Register For Both Races if you have the legs!
Georgetown May 24th 9 miles and Idaho Springs May 25th 5 miles.
The second race in the Clear Creek County Pack Burro Race Series !!
24th Annual Idaho Spring Pack Burro Race!
Photo by: Ashlee Bratton
Registration Note: You must have a burro name prior to registering. If you do not have a burro contact Amber at ReDONKulous Ranch to look into the availability of renting one for a race. Amber works with many ranches and has access to the burro owners in one place. Fill out the request form on the website and await a response. Let the "Burro Match Making" begin, it is a process and Amber appreciates your patience.
To request a burro please visit www.redonkulousranch.com
Phone #: 303-906-1535 or amber@coloradoburrorentals.com
Camping
If you or your donkeys are staying at the camping sight please sign this Waiver for each person on the property and give to the Camping Host.
Camping Waiver
Shadows Ranch 1259 Alvarado Rd. Georgetown, Co. 80444Shadows Ranch 1259 Alvarado Rd. Georgetown, Co. 80444
May 23, 2025 Noon, Teams will start arriving at Shadows Ranch 1259 Alvarado Rd. Georgetown, Co. 80444 to camp the night before the race. Brad Wann will be the contact person for camping (303-906-2269). Must be gone May 26, 2025 Noon. All poop must be placed to the right of the shed.
5 miles - Great distance for first-timers!
Rolling start after Parade down Main Street begins at Citizens Park, heading east turning north up 17th Ave, across Colorado Blvd up Virginia Canyon on the dirt road that features a 12% grade/climb, switch back down following White Surveyor flags, Race Signage, and flour arrows to old miners driveway at the open gate, up and over, down and winding around down Rose Gulch, over logs, under trees, coming out over the Argo Mill, heading back west on Wall Street turning right at 23rd Ave, right on Virginia Street toward the back of the Elks Lodge with a sharp left finish on 16th to the west of the Elks Lodge!
Full Course Map 1
Upper Course Map 2
Clear Creek Pack Burro Race
-RULES-
A brief history of the donkeys that now run Pack Burro Races
Photo by Western Minning History - Idaho Springs 1893
Donkeys first arrived on US soil in 1784 as a royal gift from King Charles III of Spain to George
Washington. The donkeys first worked the plantations, but by the 1800s were helping to build
the American West. They were used by miners during the Gold Rush era, but by the turn of the
century, many of these hearty little donkeys were abandoned. The donkeys found ways to
survive the most unforgiving, yet extreme terrains around the American West. Resilient, they can
feed on desert vegetation. While herds of wild burros now face the same threats today as wild
horses, they are also being rounded up and domesticated. After being gentled and trained, many
who run their donkeys find that the running activities are quite therapeutic and offer a great
outlet for rehabilitating once wild and/or feral donkeys.
“Burro” is the Spanish word for small donkey. However, many different sized donkeys from
mini to mammoth can race in a Pack Burro Race and are interchangeably called “burro.” They
only have chestnuts on the forelegs, while animals of the same equine family, such as mules (a
hybrid cross between a donkey and horse) or horses, have these chestnuts on the hind and
forelegs. The tail of a donkey has shorter hair, except on its lower part, which has a brush. Only a
burro/donkey is allowed to run in a Pack Burro Race as we do nothing half-assed.
The Rules ~
Note from Race Director:
New Cut-Off time to get to the driveway 3.3 miles into the course. You MUST get to the base of the driveway by 12:30pm or you will be asked to head back to town. The bike trail that we utilize will open by 2pm and our teams need to be off. We are working on a trail that does not share the bike trail, if that gets accomplished then there will be no cut-off.
Pack Saddle & Paraphernalia Requirements
Each burro must be equipped with a packsaddle packed with the prospector's paraphernalia,
including a pick, gold pan, and shovel (no toys permitted). There is no minimum weight
requirement for the paraphernalia. If any of these items are missing or get lost on the trail, the
runner/burro team will be disqualified (DQ).
Lead Rope
The burro must be outfitted with a lead rope for handling that is attached to a halter (a flat-nosed
halter is preferred for safer racing over rope halters which tend to get loose and shift on the
burro’s face, yet rope halters are a better tool for groundwork training). The runner may only be
attached to the burro with a single lead rope that does not exceed 15 feet in length (measured
from the end of the rope to the tip of the snap). The lead rope may only be connected to the
halter.
