Event Description

Join us for a jog in the junipers!

BRAY Club is heading to north for one last burro run hurrah before we pass the baton to Colorado for the summer. We will be partnering with the AERC Cinders Trot endurance ride to present a 12 mile long course and 5 mile short course on Sunday, May 23rd.

The event will be held in Coconino National Forest near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, bring your hiking gear if you're taking the weekend to camp and explore. There will be dry camping and trailer parking at the start/finish and you can be sure we will have assorted burro games to entertain people and burros alike throughout the weekend - don't forget to bring some extra cash to buy in. Burro packs are encouraged, but not required for this race. Runners must arrange to provide their own burro. All participants will receive a race T-shirt and a finisher prize, and awards will be given to the top three finishers in each distance. 

A vet will be present to vet-in your burro, we ask that you please practice the vet-in with your burro prior to the event for the safety of the veterinary staff. This includes a cursory oral exam, temperature and cardio check, and trotting for soundness. If your burro has a health certificate dated within seven days of your arrival to Burro Camp you may bypass the hands-on portion of the exam and only participate in the visual soundness exam.

Please visit BRAY Club on Facebook to download the AERC Injury Waiver and COVID Agreement and bring it with you, signed, to the event. 

BRAY Club Burro (Donkey) Race Rules

Each entrant or their sponsor will pay a fee as determined by BRAY Club for each race. BRAY Club will have discretion as to how the entry fees will be used; entry fees are generally used for prize money and race expenses. The Entry fee must accompany the entry application and will not be refunded.

Good sportsmanship is encouraged and will be rewarded. Please be kind, considerate and have a great time enjoying our wonderful animals and our open spaces. That is what the burro/donkey community is all about. 

No city, private-property owners along the course, sponsoring businesses, governmental agencies, persons or organizations will be responsible in case of accident or injury to contestants. Each entrant must sign a waiver and/or release of responsibility.

The following is the definition of a burro and is to be used in selecting such. The word burro comes from the Spanish word meaning donkey. A donkey is defined as being an ass, of the species ‘Equus asinus’. They have chestnuts on the forelegs only, while other animals of the same genus of equus, such as mules or horses, have them on both the hind and forelegs. The tail has short hair, except on its lower portion , which has a brush. A registered veterinarian shall have the authority to disqualify any contestant and animal that does not match the above description, or whose animal is sick, doped, injured, unsound, or mistreated. The veterinarian will check the animal before and after the race. The race committee can hold winning burros in a designated area for 30 minutes to allow for veterinarian checks.

All runners must keep their burros under control. Any burro that interferes with another runner or burro may be disqualified. The runner is 100% responsible for the safe handling and welfare of the burro throughout the entire event. 

No jacks shall be permitted to race in a BRAY Club Burro Race. 

 It is strongly recommended that all participants carry at least one quart of water, food (an energy bar), and clothing (such as a windbreaker).

The burro must be outfitted with a strap- (leather or synthetic) or rope-style halter. 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 rope to tip of buckle. The lead rope may only be connected to the halter tie ring, or tie loop in the case of a rope halter, and may not be affixed to the saddle or to any other part of the burro.

Jack chains may be used only if used with a pressure-release technique. (A jack 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 nose and/or chin injuries on the animal resulting from the jack chain will be disqualified. The jack chain is not permitted to be in the mouth of the burro.

Cruelty: Any contestant mistreating his animal may be disqualified. No needles, electric prods, narcotics, clubs or whips, other than the halter rope, may be used. The race route must be followed. It will be marked by signs, people, or aid stations. Do not cut the course, such as cutting across switchbacks. Any burro leaving the course must be returned to the course without shortening the distance of the course. Any runner becoming separated from their burro (i.e., burro and runner are no longer racing as a connected team or unit) must return to the place they became separated before continuing the race. Failure to follow these rules will result in disqualification.

Veterinary checks: BRAY Club will have a completion of veterinary checks before every race for soundness and general health of the burro and after the race for soundness of the burro. A burro will be disqualified for unsoundness (before, during, or after the race).

Team: Contestant and burro starting the race must remain a team throughout the contest. No assistants will be allowed to accompany any team. Contestants must be at least 14 years old on the day of the race to participate. 

The winning combination consists of a person and burro, which must cross the finish line as a unit. The person may be leading or following the burro but the burro's nose crossing the finish line first constitutes the winner.

During the race, teams (1 person+1 burro) must remain a team from start to finish. No burro swapping. If the team becomes separated, the person must retrieve their burro then must return to the spot that they became separated and proceed from there to be considered for prizes and placing.

The runner may push, pull, drive, or carry the burro. The contestant shall at no time progress except under their own power.

Should a contestant be disqualified by a race official, they may continue the race (a second offense will definitely put him off the trail) and they may appeal their grievance to the BRAY Club Board. The decisions of the board will be final. If a contestant is disqualified due to burro injury or unsoundness they may not finish the course nor contest the decision.

In the event of a tie, the prize money involved, if any, will be equally divided by the contestants involved.

Carrying and use of firearms will not be permitted.

Firearms, starter pistols, or firing blanks will not be permitted to begin a race. Races may be begun with a bell, buzzer, siren, countdown, whistle, or horn.

While it is a race, remember to slow down and enjoy the beauty. Safety first, competition second.