South Fork Alder Ass Race

Please join us for the 5th annual South Fork Alder Ass Race on Saturday, September 5, 2026! IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION: If you do not own your own burro, you must secure a rental burro before registering for the race. Burro rentals an additional fee separate from race registration. Please do not register until you have been officially matched with a burro. Each burro is carefully paired with runners based on pace and temperament- this is not first-come, first-served. Please do not make up a burro name during registration. Ghost Runners are the only exception and may register without a burro. A brief history of the donkeys that now run Pack Burro Races Donkeys first arrived on U.S. soil in 1784 as a royal gift from King Charles III of Spain to George Washington. By the 1800s, they were instrumental in building the American West, especially during the Gold Rush. When mining declined, many of these hardy animals were left behind. Burros adapted and survived in some of the most rugged terrain in the West. Today, while wild burros face challenges similar to wild horses, many are rounded up, gentled, and trained. Pack Burro Racing has become not only a historic sport, but also a productive outlet for rehabilitating formerly wild burros. “Burro” is the Spanish word for small donkey. In Pack Burro Racing, donkeys of all sizes- mini to mammoth compete and are commonly referred to as burros. Only a donkey/burro may compete in Pack Burro Races as we do nothing half-assed. RULES: Pack Saddle & Required Gear Each burro must carry a pack saddle with traditional prospector's paraphernalia: Gold Pan Pick Shovel There is no minimum weight requirement. Missing gear at any point on the course results in disqualification (DQ). Lead Rope Requirements Must be attached to a halter Single lead rope only Maximum length: 15 feet (end of rope to tip of snap) Rope must connect only to the halter Flat-nosed halters are preferred for safety. Control of Burro The runner must maint