Control of Burro
Burros are controlled by way of the runner handling a lead rope that is attached to the halter of
the burro. All runners must keep their burro under control on the course, and not cut switchbacks
(except for a single-track trail, runner/burro teams can pass as long as they remain near the
course edge if slower teams are blocking the course or obstructing the advancement of another
team). If the runner/burro interferes with another runner/burro team, the out-of-control team may
be disqualified or given a warning. If the runner loses control of their burro, by way of dropping
the lead rope, the team must return to the point where the lead rope was dropped to stay in the
race in order to not obtain a DQ. We encourage you to take your burro back and not give up on
your burro’s race to get an honorable finish.
Jack/Stud Chains
Jack/Stud chains may be used with a pressure-release technique, to safely control a higher-
spirited burro. (A jack/stud chain is a chain or strap which is used to apply pressure over the
muzzle or under the chin.) Any racer coming across the finish line with any injuries on the burro
resulting from the jack/stud chain may be disqualified.
Team = 1 Runner & 1 Burro
The runner and burro starting this race must remain a team throughout the race. No assistants
will be allowed to accompany any team. Spectators or anyone outside of the race are not allowed
to assist the forward progress of any team. No swapping burros with another runner or both
teams will be disqualified (“You gotta dance with the one that brung ya.” ~ Curtis Imrie). The
winning combination consists of a runner and burro, who must cross the finish line as a unit. The
runner may be leading or following the burro, but the burro's nose crossing the finish line first
constitutes the winner. In the event of a tie, the prize money involved, if any, will be equally
divided between the teams involved. However, this is ultimately up to the race director’s
discretion.
The runner may push, pull, apply pressure release, or carry their burro across the finish line, but
no riding is allowed!
Veterinary Checks
Burro owners may consider getting a veterinary check on their burro before every race. Sick or
injured burros should not race. Out-of-state burros will be required to obtain a negative Coggins
test and health certificate before entering the state as required by state law.
Other Disqualifications
Any runner mistreating their burro will be disqualified. No needles, electric prods, drugging,
clubs, or whips, other than the lead rope, may be used.
Should a runner be disqualified by a race official, he/she may continue the race and appeal
his/her grievance to the race director. The decisions of the race director will be final.
No Firearms
Carrying and use of firearms while running is not permitted.
Participant Waivers/Release of Liability
No town, county, or private property owners along the course, sponsoring businesses,
governmental agencies, persons, volunteers, race officials, or organizations will be liable in case
of accident or injury to the runner or burro. Each runner must sign a waiver and/or release of
responsibility before the race.
Colorado Equine Act
"Colorado - WARNING - Under Colorado Law, an equine professional is not liable for an injury
to or the death of a participant in equine activities resulting from the inherent risks of equine
activities, pursuant to section 13-21-119, Colorado Revised Statutes"
Rules revised Feb 2023
Colorado:
Clear Creek County Pack Burro Race Series (Georgetown and Idaho Springs)
Creede Donkey Dash
Salida’s Copper Claim Pack Burro Race
Buena Vista Pack Burro Race
South Fork Alder Ass Race
Victor’s Gold Rush Challenge Pack Burro Race
Frederick Miners Day Pack Burro Race
Rollinsville Pack Burro Race
Tombstone AZ - Desert Donkey Dash
Inyokern, CA- Run with the Burros
Topsfield, MA- Run with the Burros
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Additional Information ~ (for the new-to-pack burro racing runners)
Supply Suggestions:
Comfortable running clothes
Trail shoes with good tread
Gloves (sports type full or fingerless weight lifting style, to prevent rope burn from lead rope)
It is strongly recommended that all runners or burros carry the following, for the runner:
At least one quart of water
Food (energy bar or snacks)
A few other optional items you may want to have with you on your journey:
Gallon baggies to keep your phone or items clean and dry in the saddle bags
Rain jacket or windbreaker
Sunscreen
Hat
Sunglasses
Lip balm
Gaiters (over shoes to keep the rocks out)
Tweezer/comb (to remove cactus, etc)
Hoof pick (in case the burro gets a rock in their hoof)
Burro treats are best saved for after the race, as allowing a burro to eat during a race can slow
them down. Do not let children feed burros out of their hands to prevent a finger from being
mistaken as a treat! Do not feed anyone else’s burro unless you have permission from the owner.
Handling Suggestions:
For runners renting burros, you should be getting all your racing lessons through that operation,
but for those who are new to Pack Burro Racing with your own new burro, here are some
handling suggestions you may want to know, so your first race is successful and safe:
Study the course maps before any race.
