Donkey Derby Days 2018

Donkey Derby Days is an 87 year tradition in the Colorado mountain town Cripple Creek. I attended Sunday with my granddaughter. We enjoyed meeting dozens of donkeys, watching the races, and viewing the Outlaws and Law Men Museum. 

Two donkeys are prominent characters in my Rock Shop Mystery series, so I was particularly interested in seeing how this semi-wild donkey herd coexists with the town of Cripple Creek. The donkeys are "owned" by the town, but wander freely. 

A nice surprise was the Outlaws and Law Men Museum. We wandered around the historic jail, entering cells and reading about people who had been incarcerated. Murderers, thieves, ladies of ill repute, and even children occupied the jail. My granddaughter donned striped clothing and posed inside a cell.

She also entered us in the donkey race. Names were drawn for teams to run with the donkeys down the main street, gathering bags of pretend ore. We didn't make it this year. Maybe next time!

More photos in the slideshow:

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