As Fast as a Donkey
The insanity of the Tribunj donkey race
Tribunj houses and marine from air Croatian National Tourist Board
On the first Sunday of August in Tribunj, Croatia, a beloved, madcap event occurs — the Tribunj donkey race.
For more than half of the century, local men — and more recently, women — have once a year raced their donkeys around the old town of Tribunj on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast.
Trinbunj
The vicinity of the town
Donkey before the race Croatian National Tourist Board
Donkeys have long been an essential part of Croatia’s rural communities.
Especially in the centuries before mechanized transportation and farming methods, these sturdy sure-footed animals carried people and goods over steep rocky terrain and were used to help plow fields.
Three donkeys Croatian National Tourist Board
The donkey races began as a sort of homage to the animals. The story goes that in the early 1950s a group of young men on break from their studies returned to Tribunj for the summer. They organized a donkey race around the small island, out of nostalgia for the donkeys and as a fun way to pass some time.
Tribunj donkey race festivity Croatian National Tourist Board
And so a tradition was born. Every year since 1957—save for a few years during the war of the 1990s—the donkey race has taken place.
Men riding donkeys Croatian National Tourist Board
Tribunj from air Croatian National Tourist Board
Today, the race starts and ends at the main square of Tribunj, on a tiny island connected by a footbridge to greater Tribunj.
The race continues across the footbridge and around the main road of Tribunj, then finishes back on the island.
Three donkeys posing Croatian National Tourist Board
A total of 12 donkeys with riders compete in the race. There are three qualifying races with four donkeys each; the two fastest donkeys—six in total—move on to the final race. A race is also held for the losers of the first round.
Men and women in traditional clothes Croatian National Tourist Board
Traditionally, only men were allowed to race but since 2017, a separate race has taken place with women riders. Riders, who dress in traditional folk costume for the competition, must have been born in Tribunj to be qualified to race.
Woman racing Croatian National Tourist Board
Men posing with donkeys Croatian National Tourist Board
The main challenge of the race is that donkeys are notoriously stubborn animals. When they don’t want to move, it’s almost impossible to get them to walk, much less run. That’s part of what makes the Tribunj donkey race so well-loved.
Two men competing Croatian National Tourist Board
As the races start, some donkeys just don’t budge. Their riders dismount and try to push, pull or otherwise coax the donkeys to get started.
Other donkeys will take off all of a sudden, with their riders either left behind or falling off midway through the race. All of this happens to the laughter and shouts of encouragement from the crowd of spectators.
Beloved event in Tribunj Croatian National Tourist Board
Man standing on a donkey Croatian National Tourist Board
More than just a fun event, the Tribunj donkey race is a way for residents and visitors to appreciate the historic bond between humans and donkeys in Dalmatia.
Crowd supporting the race Croatian National Tourist Board
In recent years, the race has been organized by Croatian Donkey, a group created to protect free-roaming Dalmatian donkeys.
The group founded and runs a donkey refuge on Logorun, an uninhabited island near the harbor of Tribunj. Proceeds from the donkey race go to maintain the island and ensure the welfare of the donkeys living there.
Sources
https://www.dalmatiasibenik.hr/en/events/tribunj-donkey-race/
https://www.croatiaweek.com/traditional-48th-donkey-race-held-in-tribunj/
https://www.croatia-times.com/the-adriatic-times/take-part-donkey-races-tribunj/
https://www.croatia-times.com/the-adriatic-times/tribunj-donkey-race-finishes-with-splendor/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribunj
https://croatiaundiscovered.info/en/blog/donkey-race/
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