All the fun of a day at the buffalo races

The crowds turned out over the period October 23 to 25 for the Chonburi Buffalo Races, one of the oldest events on the Thai calendar, and this year celebrating its 136th staging. Chonburi Governor Pracha Taerat chaired the official opening ceremony.


No parade is complete without a marching band, and every marching band needs a drum majorette.Past years have seen buffaloes from the neighboring provinces taking part, but this year there were not so many outside entries, owing to the gradual decline of the buffalo as a farm animal.The buffalo competition was divided into three categories: small, medium and large. There was plenty else going on too, with a buffalo fancy dress contest and competitions in kite flying, archery, Muay Thai, and climbing a greasy bamboo pole.The Miss Farmer contest attracted 99 competitors this year, the winner being 22-year-old Miss Suparat Kulachon. Second came Miss Chuthamat Thanimat, third was Miss Araya Parsompol, and fourth was Miss Weeranut Sukkasem.

The buffalo race is an annual tradition that is held on the 14th waxing moon of the 11th lunar month, which is one day before the end of Buddhist Lent. Farmers and villagers believe that it revives the spirit of the buffalo, and keeps the animals healthy. Originally very much a local festival in Chonburi, the races have in recent years become an attraction for visitors from all parts of Thailand and overseas.