04:50Donkeys raced toward the finish line at the 41st annual Hersbruck Donkey Race, a vintage German festival organised by the local football club Hersbruck in the Bavarian town on Sunday.
Donkey Emil and its owner Fritz Edelmann managed to make it to the first place of the tournament.
Footage shows donkeys racing on a track with their owners while being monitored by a panel of judges. Owners were also seen grooming the donkeys and seeking medical treatment from a vet at the facility.
"At first I was a little worried, but on the last lap, you saw that he started to move. We are happy," said Fritz Edelmann.
"Before the race. Yes, normally I jog with my donkeys because I do long-distance running, normally I jog with donkeys, but right now I have an injury again, but now I can't run everything," he added.
Each run in the race covers approximately 200 meters, with four donkey runners taking turns to complete a lap. Multiple heats are conducted, giving participants the chance to qualify for the semi-finals and, ultimately, the final round.
"So we first put the teams together at our zoo and then actually trained with the donkeys. It depended, let's say, on their form. Sometimes the donkey felt like running and sometimes it didn't. And the runners were accordingly fast or slow." said Doctor Katrin Baumgartner, a Veterinarian from Nuremberg Zoo
The idea for the donkey race originated during a regulars' gathering in 1980, according to Thomas Paul, Chairman of the Hersbruck football club. Over time, the concept materialized and the race was held on Sartorius Island in the city's heart for a few years. However, due to reasons beyond their control, a new location had to be found, and the event has been held there for over three decades.
Hee-haw! Donkey Emil and owner Edelmann clinch first place at historic Bavarian race
Donkeys raced toward the finish line at the 41st annual Hersbruck Donkey Race, a vintage German festival organised by the local football club Hersbruck in the Bavarian town on Sunday.
Donkey Emil and its owner Fritz Edelmann managed to make it to the first place of the tournament.
Footage shows donkeys racing on a track with their owners while being monitored by a panel of judges. Owners were also seen grooming the donkeys and seeking medical treatment from a vet at the facility.
"At first I was a little worried, but on the last lap, you saw that he started to move. We are happy," said Fritz Edelmann.
"Before the race. Yes, normally I jog with my donkeys because I do long-distance running, normally I jog with donkeys, but right now I have an injury again, but now I can't run everything," he added.
Each run in the race covers approximately 200 meters, with four donkey runners taking turns to complete a lap. Multiple heats are conducted, giving participants the chance to qualify for the semi-finals and, ultimately, the final round.
"So we first put the teams together at our zoo and then actually trained with the donkeys. It depended, let's say, on their form. Sometimes the donkey felt like running and sometimes it didn't. And the runners were accordingly fast or slow." said Doctor Katrin Baumgartner, a Veterinarian from Nuremberg Zoo
The idea for the donkey race originated during a regulars' gathering in 1980, according to Thomas Paul, Chairman of the Hersbruck football club. Over time, the concept materialized and the race was held on Sartorius Island in the city's heart for a few years. However, due to reasons beyond their control, a new location had to be found, and the event has been held there for over three decades.
Donkeys raced toward the finish line at the 41st annual Hersbruck Donkey Race, a vintage German festival organised by the local football club Hersbruck in the Bavarian town on Sunday.
Donkey Emil and its owner Fritz Edelmann managed to make it to the first place of the tournament.
Footage shows donkeys racing on a track with their owners while being monitored by a panel of judges. Owners were also seen grooming the donkeys and seeking medical treatment from a vet at the facility.
"At first I was a little worried, but on the last lap, you saw that he started to move. We are happy," said Fritz Edelmann.
"Before the race. Yes, normally I jog with my donkeys because I do long-distance running, normally I jog with donkeys, but right now I have an injury again, but now I can't run everything," he added.
Each run in the race covers approximately 200 meters, with four donkey runners taking turns to complete a lap. Multiple heats are conducted, giving participants the chance to qualify for the semi-finals and, ultimately, the final round.
"So we first put the teams together at our zoo and then actually trained with the donkeys. It depended, let's say, on their form. Sometimes the donkey felt like running and sometimes it didn't. And the runners were accordingly fast or slow." said Doctor Katrin Baumgartner, a Veterinarian from Nuremberg Zoo
The idea for the donkey race originated during a regulars' gathering in 1980, according to Thomas Paul, Chairman of the Hersbruck football club. Over time, the concept materialized and the race was held on Sartorius Island in the city's heart for a few years. However, due to reasons beyond their control, a new location had to be found, and the event has been held there for over three decades.