Know that the super fast, super competitive athletes start on and near the starting line. The
average paced runners will start in the middle of the starting line area (between the front and the
back) and slower runners or those needing to start out slowly to have better control over their
burros start near the back of the pack. If it is your burro’s first-time racing and they have never
experienced a group training run with multiple burros, it is highly advisable to start in the back,
as burros can get excited about running in a herd. They will surprise you with how excited and
fast they will get for the first time until they get used to the pace of racing.
Since burros are right-brain thinkers, most runners start and race on the left side of the burro.
It is advised to hold the halter down low next to the nose to keep your burro under control at the
start of the race (especially when the blank gun goes off). This will not only prevent your burro
from getting away from you too fast, but control them from kicking others in tight quarters as the
field takes off and spreads out.
We know that burros do not always run in a straight line and can often zig-zag on a wider road or
jeep trail, or cut-off other teams, as it is not polite that a runner extends their lead rope across the
trail blocking other teams from passing.
If your burro becomes too hard to handle and you are close to the nose, you can grab the halter
low at the nose and turn the burro toward you to the left in a circle until they calm down. To
control the nose is to control the burro.
If you lose your burro, please yell out to others ahead, “LOOSE BURRO!” for safety reasons, as
an uncontrolled burro can startle other teams. If someone else’s burro ends up loose, but you can
keep control of your burro, it is a courtesy to catch that loose burro and tie it to a tree (or
stationary object like a road sign) rather than have that burro and its lead rope interfere with your
race. It is about safety for the burro and others.
If your burro stalls out, instead of pulling with constant pressure, consider the pressure-release
technique, while you are looking forward to where you want the burro to go. As a face-to-face
stand-off playing tug-of-war will not get you moving in the right direction. Jiggling the lead rope
and saying “hup-hup” from behind works at times.
Also, if you are a vocal runner or need to say “hee-yaw, hup-hup,” or something like it to keep
your burro motivated, just know being too vocal will not only desensitize your burro and become
too much pressure sending your burro off course, but it could also annoy the other burros and
runners around you. So, when your burro is running well and moving forward, quiet your voice
and hold the lead rope steady (which is a nice release of pressure for the burro), and the
occasional “good boy or good girl” in a positive tone is nice, too.
When holding your lead rope, make sure it is not wound tight around your hand. You could use
big loose loops that do not drag the ground so you or the burro do not trip or get a leg entangled.
We do not advise anyone to tie or knot the lead rope around their body. Runners may hold the
lead rope around them in a way that if they trip & fall the lead rope will not be attached, as we do
not want runners to get drug. Some burro owners do wear belt-in systems that they have trained
with that feature a quick-release button. If the entire system does not exceed 15 feet and the
runner has signed a waiver, they do this at their own risk.
On an out-and-back course, give the leaders who will be racing fast the right of way, but hang
onto your burro’s halter at the nose, so they do not turn to follow the leaders.
It is best to drive burros uphill with the runner behind, instead of dragging burros uphill if
possible. For the first-time racer, it is best to be in front of your burro on the downhill, holding
your arms out to not let them pass you, as burros can pick up speed and you do not want to trip
or lose your burro.
Be mindful of your saddle getting loose and potentially sliding to the side before it goes
completely underneath, as the burro can lose belly size from gas or pooping on the course. You
might have to step off the course to adjust the saddle. If your saddle pad has a tendency to slip or
shift while racing, you may consider tying or attaching the pad to the saddle if you do not have
stay on pads. It is ok for participants to help other participants with each other’s saddles if they
choose. If the courtesy of a spectator is all you have for safety reasons, they may help hold your
burro if you are readjusting your saddle, as long as they do not assist the team with forward
progress.
Once the race is over, please do not backtrack on the course, so you do not interfere with others
who may be racing in.
If you do not take your burro back to their trailer right away, please do not leave it unattended in
town.
If it’s your first pack burro race, and you have questions, reach out to the race directors for
additional information if you would like.
If you DNF = “Did Not Finish,” and do not cross the finish line, please make sure you inform the
race officials of your status (before leaving town), so you are accounted for.
We look forward to seeing everyone and having a fun and safe pack burro racing season for all
involved!!!
Brad M. Wann - Race Director
Clear Creek Pack Burro Racing
303-906-2269
packburroracing@gmail.com
