Lewis wins pack burro race
Kathy Davis
Times Reporter
Bobby Lewis of Buena Vista crossed the finish line on East Main Street in Buena Vista two seconds ahead of second-place racer Hal Walter of Westcliffe during the annual Gold Rush Days Burro Race Aug. 2. This finish was a repeat of the finish of the first leg of the 2009 triple-crown burro race in Fairplay July 26 where Lewis and his burro, Wellstone, beat Walter in the World Championship Pack Burro Race by two seconds.
In the Gold Rush Days Burro Race, Lewis completed the 12-mile course that crosses a suspension bridge over the Arkansas River, goes up the Whipple Trail to the historic Midland Railroad grade and back to the museum with a time of 1 hour, 36 minutes and 8 seconds. Walter, along with his burro, Laredo, came in second place with a time of 1 hour, 36 minutes and 10 seconds.
The finish times for Lewis and Walter in the first and second legs of the triple-crown races, puts the two men in contention for winning the third leg of the burro races in Leadville, Sunday, Aug. 9. To win the triple-crown races, the burro racer has to win all three races held in Fairplay, Leadville and Buena Vista. In previous years, the third leg was held in Buena Vista, but Leadville asked for the first three-day weekend in August for their 2009 event.
Crossing the finish line third was John Vincent and his burro, Crazy Horse, with at time of 1:38:17. He is from Franktown. The men and women race together in Buena Vista. Salida resident Karen Thorpe was the first female to cross the finish line, putting her in contention for winning the women's triple crown since she took first in the women's race in Fairplay. Thorpe and her burro, Dakota, came in fourth in Buena Vista.Race director Barb Dolan said the burro racers had an interesting start this year, starting on West Main Street and crossing U.S. Hwy. 24. The 25 racers is the most the Buena Vista race has had in her 14 years as the race director. Dolan also was pleased that younger people are developing interests in burro racing and that more people are coming from other states.
Diane Vanderhoeven of Highlands Ranch was 5th, Barb Dolan, Buena Vista, 6th; Roger Pedretti, La Crosse, Wisc., 7th; Curtis Imrie, Buena Vista, 8th; Jim Mykleby, Leadville, 9th; Reed Whiting, Minnesota, 10th; Phillip Williams, Alma, 11th; Ross Keller, Conifer, 12th; Mary Kuehster, Castle Rock, 13th; Don Mann, Buena Vista, 14th; Kevin Mastin, Silverthorne, 15th; Bill Lee, Idaho Springs, 16th; Steve Hart, Aurora, 17th, Ross Herzog, Fairplay, 18th; David Bailey, Buena Vista, 19th; Brad Wann, Highlands Ranch, 20th; Amber Wann, Highlands Ranch, 21st; Richard Emond, Cañon City, 22nd; Shelley Hall, Vail, 23rd; Blair Smith, Larkspur, 24th; and Hans Schmid, California, 25th.
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