The faces of the jockeys
tell it all - from crazy laughter to shear terror, as the thunderous
beasts take off from the starting gate. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Beefy, skinny or white, buffaloes of every kind
thundered over a 100-meter track in Chonburi, astounding crowds with
their terrific speed - and poor sense of direction - as the province
hosted its 141st annual buffalo races.
Jockeys rode more than 100 of the beasts from across the kingdom down
the dirt track in races offering both serious cash prizes and laughs.
Provincial officials this year spiced up the proceedings, bringing in
renowned comedians Teng and Nong to run a race with buffaloes.
The Oct. 26-Nov. 1 festival outside Chonburi City Hall also highlighted
traditional heritage, including the annual “Kwienkan” parade and the
sale of locally produced products.
Sonthaya Kunplome and
friends ride through the streets of Chonburi at the head of the opening
day parade on a fabulously decorated buffalo drawn cart. (Photo from
CPRD)
More than 300 Chonburi businesses offered their wares
and food while other booths featured games including sand-piling,
sugarcane eating, sling shots, puzzle games, joke poems, and
buffalo-decorating contest. Thai country music and performances from
acts such as Kalyani entertained while people entered drawings for gold
prizes and enjoyed traditional Thai massage.
The competitions began Oct. 28 with a tug-of-war between a buffalo and
national weightlifters following. Well-known musical acts, including
Carabao, Surachai Chantimathon and Sudarat Butprom entertained in the
evenings.
As for the races themselves, competitions were divided into categories
for super junior, junior, middle, senior and super champ buffaloes.
There were also contests for the best decorated, beautiful and comedic
buffaloes, and a breeding contest.
In the showcase race, Fah Mongkol, owned by Somsak Sawatmongkol of
Klongkiew, took first place. Waen, owned by Anucha Inthramaploi, claimed
second. And Jan, belonging to Ko Kamhaeng, took third.
Provincial historians believe the races and festival were first held
when Chonburi was the center of trade for the eastern part of Thailand.
Farmers and merchants from the region would descend on Chonburi’s Ban
Beung District to trade their goods, bringing their produce and wares by
way of buffalo drawn carts. What exactly transpired prompting the first
race is uncertain, but provincial historians suggest that it probably
started at Wat Luang, now called Wat Yai Intharam.
Ouch! A buffalo jockey
falls off his “steed” during the annual water buffalo race in Chonburi
on Monday, Oct. 29. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Merchants would park their carts near the market and
the water buffalo were tethered off to the side to rest, or taken to
bathe following the trip into town where lotus flowers were collected
for offerings at the temple. Presumably, there were some fun-seeking
individuals at the annual gathering who, at the end of Buddhist Lent and
before leaving Chonburi, would gather and race their buffalo for a bit
of fun and camaraderie. Water buffalo races eventually became a common
reoccurrence each year.
During the reign of King Rama VI, His Majesty King Mongkut visited
Chonburi and proudly witnessed the event on December 7, 1912, which
helped commemorate the event to this day. Other records indicate that
Rama V also witnessed the buffalo races in Chonburi, remarking that the
enjoyable event should be preserved as a national tradition.
Nose to nose out of the
starting gate. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit
Number 18 pulls out to a
big lead in this heat. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Although he is just a
young boy, this jockey seems to be right at home racing his monstrous
“thoroughbred”. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Hey! Come back here, you!
(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A jockey on these beasts
and at these speeds can only hold on for so long. (AP Photo/Sakchai
Lalit)
The bigger they are, the
harder they are to control! (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
