Thai farmers race buffaloes to show of gratitude

RUNNING BEASTS Thai farmers and their buffaloes compete in the annual Wooden Plow Buffalo Race on Saturday during the celebration to start the sowing season in Chonburi, Thailand. —AP

CHONBURI, Thailand — Farmers in eastern Thailand on Saturday celebrated the start of the sowing season by racing their buffaloes, whose usual duty is to plow the fields.

The annual Wooden Plow Buffalo Race in Chonburi, about 60 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, is held to express gratitude to the buffaloes for working for the farmers all year long.

“It’s a long-inherited tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation,” said Supanee Saengue, one of the race organizers.

Around 60 buffaloes were registered for the race, with the farmers coaxing and goading the animals to the finish line.

“You have to whip them as much as you could to make them go fast, otherwise you could lose. The more you whip them, the faster they go,” said race competitor Suchai Saengdee.

Another competitor, Apichart Kongtrupjareon, said his two buffaloes had to be trained from the ground up, starting by slowly walking them abreast 10 times a day until their rhythm matches.

“They’re just like humans — if they don’t exercise, their muscles get sore,” Apichart said.