Chon Buri prepares for buffalo races

BANGKOK, 2 September 2010 – Local farmers and buffalo breeders are  fine tuning  training schedules for their fleet-of-foot buffales as the countdown begins for Chon Buri’s famous Buffalo Racing Festival, 16 to 22 October.  

Held at Chon Buri provincial’s recreational grounds, the 139th Chon Buri Buffalo Racing Festival 2010 will be separated into two sections, the fair and races.

The fair will feature merchandise stalls, game activities, exhibits and shows, while the buffalo races are held on a 100- metre long race track adjacent area.

Festivities include a grand parade of  race contestants,  a beauty pageant to select the annual Miss Buffalo, a title that raises a smile or two amongst onlookers.

Buffalo races involve contestants sprinting towards the tape at an alarming speed. It attracts a great crowd including punters, who wager on the results, although difficult to confirm through the clouds of dust kicked up by the enthusiastic beasts.

Races are separated according the animal’s weight ranging from mega beasts through to the slim and sleek variety.

Visitors can also enjoy demonstration tournaments of traditional Thai sports. Entrance to the races and other events is free.

Over the years foreign TV news channels have featured the races making the event popular with foreign visitors. But the Tourism Authority of Thailand office in Pattaya cautions visitors to take along golf umbrellas  and stock up on chilled water as the playing fields is a scorcher in the  mid-day sun.

For more information contact Chon Buri municipal officer on, 038-287-035, TAT Pattaya’s Office on, 038-428-750, 038-428-750, 038-427-667, 038-427-667 or visit www.tat.or.th