Article by Central Staff
Pack-Burro Racing – June 1999 – Colorado Central MagazineBurro racing resumes
Curtis Imrie of Buena Vista, the Cal Ripken of pack-burro racers, finally missed a race after competing in them all for 25 years.
The April 17 race — 14 miles at Winston, N.M. — was the first one of the season for the Western Pack Burro Association. Nancy Dolan and Sailor won the women’s division in 2:03, while Hal Walter (who writes for Colorado Central) and Spike (who doesn’t) took the men’s side in 1:47.
Two races held last year — Westcliffe and Central City — will not be run this year, but there is a new one this year, in Cripple Creek.
The race schedule:
June 12, Platoro, 15 miles
June 27, Cripple Creek, 6 miles
July 25, Fairplay world championship, 29 mile
August 8, Leadville international championship, 22 miles
August 14, Buena Vista, 15 miles
August 21, Frisco, 12 miles.
The 30-odd pack-burro racers are also raising money for a plaque to go with what may be the world’s only monument to a burro — the Prunes memorial on Front Street in Fairplay.
If you want to donate, or otherwise enlighten yourself about Central Colorado’s only indigenous sport, you can reach the association c/o Lori TenEyck, 1871 W Dry Creek Road, Littleton CO 80120, or on the web at http://www.ris/~outthere/burros.html .