Chonburi’s annual buffalo races are held in the 11th lunar month – normally in October. The races are held in front of the municipal office in the provincial capital.

The races are sprints – mad 100-yard dashes that somewhat resemble stampedes – with the riders pushing their beasts of burden forward in the hopes of winning cash rewards. The buffalos are split in large, medium and small sizes to make competition fair.

It is great fun – albeit hot – to attend the races.  Of course, no such event is complete without a market, a fun fair, lots of food, folk music concerts. and a beauty pageant. Who wouldn’t want to be crowned as Miss Buffalo? 

The week of racing and festivities also featured slingshot shooting, kite competitions, slimy bamboo post-climbing, cock fighting and Muay Thai boxing. Maybe of most interest was a beauty pageant for buffalos.