Magdalena Burro Stampede
Magdalena, New Mexico, is a village steeped in the rugged spirit of the Old West. Established in the 1880s, it flourished as a mining and ranching hub, with the nearby Kelly Mine yielding lead, silver, and zinc. The arrival of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1885 transformed Magdalena into a vital shipping point for ore, livestock, and wool, earning it the nickname "Trails End." The historic stockyards, once bustling with cattle driven along the 125-mile Magdalena Livestock Driveway, remain a testament to its storied past.
Given this rich heritage, pack burro racing is a natural fit for Magdalena. This sport, rooted in the mining traditions of the American West, involves runners leading burros laden with mining gear over challenging terrains. It commemorates the days when miners, unable to ride their burros due to heavy loads, would race on foot to stake their claims. The upcoming "Magdalena Burro Stampede," scheduled for Sunday, June 29th, 2025, celebrates this legacy, bringing together community spirit, athleticism, and a nod to the town's historical reliance on these steadfast animals.
In Magdalena, pack burro racing isn't just a sport—it's a homage to a bygone era, reflecting the enduring bond between the town's residents and their resilient, four-legged companions
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Race Registration
Race Registration can be found on a separate page here.
Borrow-a-burro (rent): Currently full for this race as of 06/02/2025. Sign up for our email list on the home page to get first notice when rental donks open up for 2026!
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Race Course
3 Mile (short) course: This is a great walk, hike, or run loop that gently rolls around the north side of the village. The elevation gain for the full three miles is less than 120ft. Expect a combination of gravel road and dirt two track. Passes the historic Magdalena Cemetery. No aid stations, bring your own water. The courses will be well marked with flags and signage.
9 Mile (long) course: A epic loop that tours the landscape outside Magdalena. Amazing views of the Magdalena Mountains and Kelly Mining area. The elevation gain for the full nine miles is about 500 feet, most from a few rolling hills. This is approximately 50% desert two track and 50% gravel road. Some sandy sections. The last two miles are on gravel road- so expect a fast finish. One water only aid station at about mile seven.
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Race Schedule
Saturday, June 28 - Arrive as needed for Camping.
7:00PM-8:00PM: Race Bag Pickup
Sunday, June 29-
7:30AM-8:30AM: Race Bag Pickup
8:30AM: Volunteer Briefing
8:50AM: stage near mining museum/ore cart.
9:00AM: Rolling race start off Main Street​.
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Prizes
***Must have packsaddle, gold pan, pick, and shovel on your burro to receive top placement awards.
Custom Buckles (5)
First Place (Mens & Womens) for the 3 mile and 9 mile Courses, Biggest Heart (Sportsmanship).
Cash Prizes:
TBA
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Camping & Burro Overnighting
There is free open camping at the Magdalena Rodeo Grounds. No reservations needed.
As you drive into town, you will look for a main road called West Main Street. Turn north, continue straight about a half mile and you will go right in the rodeo area.
We will be north of the arena in a very large designated area (dirt lot). Water will be available for the burros, likely no power.
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There is a large former (fenced) baseball field we can use as place to keep many burros if needed. Otherwise bring your own panels or fence. The rodeo arena stock stalls will likely be used for a movie production at the same time, so they will be unavailable to us.
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Race Rules Reminders
We follow all Western Pack Burro Association Race Rules, with the exception of you do not need a pack saddle on your burro for our 3 mile courses. Gold Pan/Pick/Shovel/Pack Saddle all required for the 9 mile course and any top placement prizes.
Here are a couple of rule reminders:
-if you drop your lead rope at any point, you must return and restart your race from the point you lost the rope.
-no riding your burro (duh).
-no weight limit for pack saddles -discontinued in 2021.
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Magdalena Amenities
This picture is the actual food served at the critically acclaimed and world famous- Tumbleweeds Diner. Plan on eating most your meals here, you'll be sad if you don't.
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Also in town is a small saloon (for post race brews). Several neat curios shops and art galleries. About 20 miles from Magdalena is Socorro which has a feed store, walmart, etc.
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There will also be many local vendors in town as part of the village's Frontier Days.
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Odds & Ends
Questions? Please email Shane.
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Shane Weigand
Race Director
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Fun Fact: For over a century, Magdalena was the last stop for the rail line into the frontier southwest. Hundreds of thousands of cattle were driven here to the railway. Both the long and short courses will pass right next to the historic Magdalena stockyards on their way out of town.
