Donkey Derby Days delayed due to disease developments
CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo. (KRDO) -- Another local spectacle has been pushed back due to COVID-19; Cripple Creek announced Thursday that the 89th Annual Donkey Derby Days has been postponed to Labor Day weekend.
The festivities, in which the old mining town turned mountain casino getaway lets a herd of donkeys run free, won't be taking place on June 27-28 as planned. Instead, they've been rescheduled for Sept. 5-7.
“I am disappointed that circumstances required the postponement of Donkey Derby Days until Labor Day weekend. However,we are very excited about revising our plans and hope for a good turnout in support of these beautiful animals,”said Two Mile High Club President Curt Sorenson.
Clinton Cline, the former president of Two Mile High Club, told KRDO last year the creatures remind people of the city's mining history.
"The donkeys pretty much built Cripple Creek originally," Cline said.
During the gold rush of the late 1800s, miners used donkeys to pull ore carts and transport materials to local mining camps.
Kelly Branyik, the marketing and events coordinator of Cripple Creek, said some of the donkeys released Wednesday are believed to be direct descendants of the historic mining donkeys.
"We like honoring our donkeys and giving them the free life that their ancestors didn't get," Branyik said. "We love our donkeys and we really want to take care of them."
