Donkey Derby Days dates to Gold Rush

Donkey Derby Days tops the list of favorite Cripple Creek events.

People from all over the world descend on downtown, drawn by a chance to watch a race inspired by the town’s resident donkey herd, distant relatives of the original donkeys from the town’s Gold Rush days.

Families enjoy games, live entertainment, heritage competitions and other activities.

The origins of this popular festival date back to the 1930s, when local businessman Charley Lehew thought a Cripple Creek festival would attract people in the summer months.

It wasn’t long before he and two business partners settled on donkey racing. Together, they built a race track, solicited advertising and arranged concessions and entertainment in time for the first-ever Donkey Derby Days festival.

See images here from a recent Donkey Roundup in Cripple Creek.