🏃‍♂️🐴 Pack Burro Racing – The Official Sport of Colorado

You’ve heard of football, baseball, and maybe even curling—but in Colorado, we do things a little differently. Our official state sport?

Pack. Burro. Racing.

Yes, you read that right.

🎽 What Is Pack Burro Racing?

Pack Burro Racing is a uniquely Colorado tradition where runners race alongside a burro (a small donkey)—not ride it. Racers must run beside their burro, guiding it through rugged mountain trails, often over steep passes and rocky terrain. It’s part endurance race, part teamwork challenge, and completely Colorado.

🏔️ How It Started: Gold Rush Roots

The sport originated during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush of the mid-1800s. Miners loaded their burros with gear and hiked into the mountains searching for gold. Legend says that when two prospectors struck gold at the same time, they raced each other back to town—burros and all. Thus, Pack Burro Racing was born.

📍 Where to See It: Fairplay Burro Days

Today, the most iconic race happens every July in Fairplay, Colorado during the annual Burro Days Festival. This celebration includes:

A 29-mile race up and down Mosquito Pass
Costumed burros and runners
Parades, vendors, and small-town mountain charm

Other popular races are held in Leadville, Buena Vista, and Idaho Springs throughout summer.

🎓 Student Section: Why Is Pack Burro Racing the Official Sport?

❓ Is Pack Burro Racing really a sport?
Yes! It combines long-distance trail running with animal handling skills. Races often span 10–30 miles over high-altitude mountain terrain.

❓ When did it become the official state sport?
In 2012, Pack Burro Racing was officially designated as the State Sport of Colorado by the Colorado General Assembly.

❓ Can you ride the burro?
Nope! Riding is against the rules. Runners must stay on foot the entire race and lead the burro by rope.

❓ Why donkeys?
Burros were the prospector’s best friend—strong, reliable, and able to navigate rugged mountain terrain. They’re still celebrated today as part of Colorado’s mining legacy.