Written by Kyle
When I first moved to Creede, Colorado I saw an event advertised called the Donkey Dash. Being an Ohio boy, I had no idea what that meant but I went to check it out. Well, it became one of my favorite summer events here in Creede!
Participants line up on the historic main street of Creede, CO with a burro in tow, and run an approximately 9 mile course or a 3 mile short course, up through the historic Creede Mining District and back. A short mini donkey race is also held in town for all ages. This year the route was a bit different because of a boulder blocking the road, but the same rules applied.
The starting gun fires and the whole pack, this year over 70 entrants, takes off. Occasionally the ornery burros need some encouragement, but it is definitely a sight!
A little on the the history of burro racing – Burro racing is a great sport begun by some of Colorado’s 19th-century miners. Those hardy characters used burros to carry mining tools and supplies through the Rocky Mountains as they prospected for gold, silver, and other valuable ores. Since the burros were carrying a full load, the miners had to walk, leading the animal with a rope. Legend has it that two miners found gold in the same location, and raced each other back to town to be the first to stake a claim to the find. Neither could ride their animal because of its load, so one of the basic rules of burro racing was established.
Make sure to check this out next June if you are in Creede!
Ramble Around 