WPBA Hall Of Fame Pack Burro Race

Rules

Triple Crown Award:

The Western Pack Burro Ass-ociation presents an award each year to the male and female burro racer who has captured the Triple Crown Races and is a current member of the Ass-ociation prior to the start of the Fairplay race, the last Sunday of July. The award is a $500 check (the 2013 sponsors were People's National Bank, Leadville and Colorado East Bank and Trust, Fairplay). The award recognizes the commitment of the individual runner to the sport and its promotion as well as recognizing the excellence of the runner and his/her burro. To qualify for the award, an individual must fulfill the following requirements: Join the WPBA by becoming a family or individual member prior to the start of the Fairplay race, the last Sunday of July. Must win each of the long courses at Fairplay, Leadville, and Buena Vista with the same burro. There will be a male and female award available. Entry Fees: Each entrant or his sponsor will pay a fee determined by the town race director. The race director will have discretion as to how the entry fees will be used, but is encouraged to use the entry fees for prize money and race expenses. This fee must accompany the entry application and will not be refunded.

Liability:

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.

Burro:

The following is the definition of a burro and is to be used in selecting a burro. The word burro comes from the Spanish word meaning donkey. A donkey is defined as being an ass. They have chestnuts on the forelegs only, while other animals of the same species, such as mules or horses, have them on hind and forelegs. The tail has no hair, except on its lower part, 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, or mistreated. The veterinarian will check the animal before and after the race. Winning burros can be held in a designated area by the race committee for 30 minutes for checking by the veterinarian. All runners must keep their burros under control. This is especially true for runners with jacks. Any burro (jacks particularly) that interferes with another runner or burro may be disqualified.

Equipment:

Each burro will be required to be equipped with a regulation pack saddle packed with prospector's paraphernalia and must include a pick, shovel, and gold pan. There shall be no minimum weight requirement for burros measuring 40 inches or less at the shoulder. For all others the combined weight of the pack saddle and paraphernalia shall be a minimum of 33 pounds. It is strongly recommended that all participants carry at least one quart of water, food (an energy bar), and clothing (such as a windbreaker). Water, food and clothing worn during the race shall not be part of the 33 pounds. This weight will be checked at the start and finish of the race. Loss of all or part of the pack and paraphernalia will eliminate the contestant. 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, under the chin, or through the mouth.) Any racer coming across the finish line with nose and/or chin injuries on the animal resulting from the jack chain will be disqualified.

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.

Veterinary Checks:

The WPBA recommends veterinary checks be done before every race.

Course:

The race route must be followed. It will be marked by signs, people, or aid stations. Do not cut 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.

Team:

Contestant and burro starting the race must remain a team throughout the contest. No assistants will be allowed to accompany any team.

Winning Team:

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

No Riding:

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

Appeals:

Should a contestant be disqualified by a race official, he may continue the race (a second offense will definitely put him off the trail) and he may appeal his grievance to the race director. The decisions of the race director will be final.

Ties:

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

No Firearms:

Carrying and use of firearms will not be permitted.

WPBA Triple Crown 2020 Plan of Action

Our group seeks to continue a great sport begun by some of Colorado’s 19th-century miners. Those hardy characters used burros (Spanish for donkeys) to carry their mining tools and supplies through the Rocky Mountains as they prospected for gold, silver, and other valuable ores. 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. Another legend is that burro racing began as drunken miners in a Leadville bar sought a way to make some money in a less back-breaking manner than with pick and shovel. Actual history is the town of Fairplay and Leadville came together and said we need something to bring our struggling towns some revenue. So, Pack Burro Racing was born. Pack Burro Racing has been the staple of the summer events in the mountain towns, that some of the hardiest athletes come to run in since 1949. In 1976 the WPBA Triple Crown was born. As Buena Vista, Colorado was added to the trifecta of Pack Burro Races. Pack Burro Racing popularity continues to grow! On May 29, 2012, the Colorado legislature approved a joint resolution that designates Pack Burro Racing as a Summer Heritage Sport in Colorado.

Plan of Action

• The safety of the community, racing teams, and volunteers are at the highest level. To ensure the safety of all we will have a check in site where we will perform temperature checks to all volunteers, race staff, racers, members, and their guest while they are still in their vehicles. Anyone exhibiting a fever of 100 degrees or higher, will be immediately instructed to leave.
• All participants will be asked at arrival if they have had symptoms of COVID-19, or to their knowledge have been in contact with anyone else who has, over the 2-weeks prior to the event.
• There will be no mass gathering(s) before or after the race. All meeting will be held via video or phone conference days prior to the event.
• Buffs or scarfs will always be required for each racer, volunteer, and WPBA members to be around the neck. WPBA has been giving these out as gifts for years. The racers will be educated to put them over the mouth and nose when in the present of others.
• Runners will be assigned numbers and race information via online registration. Each runner will be required to place their # on the back of their right hand with a sharpie. Or place their # on themselves or their Burro somewhere visible or all the above. During the online check in they will be agreeing that they enter this private race at their own risk. That the WPBA, officers, volunteers, other participants, county, town, and any other entity involved in the race liable for any reason.
• There will not be a check in. The temperature check is all we need to verify that they have arrived. The racer will have all they need to start the race.
• WPBA will have an information area at the start line if there are any questions. There will be waiting lines with six feet apart marks on the ground. No congregating allowed.
• "The Start” - Burro are a herd animal, rolling starts would be difficult to control with animals. But a spread-out start would work very well. We spread the start out as far as we can to maintain the required distance. No Congregating allowed at the start.
• Pack Burro Racing is the essence of social distancing. No One wants to be kicked by another runner’s donkey. So, passing is done with a wide process, and flowing along is something that is done in a string of sorts. As they have done for the past 5000 years while using burros. Keeping a six feet distance is not a problem in burro racing.
• Ham radio operators and/or Search and Rescue will be throughout the course as they have been for decades. Communicating with our base at the finish line.
• Burro racing is unique as the burro is the Aid Station. The burro carries the water, food, and any minor first aid need for the runners. There will be unopened water/electrolyte for individual use with each ham operator station. This will provide a backup incase a team runs out of water. First Aid kits will also be provided to each Ham Radio and/or Search and Rescue station.
• Burro racers after finishing are usually off tending to their animals, food and water and putting up their gear after finishing. Most Pack Burro Racing finish lines look like a ghost town. We will keep order and continue to remind folks of social distancing.
• In the event that someone associated with our race test positive for COVID-19 in the 2 weeks following an event, WPBA will continue to utilize the guidance of state, county, and local agencies, as well as the CDPHE(Colorado Department of Health and Environment), in regards to reporting.
• This WPBA event will be insured and kept under the 175-variance required by the CDPHE or the permitted guidelines laid out by the Town, and County. These directives are subject to change at any time and this document is fluid. As the impacts of COVID-19 continue to decline, WPBA reserves the right to amend or negate any of the above policies as we navigate along with the state of Colorado through COVID-19.
• LIMITS OF INSURANCE Each Occurrence Limit $ 1,000,000 Personal and Advertising Injury Limit - $ 1,000,000 Products-Completed Operations Aggregate Limit - $ 2,000,000 - General Aggregate Limit (Other Than Products-Completed Operations) - $ 2,000,000 - Damage To Premises Rented To You Limit - $ 100,000 Any One Fire Medical Expense Limit - $ 5,000 Any One Person.