Ruidoso’s Wildly Fun Burro Race Is Back in New Mexico

You've heard of running with the bulls, but forget that. I'd much rather run with the burros!

Well, technically, I wouldn't be running anywhere. I am absolutely NOT a runner. But I would happily stand on the sidelines and cheer on people racing through Ruidoso with burros as their running partners.

That's exactly what you'll see at the Sierra Blanca Pack Burro Race, returning to Ruidoso on Saturday, August 22. Tell me this doesn’t sound like the kind of wonderfully unusual event that's worth getting out of El Paso for?

The Sierra Blanca Pack Burro Race Is a Real New Mexico Sport

If you're picturing people riding burros through the streets of Ruidoso, that's not quite how this works.

In pack burro racing, the humans do the running. Each runner is paired with a burro, and they have to complete the course together.

Running through the streets of Ruidoso sounds hard enough. Now imagine doing it with a four-legged teammate who may have some opinions about how quickly the two of you need to reach the finish line!

This year's event features a roughly 3-mile short course and a much more intimidating 12.5-mile long course through forested terrain with steep climbs and technical descents. More than 50 runners and burros are expected to participate.

Again, you will find me safely on the sidelines!

Ruidoso's Pack Burro Race Celebrates Western History

As quirky as this race sounds, there's some pretty cool history behind it.

Pack burro racing celebrates the important role burros played during the mining days of the American West, when prospectors relied on them to carry supplies and equipment through rugged terrain.

Modern pack burro races keep that piece of Western history alive.

So, yes, there's genuine history behind the Sierra Blanca Pack Burro Race. But if you mainly want to go because you want to see a bunch of adorable burros running through Ruidoso, I completely understand.

How to Watch the Sierra Blanca Pack Burro Race in Ruidoso

The Sierra Blanca Pack Burro Race happens Saturday, August 22, at Wingfield Park in Ruidoso. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the race beginning at 11 a.m. Admission is free.

Spectators can watch from Wingfield Park and along the route through Midtown, and there will also be dozens of vendors.

For El Pasoans, that sounds like a pretty good excuse to get out of town for the day. August in El Paso is HOT, so I'll happily take some cooler Ruidoso weather, browse the vendors and local shops, and cheer on some burros.

I'm still not volunteering to run 12.5 miles, though.

Forget running with the bulls. Give me a cooler mountain day and a whole bunch of burros to cheer on from the sidelines!