67 Years of a Crazy Comstock Tradition
Camels, ostriches, zebras, oh my!
Virginia City hosted the 67th annual International Camel & Ostrich Races Sept. 11-13 at the VC Fairgrounds. There were a wide variety of food vendors, crafters, face painting, and mix of everything else for guests to enjoy.
According to Virginia City Tourism Commission, the Saturday and Sunday shows completely sold out and Friday was nearly sold out. VCTC is excited to see the support for this event continue to grow and, who knows, they may add more shows in the coming years.
Dave Baxley has been a gatekeeper for the races for the past 29 years. What does a gatekeeper do, you ask? They show up days before the animals arrive and set up the track, stands, and seating. They make sure everything is up to spec for the races to run as smoothly as possible for the animals and jockeys. This is not an easy job but one that sets the stage and allows spectators and riders to enjoy the festivities to the fullest.
Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm in Kansas provides all of the trained racing dromedary camels, ostriches, and zebras for the historic races and state fairs nationwide. Joe Hedrick has been coming out to Virginia City for more than 30 years and still enjoys entertaining and educating folks about his animals as well as catching up with old acquaintances. He has watched this event grow from a free for all to a great family event!
The International Order of Camel Jockeys works with Hedrick's to host this wonderful family event each year. This local non-profit organization donates to amazing organizations such as Eagle Valley Children's Home, Austin's House, and others. The IOCJ welcomes the visiting crew, rides in the races, and makes sure the International Races continue to be a crowd favorite.
If you missed the 2026 races, we hope you can make it out in 2027!
