Some Camels Travel..........And Some Camels Race

North America » United States » Nevada » Virginia City
September 7th 2013

Published: September 12th 2013

In this world many are in pursuit of the pinnacle of spectator sporting events. Some flock to Wimbledon or Churchill Downs, while others crave the World Cup or perhaps the Super Bowl. Our quest takes us to the charming old west town of Virginia City, Nevada, where the annual camel races take place. Heady stuff this, but throw in some ostrich racing and it becomes jam-packed wall-to-wall excitement... Read Full Entry

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Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

D MJ Binkley

Photographers, divers, writers, foodies, chefs and music enthusiasts. Travelers' Century Club Members: 12/2023. MJ 107 and Dave 104. We appreciate your feedback and if you like our stories we would appreciate it if you follow our blog. We live on North Hutchinson Island, Florida. If you are in Florida please send us a private message as we would love to meet you. Two retired nurses who are passionate about traveling the world. Our love of travel, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures will hopefully take us to wonderful plac... full info

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12th September 2013

JayExiomo
Jay Exiomo

Enjoyed your blog! I agree that some of the best experiences in America are in detours to small towns and off-the-beaten tracks. Though never really expected to see camels and ostriches in Nevada. :)

12th September 2013

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Nevada is the old west
It offers gambling, prostitution...and crazy camel and ostrich races. America is its small towns and this was fun. I know you've experienced some of America so you know what we mean. It is a lovely state with stark beauty.

12th September 2013

RENanDREW
Ren & Andrew

adorable!
MJ that is such a cute photo! :)

12th September 2013

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Thanks Ren and Drew
I enjoyed making some camel friends. It was a fun afternoon.

12th September 2013

The Travel Camel
Shane Dallas

Camel Racing!
Here it is, probably my main reason to visit the US - to see camel races! ;-) Love the look of Virginia City too - they must be wonderful folk to host an event relating to camels. I reckon the Mark Twain museum would be worthy enough of a trip alone, but of course, nothing beats racing camels.

12th September 2013

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Camels and so much more
Shane there are so many reasons to visit the U.S. but this has to be a big draw. The small towns and warm people who live in our small towns are the real America. I'll bet you could contact the organizers of the event and be one of the jockey's! We learned there are a few other towns who offer camel races and we were unaware of that until Saturday. The Mark Twain museum was small but very well done. Hope you will check it out.

12th September 2013

Slowfeet
Slowfeet

What about the Ponderosa?
It sounds like a great place to visit at Camel Race time. A pity that we missed it. We were starting to have to prioritise by then. I was looking for some mention of the Cartwrights. Surely some of their family must still live at the Ponderosa and they seemed to spend a lot of time in Virginia City.

12th September 2013

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Ponderosa & the Cartwrights
We entertained mentioning some information about the fictious ranch mentioned on show the Ponderosa with the Cartwrights but didn't want to end up with a 3,000 word blog on the camel races. There are many shows that have been filmed in this area or mentioned in movies to include a 1940 film called Virginia City about the Civil War with Erroll Flynn, Back to the Future and a couple of documentaries. The song Darcy Farrow made famous by John Denver leaps to mind also. Good hearing from you.

12th September 2013

The Travel Camel
Shane Dallas

Brutus makes a new friend
They look lovely together!

12th September 2013

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Making friends around the world
Our mascots enjoyed visiting with their camel friend.

12th September 2013

Mumtraveller
Lynne Brown

Camel fun
It looks like you had great fun...I didnt know there were camel races in Nevada - I have seen them in Dubai. Often on my way to work there I would see the little boys riding them at the camel camp. And as for the " ancient profession" we were a bit shocked as we drove across Nevada to see massive painted signs advertising such abodes ..."truck drivers most welcome with free parking" ...I bet !! It did feel a bit "lawless" around there. Cheers Lynne x

12th September 2013

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Nevada is open minded
I remember twenty years ago when I was working in a hospital in Reno, Nevada and learned of the legal prostitution and I was a bit surprised. They didn't have anything (legal) like that where I grew up. The locals tell me the girls must go through frequent testing and practice safe sex. Makes more sense to do it that way as people aren't going to stop have sex. Any way that is a discussion for another day. Glad you enjoyed Nevada.

12th September 2013

roamingfox
Alma van As

Interesting blog
Thanks for sharing some of the history of Virginia city. I was hoping to see the two of you racing on the camels or even the ostriches!

12th September 2013

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Twenty years younger
We might have tried to race a camel twenty years ago but with age comes wisdom! Ha ha. The ostrich looked frightening to ride...so out of control and unpredictable.

12th September 2013

Marsha
non-member comment

And some camels race
You two----you're always finding the most delightful things to experience! Looks like this was great fun.

12th September 2013

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Fun, fun, fun
Our life is nothing but fun! We like to go to local festivals as it gives us the real flavor of the area we are in. It is fun to see how the locals entertain themselves. Remember when we were in Niceville we went to the Mullet festival? Fun, fun, fun.

12th September 2013

aspiringnomad
Jason

Glad to see you managed to relocate the travel camel
!

12th September 2013

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Relocation of the travel camel
We are attempting to woo him to the U.S. for a visit. ....wouldn't that be great?

12th September 2013

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

What everyone needs to know
Nothing like trivia to delight. Camel race culture begun as a joke...continuing today...excellent! Wonderful to see how this tiny town ensures it remains on the map...Mark Twain, camel & ostrich racing...great blog.

12th September 2013

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

A fun weekend
Great things come out of joking around. Cute town. Maybe you should become a camel jockey?

12th September 2013

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

What a fun read
This was a fun blog with great pictures. I had no idea this existed. It's not something I will probably see, so thanks for sharing the great pictures. I'm glad you had the chance to head over and see this.

12th September 2013

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

You are so close
Hopefully, you will head over there some day. It is a lovely drive, cute town and wonderful people

23rd September 2013

auspicious
Michelle Duer

I always assumed Mark Twain/Samual Clemmens had grown up near the Mississippi River -- shame on me for making such an assumption (I even have his autobiography on hand . . . unread). Great joke, great find, great blog!

24th September 2013

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Assumptions were not wrong
He did grow up in Hannibal, Missouri. As with many nomadic travelers....they move around a great deal and have many jobs...so did Samuel Clemmons. I've read the autobiography and would recommend you dive in. He was a river boat captain, worked in the mines, worked as a type setter, a journalists and became a wise man, philosopher of sorts and great writer.

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Some Camels Travel..........And Some Camels Race

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