Muche's Equine Action Photos

Mule Racing at Fairplex Park
2007 L.A. County Fair

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Mule Racing at Fairplex Park 2007 L.A. County Fair

Mule races were run as the first race of the day during the L.A. County Fair Fairplex racing meet in September and were typically a 220 to 350-yard dash in front of the grandstand. Mules tend to be better sprinters than distance runners and as a rule run faster than Arabians and Appaloosas, but not as fast as Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds.

Even though there are less than 100 mules on the California racing circuit, mule races have become a staple at California fairs. Since there are so few competitors, there is usually only one mule race per day and a mule’s sturdy build allows it to run again in as little as three days.

As runners they are not as elegant as the other breeds and their races have been known to include mad dashes in all directions. “Stubborn as a mule” is not a complimentary expression. Jockey David Neusch once described his days as a mule jockey by saying “Once you get them running, hang on and hope they go in the right direction.” Mules have been described as fun to watch but not to ride and a few jockeys have been hurt when they’ve been bucked off.

On September 9th, five of the six mules in the first race at Fairplex threw their riders while galloping out after the finish. The incident was caused by the winner, Bar JF Geneo, who dumped jockey Alejandro Garcia. The four trailing runners then proceeded to unseat their jockeys as well. The only mule that kept his rider was Sis-Q Skipa Libby, who finished the 220-yard race on the outside rail. Luckily, all five unseated jockeys were uninjured.

In his book Life on the Mississippi Mark Twain commented on Mule Racing: “The mule-race is one of the marked occasions of the year ... I think that much the most enjoyable of all races is a steamboat race; but, next to that, I prefer the gay and joyous mule-rush.” While they may not be the most attractive steeds around, mules possess a lot of charisma and watching them race is truly remarkable. Fairgoers love the Mules.

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Bar JF Ambessa 4 yo Cal-bred male by Sterling Sweet Water out of the Thoroughbred mare Derby Day Dolly

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Munchkin 4 yo Cal-bred male by Sterling Sweet Water out of an unknown mare
.

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Bar JF Supergirl 4 yo Cal-bred female by Sterling Sweet Water out of the Thoroughbred mare Derby Day Dolly

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Bar JF Party Girl 10 yo Cal-bred female by Sterling Sweet Water out of the Paint mare Apache Party

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Gambler's Cash 8 yo Utah-bred male by Thumper By Amos out of the Quarter Horse mare Noble Woman

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Loretta Jones (2) a 6 yo Arizona-bred female has a half length lead over Bar JF Winning Ticket (3) a 5 yo Cal-bred female and Black Velvet (1) an 11 yo Cal-bred male on Sept. 8th.

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Bar JF Party Girl (4) passes the field
to win the Mule race on Sept. 8th.

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Idaho Gem (1) a 4 yo Idaho-bred male leads
5 yo Cal-bred female Bar JF Cali (2) during
the Mule Allowance race on Sept. 9th.

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Bar JF Geneo (5) moves into the lead on Sept. 9th and breaks
the 220 yard mule sprint track record with a time of 13.39
seconds. After the finish the 5 yo Cal-bred male threw his
rider which resulted in five of the other six jockeys also being thrown.

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Six year old Cal-bred female Tawnia Nelson (4) takes the lead from 9 yo Idaho-bred Chinook Pass (1) during the Sept. 12th 220 yard mule sprint at Fairplex.

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Mayberry Mill an 8 yo Utah-bred female being prepared
for the Sept.15th 350 yard Mule Sprint

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Gambler's Cash (4) an 8 yo Utah-bred male wins the
Sept. 15th 350 yard mule sprint going away.

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Bar JF Flyin J (3) a 5 yo Cal-bred male shies away from 3 yo Arizona-bred female Genie-Jones (1) in the 220 yard mule Allowance on Sept. 16th.

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Ten year old Cal-bred Bar JF Party Girl (4) overtakes 6 yo Arizona bred Loretta Jones to win the Sept. 19th Mule race.

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Lipstick Lies a 4 yo Cal-bred female looks more like a saddle bronc during the 350 yard mule Allowance on Sept. 23rd.

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Bar JF Winning Ticket (2) a 5 yo Cal-bred female leads 6 yo Arizona bred Loretta Jones (4) to the finish line on Sept. 24th the final day of the Fairplex meet.

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