Experience a day of fast, furious, and furry racing that must be seen to be believed. Load up the kids of all ages and come to historic Victor Saturday, Sept. 11 for a day of four-footed races packed with old-time fun.

The annual Victor Pack Burro Race will kick off at Noon in downtown with racers from across the region competing for cash prizes. The furry four-footeds are historically dubbed the Rocky Mountain Canary for their role in underground mining; the burros were used above ground during the gold rush era for hauling heavy loads, but also underground in the mines for the same tasks.

Today the burros are beloved symbols of days gone by and are, along with their trainers and human counterparts, the centerpiece of this event.

The race kicks off at noon in downtown. But there is much more to do before and after.

Live music will be on stage in the Pinnacle Park Plaza, courtesy of the Black Monarch Hotel. Victor Main Street will host a beer garden in the Plaza as well. Fun activities, shopping, gold panning, and more will be offered downtown. The Victor Elks Lodge #367 on north Third Street will have its bar open after the race.

Proceeds from the burro race entries benefit the Southern Teller County Focus Group (STCFG), a non-profit that maintains the Trails of Gold and assists with historic preservation and mining education.

The race will begin and end in downtown so you can spend the day surrounded by the historic buildings from the gold rush era. During the day while racers are running trails you can look for unique treasures in Victor’s shops, eat and drink at four local establishments, pan for gold at the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum, or hike on the Trails of Gold for a superior view of the area’s historic mining. In addition, the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum will be offering a Gold Camp Adventure Tour at 10 a.m. and a Sunnyside Cemetery tour at 1 p.m.

The race is sanctioned by the Western Pack Burro Ass-ociation and sponsored by the Southern Teller County Focus Group with assistance from event sponsors Newmont Cripple Creek & Victor and the Black Monarch Hotel.