The Cowboy With No Last Name: How Murdock Keeps the Tradition Alive in Chicago

In a city known for towering skylines, roaring trains, and deep-dish pizza, there rides a cowboy who doesn’t quite fit the usual picture.

They call him Murdock.
No last name. No fuss about titles. Just a cowboy, through and through.

Murdock is the president of the Broken Arrow Horse Back Riding Club, a tight-knit community of riders who have been quietly, proudly keeping cowboy culture alive right in the heart of Chicago. While most people imagine wide-open plains when they think of horsemanship, Murdock and his crew prove that the cowboy tradition doesn’t belong to one place—it belongs to anyone willing to live it.

The 37th Speed and Action Show: A Living Tradition

This year, in 2026, the club will host its 37th annual Speed and Action Show—a milestone that speaks volumes about dedication, grit, and love for the craft. The event isn’t just a performance; it’s a celebration of horsemanship skills passed down through generations.

Spectators will watch riders and horses move as one—precision turns, lightning-fast sprints, and the kind of control that only comes from trust built over years. For many in the crowd, it’s a surprise to discover that cowboy culture isn’t something frozen in the past. It’s alive, thriving, and galloping forward in the middle of the city.

You’ll see kids in awe, elders nodding in approval, and longtime Chicagoans realizing there’s a whole world of tradition unfolding just beyond the pavement.

The Power Behind the Scenes

Every great show has its spotlight moments—but what makes it possible is the quiet work happening out of view.

That’s where Linda Lane and Michelle Blanks come in.

They are the heartbeat behind the scenes. Scheduling, organizing, coordinating riders, handling details no one else wants to think about until something goes wrong—they handle it all. Without Linda and Michelle, there is no show. No smooth flow. No magic.

While Murdock rides at the front, they keep the wheels turning in the background, making sure every rider knows where to be, every detail is covered, and every spectator leaves with a story to tell.

More Than a Club, It’s a Family

The Broken Arrow Horse Back Riding Club isn’t just about speed, skill, and spectacle. It’s about community. It’s about belonging. It’s about preserving something meaningful in a world that moves fast and forgets easily.

Murdock doesn’t need a last name because around here, his name already means something. It stands for commitment, tradition, and the belief that cowboy culture doesn’t fade—it adapts, finds new ground, and rides on.

So when the dust kicks up at the 37th Speed and Action Show in 2026, remember:
You’re not just watching riders.
You’re witnessing a living tradition—right in the heart of Chicago.