Burro racing is a great sport that begun with some of Colorado’s 19th-century miners. Hardy characters used burros to carry mining tools and supplies through the rugged Colorado terrain as they prospected for valuable minerals & ore. Since the burros were carrying a full load, the miners had to walk, leading the animal with a rope. Legend has it that two miners found gold in the same location and raced each other back to town to be the first to stake a claim to the find. Neither could ride their animal because of its load, so one of the basic rules of burro racing was established.

The Town of Naturita and the surrounding area have a longstanding, rich history in mining. And although this is the inaugural year for the Naturita Pack Burro Race, there are plans for it to become an annual event and opportunity for locals to celebrate our mining roots. Race director, Nancy Ross says, “this is an event that suits our community and pays homage to our heritage, we’re looking forward to a fun event that will continue into the future”. Naturita will be the first pack burro race of the season in Colorado and at this time is the only one scheduled on the western slope of Colorado.