Negril Donkey Races

[rastagirl777]

"I headed down on 2/1 & was very much bothered by the beating of the donkeys I saw on those videos."
2/1 - what year? Seems like you might have seen videos from the Donkey Races in Little Bay? Those haven't happened in 4 years...

I don't remember much wind this year but there was a nice breeze (even a little drizzle in the morning). Weather-wise much better than last year.

The gates open at 10:00am, the first race is usually scheduled to start at Noon. I think they actually started at about 1:00...

[Yvonne]

I looked at race videos on YouTube (Negril, not Little Bay) from 2011 & 2010. I was in Negril this year from 2/1-2/15 & skipped the donkey races because of the beatings I saw in the videos. Too cruel.

Not much wind? Are you kidding? The wind was probably blowing at 17-19 MPH. Other days when it was breezy, it was about 10-12 MPH. Just like when I was a swimmer, I could put my hand in the water & spot on guess the temperature. Now I can easily determine the wind speed. Because I run I'm very aware of the wind. Thankfully, when I run, it's before the wind picks up. Of my 2 weeks in Negril, that was by far the day when it was most windy. Enclosed in WAVZ, it may not have seemed that way. Walking the beach, like I said, 2 steps forward & one step back. Then again, I tip the scales at just over 100# so the wind blows me around a bit.

[poolguywindsor]

It wasnt that windy at Wavz that day, this was the third year in a row I have been and sometimes they give those asses a little whipping, nothing crazy though.

[Yvonne]

Maybe it was not windy in an enclosed area like WAVZ but it was crazy windy on the beach. I didn't see any beatings in the videos posted here, just in the YouTube videos for the 2 previous years. I guess we have different ideas on if/how much beating an animal is OK.

I was very excited to finally be able to attend the donkey races, then I watched the videos. Wished I hadn't. I didn't expect any beating so I guess that's why I was taken aback. Being a city girl, I guess I don't understand how these things work. Anything that seems like cruelty to animals is shocking to me.

[rastagirl777]

Since I'm volunteering the whole day I don't really get a chance to see much of the races themselves. I know that the "beatings" of the donkeys used to bum me out at the races in Little Bay so I tended to enjoy other aspects of that event other than watching the actual races. The Negril Donkey Races also has lots to see and do - and EAT! I enjoy the people watching much more than the donkey watching, lol.

If you are around next February at Donkey Race time I encourage you to check it out. Its a fun event and raises money for a great cause. I know the Rotarians that "supervise" the donkeys and jockies try to control any abuse - but donkeys are donkeys and sometimes need a little encouragement to move.

Funny story from that day - my friend was sponsoring a donkey and when it came time to move the donkey over to the area where the jockies would "get to know it", she panicked. Like you, she's tiny. So she took a hold of the rope, pulled - nothing. She pulled a little harder and said in a very commanding voice - "Come!". Nothing. I had to go get hub to help her out - which consisted of her pulling and hub pushing. Wish I'd gotten a video of that little scene.

[suzengrace]

Donkeys need an "encouragement"??? so whack them around a little ..thats ok??? ..as someone whos family been involved in the equine world for many generations that is just plain nonsense...Whatever..... Big-ups to you Yvonne....I have no problem with any kind of equine races-but whacking around under the guise of encouragement for a humans benefit(ie betting race) is.....ok...???

[rastagirl777]

"so whack them around a little ..thats ok??? ..as someone whos family been involved in the equine world for many generations that is just plain nonsense...Whatever."
Well...that's a little "judgey" - the "encouragement" I witnessed that day was a few pats on the backside to get it moving - in hub's case a pat and a gentle push. Hardly call that a "whack". Whatever.

[Yvonne]

the "encouragement" I witnessed that day was a few pats on the backside to get it moving - in hub's case a pat and a gentle push. Hardly call that a "whack". Whatever.

I have no problem w/ that. I was glad not to see the donkeys being hit in last Sunday's race videos. It looked like good fun, for sure.

[Momthor3]

Thanks for the videos PGW makes it lots easier to explain......Rastagirl if I could get an address to volunteer next year I am very willing to give back what I can. Had a blast!!

[suzengrace]

Thanks for clarifying Rastagirl777...I dont have a problem with a gentle pat or push....I'm glad their treating them more humanely-hoping this trend continues..
and if am being "judgey" regarding animal abuse-so be it....