallion Hidalgo, he raced against the very best of pure Arabian desert horses and won. Although many of his exploits are the subjects of controversy, his ability as a horseman and the significance of his connection with the mustang horse remain a focus of inspiration. In May 2004, Touchstone Pictures released the movie "Hidalgo, a film based on his life and the Arabian 3,000-mile desert race with actor Viggo Mortensen in the title role as Frank T. Hopkins.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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