Off to the Races...

One of the highlights of the Okanogan fair is the horse races. I said it last year and I'll say it again, this is how horse racing began. Go back to the county fairs all over the country (and world really) and there have always been races. A whole breed developed because of the county fair races. Quarter horses were specifically bred to be able to race on the short tracks at the fairgrounds.

Of course the fair also includes the fun races. One of the cutest by far is the Half Shetland pony races. It reminds me of my friend and I breaking out her little shetland pony, Sassy. The only reason she couldn't buck was that I could almost reach the ground with my legs :0)

This little pinto led the way until the little girl
slid off. She got back on and finished though.

The pony express races are by far the most exciting. The image below is after the first lap and the jockey is jumping off her first horse to vault on to her second horse standing by. It is one wild race and you never know what is going to happen.

In the 17 and under race on Saturday afternoon there was an accident while switching horses in the Pony express race. Although the image is small the jockey got caught underneath the hooves of one of his horses and had to be taken off the track by ambulance.