2026 DPHS Horseshoe Hunt
Renee Mason – 2026 Horseshoe Hunt Winner
Found under tracks at Depot
Renee Mason’s first instinct to check the Savage Depot for the 2026 Dan Patch Days horseshoe paid off, as she found it there under the tracks near the sidewalk after the third clue was released.
The word “train” in Clue #1 led Renee to conclude that the horseshoe had to be by the Depot, but she questioned her hunch for a variety of reasons. Number one - the depot was originally on the north side of Highway 13 and that’s not public land. Number two – she didn’t know where someone might go to play polo.
After Clue #2 came out, Renee went over to the Heritage Room at the library to do more research. “The only spot I could find for a train stop was the original depot, and I really thought it had to be somewhere near there because it talked about taking the train to go watch polo,” she said. “I actually looked at the Depot but did not know where to start looking.”
“When the third clue came out and it had the word ‘track’ in it, I went back thinking I would look under the tracks that sit between the sidewalk and the depot to see if it was hiding there,” she explained. “I saw a spot that was not completely covered in rocks at the end of one of the tracks. There was a piece of a paper bag there and when I pulled it loose, the horseshoe came with it.”
There were five other people looking for the horseshoe at the same time, and once Renee uttered “oh my God,” someone asked, “did you just find it?” Renee said it was fun to share her success with other horseshoe hunters.
Look for Renee at the Dan Patch Days Parade on June 27, riding on the DPHS float.
Found under tracks at Depot
Renee Mason’s first instinct to check the Savage Depot for the 2026 Dan Patch Days horseshoe paid off, as she found it there under the tracks near the sidewalk after the third clue was released.
The word “train” in Clue #1 led Renee to conclude that the horseshoe had to be by the Depot, but she questioned her hunch for a variety of reasons. Number one - the depot was originally on the north side of Highway 13 and that’s not public land. Number two – she didn’t know where someone might go to play polo.
After Clue #2 came out, Renee went over to the Heritage Room at the library to do more research. “The only spot I could find for a train stop was the original depot, and I really thought it had to be somewhere near there because it talked about taking the train to go watch polo,” she said. “I actually looked at the Depot but did not know where to start looking.”
“When the third clue came out and it had the word ‘track’ in it, I went back thinking I would look under the tracks that sit between the sidewalk and the depot to see if it was hiding there,” she explained. “I saw a spot that was not completely covered in rocks at the end of one of the tracks. There was a piece of a paper bag there and when I pulled it loose, the horseshoe came with it.”
There were five other people looking for the horseshoe at the same time, and once Renee uttered “oh my God,” someone asked, “did you just find it?” Renee said it was fun to share her success with other horseshoe hunters.
Look for Renee at the Dan Patch Days Parade on June 27, riding on the DPHS float.
Rules
The annual horseshoe hunt takes place every year preceding Dan Patch Days. A horseshoe is hidden somewhere within the city of Savage, on public property. Clues are available on the Dan Patch Historical Society's website and at the Savage Library. The annual horseshoe hunt has taken place since 1996 and has always been sponsored by the Dan Patch Historical Society.
Rules
1. Clues are given out each week that lead to the location of a special horseshoe hidden
somewhere on "public property" within the City of Savage boundaries.
2. Whoever finds the horseshoe and has purchased a 2026 Dan Patch Days button prior to finding the shoe wins $100.
3. The lucky winner also gets to keep the commemorative horseshoe.
2026 Dan Patch Days buttons are available at Savage City Hall and the Savage Library, Board Members of the DPHS, or at the booth on Saturday.
Each Friday, clues for the horseshoe hunt will be available here by 9 p.m. on this web site (www.danpatch.com). This is the only place the clues will be available online.
To maintain the interest and integrity of the horseshoe hunt, the following members, spouses and minor children are NOT eligible to participate in the hunt: Dan Patch Historical Society board members and Dan Patch Days Inc. committee members. Also, there will not be any back-to-back winners.
**Anyone who believes they've found Dan's shoe, please CONTACT US (and Please leave a contact number, we will follow up ASAP.
Rules
1. Clues are given out each week that lead to the location of a special horseshoe hidden
somewhere on "public property" within the City of Savage boundaries.
2. Whoever finds the horseshoe and has purchased a 2026 Dan Patch Days button prior to finding the shoe wins $100.
3. The lucky winner also gets to keep the commemorative horseshoe.
2026 Dan Patch Days buttons are available at Savage City Hall and the Savage Library, Board Members of the DPHS, or at the booth on Saturday.
Each Friday, clues for the horseshoe hunt will be available here by 9 p.m. on this web site (www.danpatch.com). This is the only place the clues will be available online.
To maintain the interest and integrity of the horseshoe hunt, the following members, spouses and minor children are NOT eligible to participate in the hunt: Dan Patch Historical Society board members and Dan Patch Days Inc. committee members. Also, there will not be any back-to-back winners.
**Anyone who believes they've found Dan's shoe, please CONTACT US (and Please leave a contact number, we will follow up ASAP.
2026 Clues
Clue #1
Hop on the train and go watch Polo
The ride is beautiful, short and slow
My Dad and Uncle would attend a bunch
So grab two Tawanees and pack a lunch
Clue #2
Polo is not in his skill set
Hook him to a sulky, he'll win I bet
He needs 4 shoes, not three, lost one, lets search
Find that one, don't leave me in the lurch
Clue #3
Now that you're back from the game
Let's solve this and earn a little fame
We'll track your journey to make some sense
DARN-TOOTIN, we'll solve it to quit the suspense
The Horseshoe has been Found
Meanings of the Clues
There is at least one word in each clue relating to the depot, the track, and train which should
lead you to the Depot. "Track" in the last clue should lead you to
check the rails below the historic map of sights in Savage.
The reference to the "two Tawanees" is that MW Savage had bottled the spring water
from the farm to sell and that was the brand name he used.
Hop on the train and go watch Polo
The ride is beautiful, short and slow
My Dad and Uncle would attend a bunch
So grab two Tawanees and pack a lunch
Clue #2
Polo is not in his skill set
Hook him to a sulky, he'll win I bet
He needs 4 shoes, not three, lost one, lets search
Find that one, don't leave me in the lurch
Clue #3
Now that you're back from the game
Let's solve this and earn a little fame
We'll track your journey to make some sense
DARN-TOOTIN, we'll solve it to quit the suspense
The Horseshoe has been Found
Meanings of the Clues
There is at least one word in each clue relating to the depot, the track, and train which should
lead you to the Depot. "Track" in the last clue should lead you to
check the rails below the historic map of sights in Savage.
The reference to the "two Tawanees" is that MW Savage had bottled the spring water
from the farm to sell and that was the brand name he used.