Burros in the Pines
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About the race
Burros in the Pines is the inaugural pack burro race held in Flagstaff, Arizona on Saturday, June 26, 2027. Teams consist of one runner and one burro running side by side on mountain trails at about 7,000 feet. The event takes place at Fort Tuthill County Park Equestrian Center, just south of Flagstaff off I-17 in a ponderosa pine forest.
The race benefits Forever Home Donkey Rescue & Sanctuary, a 501(c)(3) organization. Lease burros are available for teams that do not own a burro; rentals are offered on a first-come, first-served RSVP basis through the rescue organization.
The event offers three course options:
- Tenderfoot Trot, ~3 miles, friendly loop for first time on a lead rope.
- The Prospector's Pursuit, ~6 miles, suited to newer teams or faster veteran teams.
- The Mother Lode, 13 miles, forest roads and singletrack with real climbing at 7,000 feet.
Pack burro racing pairs a runner and a burro as a team. The burro carries a pack saddle, the runner carries provisions, and no one rides. Teams may lead, follow, or be towed by the burro. The sport traces to mining era prospectors racing back to town with burros, and the event emphasizes the burro's welfare at every mile.
Finishers of the inaugural year are noted as the first in the event's history. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
