Beasts of burden of all ages and sizes put on a show at Lake Mabprachan as Pattaya’s version of the annual buffalo races took place on August 18, with little fanfare or advanced publicity. Nonetheless, a good size crowd turned out for the spectacle, and those who did were treated to the crazy fun that is the hallmark of this event. (Photo by Martin Bilsborrow)
Buffalo races come to Lake Mabprachan
Traditional buffalo racing came to Pattaya for another year with beasts of burden of all ages and sizes putting on a show at Lake Mabprachan.
Chonburi PAO President Wittaya Kunplome, Nongprue Mayor Mai Chaiyanit and Banglamung District Chief Sakchai Taengho opened the Aug. 18 event sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand to bring buffalo races popular for decades in Chonburi to the Pattaya area.
Beasts of burden of all ages and sizes put on a show at Lake Mabprachan as Pattaya’s version of the annual buffalo races took place on August 18, with little fanfare or advanced publicity. Nonetheless, a good size crowd turned out for the spectacle, and those who did were treated to the crazy fun that is the hallmark of this event. (Photo by Martin Bilsborrow)
Races were broken into five age-based categories: super junior, special junior, small junior, big junior and big. Each race had two stages with prizes ranging from 1,000-5,000 baht.
Sheriff Suwit won both first and third place in the super junior bracket while Somjet placed second.
Sheriff Suwit also won the top two places in the special junior race with Surachai Khaoraet placing third.
Somjet did better in the small junior bracket, placing first. Ajarn Anek took second and Chief Preecha took third.
In the big junior category race, Det Alai took first, Ajarn Anek second and Chief Preecha third.
Ajarn Anek earned first place in the big category with President Somsak taking second and Anont Jaengcharoen third.
Chonburi MP Poramet Ngampichet (right) presents the winning trophy and 5,000 baht to Sheriff Suwit (left), owner of Buffalo no. 1 that won the Special Junior category.
The owners of winning buffaloes pose for a group picture during the closing ceremony.
Go, man go!
One of the youngest competitors looks right at home in the race.
Crossing the finish line – time to dismount in a hurry.
Old and young – nose to nose down the stretch.
It’s amazing how fast these beasts of burden can actually run.
All smiles on the back of this huge beast.
It’s important to keep the hoofed athletes cool in this hot weather.
