World's Greatest Horseman Finals

Whether it was jockeying on racehorses or jumping hurdles on hurdle horses, Doug Williamson has accomplished almost everything that can be accomplished on a horse.

It is amazing if you consider the fact that at the age of 70, he is competing against and beating riders 40 years younger.

How does he do it?

"Well I keep trying to change with the times is what I think I do," Williamson said, "in every sport you can always better yourself and just because I was good 25 years ago or 30 years ago, today if I go look at the videos I'm thinking 'oh my god, I wouldn't win anything today if I rode like that.'"

His list of accomplishments over his 50 year career includes being one of only nine million dollar National Reined Cow Horse Association riders. He is also the oldest million dollar rider in history. Doug has consistently appeared in the finals of every major NRCHA event over the last five decades but his love for riding and passion for competition, he said, is what keeps him competing at a high level.

"If you want to be an athlete in any sport, you've got to have a burning in your gut to have to want to go do it every morning and get up and do it again, and I have that in me. "

All of these accomplishments however almost never came true. In 1987, Doug was diagnosed with throat cancer and was only given a few days to live by his doctor. He survived his battle with cancer and has never looked back. Doug says that experience put his career and life in perspective.

"My perspective of life is so much greater. I'm just lucky the good Lord let me just ride a few more horses.  I use to really worry about whether I win or not or whether I do good or not, and today I'm just glad i get to go and go do it and I actually win more. I really don't care about the losing part, I just want my horses to do well and me be the best I can, then I'm happy. "