Ox racing in Chau Doc

Ox-race is a typical sport of the Kho-Me ethnics in Bay Nui - Chau Doc, An Giang province. It is organized at (Don Ta) Festival from the 9th to 10th of October every year. Don Ta is a traditional great festival of the Khmer to commemorate their forefathers.

The festival, the Khme drift paper boats, organize x-race. Before the race, a large area is chosen, (200 in long, 100 in wide, with some water) and plowed and harrowed to make it slippery. The area is protected by low walls, there are safety gates for oxen. The race-way is 120 in long, close to the walls. Starting-point is fixed with two flags. The oxen that start from which color have to arrive at the same one. Before the race, the owners agree and draw lots to decide the regulations. During the race, the oxen that do not follow the race-way are decided to lose and those that step op the scaffolding of others are decided to win, the owner has to stand firm, if he falls down from their scaffolding, he is decided to lose.

Before the race, the couples of oxen have to run round the ground twice to the starting-point, the owner, with 3cm long rod, touches the ox, getting pained, the oxen run forwards. The faster the speed, the more interesting is the race. Unlike the horse-race, in horse-race, a man on the horse back and the man to win is the first arrival. The race starts in the early morning, the locals arrive at the point earlier. Distant people come from the day before, they bring with them food, foodstuffs only to enjoy the whole race. There are no seats for spectators, only a place to stand. The ground is crowded, shouting, hand-clapping is heard all the time, especially at heart-breaking, moments.

An Giang, a land of beautiful landscapes and historic relics of which ox-race is typical one, not only for the Khmer ethnics, but for the whole community.

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